Quantitative Techniques Case source: Rice Virtual Laboratory.

Original material has been edited

Group Exercise 05

Gender Difference in Attitudes Toward the Use of Animals in Research

Research conducted by: Nicole Hilliard, Faculty Advisor: Heidi Ziemer Case study prepared by: Emily Zitek Overview The use of animals in research is a controversial and emotionally charged issue. Personal feelings regarding the use of animals in research vary widely. While many believe that the use of animals in research has been and continues to be essential, others want the practice stopped by cutting off funding or the passing of legislative restrictions. Research on human attitudes toward the use of animals in research has consistently shown systematic differences of opinion with gender differences among the largest. In this study, a convience sample of 34 University of Houston - Downtown students completed a simple survey that asked their gender and how much they agreed with the following two statements: "The use of animals in research is wrong," and "The use of animals in research is necessary". They rated their agreement with each of these statements on a 7-point scale from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (7). These ratings are presented as Before scores. Assume here, for the purpose of analysis, that all participants were exposed to a video explaining the benefits of animal testing, and that After scores recorded their agreement with the same two statements after they had seen the video. Design Issues This is self-report data. It is possible that the willingness to admit to thinking animal research is wrong or necessary is what differs by gender, not how the participants actually feel. Descriptions of Variables in data file BS GE 05 Data.xls Variable Gender Wrong Necessary Description 1 = female, 2 = male high scores indicate that the participant believes that animal research is wrong high scores indicate that the participant believes that animal research is necessary

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Quantitative Techniques Case source: Rice Virtual Laboratory. Original material has been edited

References Eldridge, J.J. & Gluck, J.P. (1996) Gender differences in attitudes toward animal research. Ethics & Behavior, 6(3), 239-256. Nickell, D & Herzog, H.A. (1996). Ethical ideology and moral persuasion: Personal moral philosophy, gender, and judgements of pro- and anti-animal research propaganda. Society & Animals, 4(1), 53-64. Pifer, L. K. (1996). Exploring the gender gap in young adults attitudes about animal research. Society & Animals, 4(1), 37-52. Wuensch, K. L. & Poteat, G.M. (1998). Evaluating the morality of animal research: Effects of ethical ideology, gender, and purpose. Journal of Social Behavior & Personality, 13(1), 139-151. Links American Association for the Advancement of Science Exercises A. For Before scores 1. Create side-by-side box plots for belief that animal research is wrong by gender. Which gender looks like it is more likely to believe that animal research is wrong? 2. Using the box plot computed in question 1, determine which gender has an outlier. 3. What percentage of the women studied in this sample strongly agreed (gave a rating of 7) that using animals for research is wrong? 4. What is the mean difference in the ratings for the two genders in how much they think that animal research is wrong? 5. Conduct an appropriate significance test comparing males to females on belief that animal research is wrong. Are the samples dependent or independent? 6. Create side-by-side box plots for belief that animal research is necessary by gender. Which gender looks like it is more likely to believe that animal research is necessary? 7. What percentage of men disagreed on some level (gave ratings of 1, 2, or 3) that animal research was necessary? B. For After scores 8. Conduct an appropriate hypothesis test comparing the effect on males, of the instructional video on opinion about whether animal testing is wrong or not wrong. Are the samples dependent or independent? 9. Based on the test you conducted for #8, are you able to reject the null hypothesis if alpha = 0.05? What about if alpha = 0.1? Date due: 25 July 2011 Time for presentation: 15 minutes

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