Booth Id:
BEHA026
Category:
Behavioral and Social Sciences
Year:
2017
Finalist Names:
Shambles, Madelynn (School: Nixa High School)
Abstract:
Growing up I always noticed that the sections of the stores I shopped at were very different. The girl's section was always full of pink, and the boy's section was always dominated by blue. As I got older the differences became less obvious. This led me to the question "Does age correlate to the percent of the population that conforms to the stereotype girls like pink and boys like blue?". I hypothesized that there would be a negative correlation between the two variables; because if conformity to the stereotype was learned then it would be unlearned as children got older. To test my hypothesis I went to several schools in the area and tested the students there. Subjects were given a survey with three questions, gender, age, and a proxy question. They were then asked to choose either a pink or blue marker. I sorted the questionnaires by age gender and color preference then recorded my results in my lab journal. My hypothesis was supported as there was a negative correlation between the two variables. 100% of the population in the age group 4 and under conformed to the stereotype, 85% of the population in the age group 5 - 6, 69% in the age group 7 - 8, 80% in the age group 9 - 10, 50% in the age group 11 - 12, and 37% in the age group 13 and over.