Booth Id:
BEHA055
Category:
Behavioral and Social Sciences
Year:
2021
Finalist Names:
Norgaard, Adeline (School: Tioga High School)
Abstract:
The purpose of this project is to determine if gender affects how an individual reacts to frustration. To do this I constructed a test that used an electromagnetic grid attached to switches which allowed me to turn the magnets on and off. Participants were asked to stick paper clips in a specific pattern to the grid as many times as they could in three minutes. As participants were doing the test I flipped the switches which made their paper clips fall and caused frustration. I recorded the participants and counted how many times they responded verbal and nonverbally. The results of this experiment show that there is no great significance between males and females in terms of verbal and nonverbal responses to frustration. On average, males responded 5 time verbally and 4 times nonverbally to the frustration. On average, females responded 4.67 times verbally and 3.17 times nonverbally. Of all the participants tested, 58% suggested that the magnets were partly to blame for their struggle while doing the experiment. The phrases "weak magnets", "you need stronger magnets", and "are you changing them?" were all used to express this blame. 83%, or 5/6, of the male participants put some of the blame for their struggle on the magnets, while only 33%, or 2/6, of the female participants did. In fact, the female participants tended to doubt themselves and their abilities while participating rather than doubt the machine. 50% of the female participants showed signs of self-doubt and a lack of self confidence while none of the male participants did.