Wookey, M. L., Graves, N. A., & Butler, J. C., (2009). Effects of a appearance on perceived competence of women. The Journal of Social Psychology, 149, 116-118. doi:10.3200/SOCP.149.1.116-118 This is the article to use 1. What are the design elements (IV, DV) and operational definitions? 2. What are the potential confounds? 3. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the study design? 4. Would these findings generalize to other types of jobs? Provide examples to support the ideas. 5. Could other types of attire lead to unfavorable impressions? Provide examples to support the ideas. 6. How could the researchers measure the participants’ perceptions without using self -report? Why might new measures be a good idea? 7. In what contexts can appearance be negative for men? Provide examples to support the ideas.
To answer these questions, we will analyze the study "Effects of a Appearance on Perceived Competence of Women" by Wookey, Graves, and Butler (2009):
1. Design Elements:
- Independent Variable (IV): appearance
- Dependent Variable (DV): Perceived competence of women
- Operational Definitions: The appearance could be operationalized by specific clothing, grooming, or behavior choices. Perceived competence could be measured through participant ratings or evaluations based on established criteria.
2. Potential Confounds:
- Participants' biases and preconceptions about appearance and competence.
- Cultural differences in the perception of appearance and competence.
- Possible correlation between appearance and self-confidence levels.
3. Strengths and Weaknesses of the Study Design:
Strengths:
- Controlled experiment design, allowing for cause-and-effect inferences.
- Standardized procedures and objective measurements (if used) increase reliability.
Weaknesses:
- Limited generalizability due to small sample size or specific population.
- Lack of ecological validity, as the study might not reflect real-life scenarios.
- Potential for experimenter bias or demand characteristics influencing results.
4. Generalizability to Other Jobs:
The findings may not generalize to all professions due to variations in work contexts, norms, and expectations. For example, in some industries like entertainment or modeling, a appearance may be more acceptable or even expected, while in others like academia or healthcare, it might be perceived differently.
5. Other Types of Attire Leading to Unfavorable Impressions:
Yes, different types of attire can lead to unfavorable impressions based on context. For example, in a corporate setting, wearing extremely casual or inappropriate clothing might lead to perceptions of unprofessionalism or lack of competence.
6. Measuring Perceptions Without Self-Report:
Researchers could use alternative methods to measure participants' perceptions, such as:
- Observational measures, where trained observers rate participants' competence based on behavior and nonverbal cues during specific tasks.
- Implicit measures, such as reaction time-based tests that assess automatic associations between appearance and competence.
New measures might be a good idea to reduce potential biases associated with self-report. They could provide more objective and less influenced assessments of participants' perceptions.
7. Appearance Being Negative for Men:
Appearance can have negative effects on men in various contexts, such as:
- In a professional setting, if a man's attire or grooming choices are perceived as unprofessional or sloppy, it may lead to negative impressions or judgments.
- In certain social settings, if a man appears too physically aggressive or intimidating, it may negatively impact how others perceive him.