The Effects of models of perceived similarity on two types of altruistic behavior in fifth grade children

This study examined the effect of same-sex peer models perceived as similar, neutral, or dissimilar on two types of altruistic behaviour in fifth grade children. The dependent variable was altruistic responses, operationally defined as penny donations and volunteering of service time to work on a ch...

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Main Author: Hops, Zona Joyce
Language:English
Published: University of British Columbia 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/2429/35793
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spelling ndltd-UBC-oai-circle.library.ubc.ca-2429-357932018-01-05T17:48:10Z The Effects of models of perceived similarity on two types of altruistic behavior in fifth grade children Hops, Zona Joyce Child development Altruism Child psychology This study examined the effect of same-sex peer models perceived as similar, neutral, or dissimilar on two types of altruistic behaviour in fifth grade children. The dependent variable was altruistic responses, operationally defined as penny donations and volunteering of service time to work on a charitable project. A two-factor design was employed for each experiment in which the three treatment conditions: model-similar, model-neutral, model-dissimilar, and the no-model control group were nested within the sex factor. A total sample of 320 subjects for both experiments was drawn from six public elementary schools in North Burnaby. The research questions for the two experiments were: 1. Does the presence of a model elicit more donations of money and service time for charitable purposes in fifth grade children than no model? 2. Does the similarity shared between the observer and model affect the donations of money and service time for charitable purposes? 3. Are there any sex differences in donating money and service time for charitable purposes? Each subject was interviewed individually by an experimenter who attempted to manipulate through a verbal description the perceptions of a peer-model. Following a brief introduction the subject observed the model play a marble game through which rewards of pennies or five-minute time tokens were dispensed on a pre-determined schedule. The subject then played a game alone and received either money or time tokens which could be contributed by dropping them into a donation can before leaving the experimental room. The no-model control group played the game alone following initial instructions from the experimenter. The data was analyzed by an ANOVA and orthogonal comparisons of the means of the different treatment groups. As hypothesized, a same-sex peer model was more effective in eliciting altruistic responses than no model. The greater the real or assumed similarity between the observer and model the more effective the model was in eliciting penny and service donations. The presence of a model perceived as similar was significantly more effective in eliciting money donations and service time than a model perceived as dissimilar. No sex differences were found in the donations of money or time to work on a charitable project. Education, Faculty of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of Graduate 2011-06-29T16:50:06Z 2011-06-29T16:50:06Z 1969 Text Thesis/Dissertation http://hdl.handle.net/2429/35793 eng For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use. University of British Columbia
collection NDLTD
language English
sources NDLTD
topic Child development
Altruism
Child psychology
spellingShingle Child development
Altruism
Child psychology
Hops, Zona Joyce
The Effects of models of perceived similarity on two types of altruistic behavior in fifth grade children
description This study examined the effect of same-sex peer models perceived as similar, neutral, or dissimilar on two types of altruistic behaviour in fifth grade children. The dependent variable was altruistic responses, operationally defined as penny donations and volunteering of service time to work on a charitable project. A two-factor design was employed for each experiment in which the three treatment conditions: model-similar, model-neutral, model-dissimilar, and the no-model control group were nested within the sex factor. A total sample of 320 subjects for both experiments was drawn from six public elementary schools in North Burnaby. The research questions for the two experiments were: 1. Does the presence of a model elicit more donations of money and service time for charitable purposes in fifth grade children than no model? 2. Does the similarity shared between the observer and model affect the donations of money and service time for charitable purposes? 3. Are there any sex differences in donating money and service time for charitable purposes? Each subject was interviewed individually by an experimenter who attempted to manipulate through a verbal description the perceptions of a peer-model. Following a brief introduction the subject observed the model play a marble game through which rewards of pennies or five-minute time tokens were dispensed on a pre-determined schedule. The subject then played a game alone and received either money or time tokens which could be contributed by dropping them into a donation can before leaving the experimental room. The no-model control group played the game alone following initial instructions from the experimenter. The data was analyzed by an ANOVA and orthogonal comparisons of the means of the different treatment groups. As hypothesized, a same-sex peer model was more effective in eliciting altruistic responses than no model. The greater the real or assumed similarity between the observer and model the more effective the model was in eliciting penny and service donations. The presence of a model perceived as similar was significantly more effective in eliciting money donations and service time than a model perceived as dissimilar. No sex differences were found in the donations of money or time to work on a charitable project. === Education, Faculty of === Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of === Graduate
author Hops, Zona Joyce
author_facet Hops, Zona Joyce
author_sort Hops, Zona Joyce
title The Effects of models of perceived similarity on two types of altruistic behavior in fifth grade children
title_short The Effects of models of perceived similarity on two types of altruistic behavior in fifth grade children
title_full The Effects of models of perceived similarity on two types of altruistic behavior in fifth grade children
title_fullStr The Effects of models of perceived similarity on two types of altruistic behavior in fifth grade children
title_full_unstemmed The Effects of models of perceived similarity on two types of altruistic behavior in fifth grade children
title_sort effects of models of perceived similarity on two types of altruistic behavior in fifth grade children
publisher University of British Columbia
publishDate 2011
url http://hdl.handle.net/2429/35793
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