THE NATURE OF NATURE VS.
NURTUREKevin P. Spotts
George L. Gradwell, Jr
Zachary R. Kaplan
BACKGROUND OF NATURE VS. NURTURE
Conceptual OriginsNature- behavioral and personality traits
originate from heredity Traits come from biological parents
Nurture- behavioral and personality traits come from the environment in which individual is raised in Traits come from setting
vs.
BACKGROUND OF NATURE VS. NURTURE Historical Origins
Exact origin of titled concept is unknownDiscussed by Francis Galton (English
Victorian Polymath), Shakespeare, Charles Darwin, and John Locke (English Philosopher) in various settings
DESCRIPTION OF STUDY What factors influence one’s opinions on
“Nature vs. Nurture?”Decade Born?Political Affiliation?Number of Siblings?
Is there a noticeable difference in the opinions of males and females?
PROCEDURE: DATA COLLECTION Written survey taken by subjects in
public place (Valley Square)Systematic sampling- every other person
seen was chosen to take survey Parents with young children disregarded for
politenessSurveys taken on Wednesday, June 1st,
between 3pm and 5pm Additional surveys completed by adult
members of Zack and George’s scout troopsWe needed more old people
THE SURVEY
Gender (circle one): Male Female
Decade Born (circle one): 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s
Political Affiliation (circle One): Republican Democrat Independent Other None
Number of siblings (circle one): 0 1 2
3 4 5 6+ In your opinion, do someone’s behavioral and personality traits
originate more from heredity (NATURE) or the environment in which he/she was raised (NURTURE)? Please circle the ratio of the relationship between “nature” and “nurture” that is closest to your opinions. 100% Nature 75% Nature, 25% Nurture 50% Nature, 50% Nurture 25% Nature, 75% Nurture 100% Nurture
PROCEDURE: ANALYSISAll data categorized and entered into fathom
Some groups combined so all conditions could be metResponse to Nature vs. Nurture question, decade
born, political affiliationX² Test of Independence performed on each
variable Conditions checked and met Mechanics performed Conclusions made
Two out of four variables (gender, decade born, political affiliation, number of siblings) DO affect one’s opinions on Nature vs. Nurture!
CLASS ACTIVITY Predict which two variables have a
relationship with one’s opinion on nature vs. nurtureGender?Decade Born?Political Affiliation?Number of Siblings?
What is the relationship?
EXPLORATORY DATA ANALYSIS
EXPLORATORY DATA- GENDER VS. “NATURE VS. NURTURE”Collection 1
RowSummary
Column Summary
Gender
M
Gender
F
A
B
C
Less_Choice
10 16
22 21
16 22
48 59
26
43
38
107
S1 = count
Choice A: Majority/All NatureChoice B: 50/50 Nature/NurtureChoice C: Majority/ All Nurture
M: Male F: Female
EXPLORATORY DATA- GENDER VS. “NATURE VS. NURTURE”- Males:
- Choice A: 27.1%
- Choice B: 35.6%
- Choice C: 37.3%
- Females:- Choice A:
20.8%- Choice B:
45.8%- Choice C:
33.3%
AB
C
Gender
5 10 15 20 25F
0 5 10 15 20 25M
Frequency of Less_Choice
count
Collection 1
EXPLORATORY DATA: DECADE BORN VS. “NATURE VS. NURTURE”
Collection 1
RowSummary
Column Summary
Less_Decades
B
Less_Decades
A
A
B
C
Less_Choice
20 6
14 29
15 23
49 58
26
43
38
107
S1 = count
Choice A: Majority/All NatureChoice B: 50/50 Nature/NurtureChoice C: Majority/ All NurtureDecade A: 1930s-1960sDecade B: 1970s-1990s
EXPLORATORY DATA: DECADE BORN VS. “NATURE VS. NURTURE”
AB
C
Less_Decades
5 10 15 20 25 30A
0 5 10 15 20 25 30B
Frequency of Less_Choice
count
Collection 1 Bar Chart
-1930s-1960s:- Choice A: 40.8%- Choice B: 28.6%- Choice C: 30.6%
-1970s-1990s:- Choice A: 10.3%- Choice B: 50%- Choice C: 39.7%
EXPLORATORY DATA: POLITICAL AFFILIATION VS. “NATURE VS. NURTURE”
Collection 1
RowSummary
Column Summary
Less_PoliticalLess_Political
Other R
Less_Political
D
A
B
C
Less_Choice
10 10 6
15 11 17
13 9 16
38 30 39
26
43
38
107
S1 = countChoice A: Majority/All NatureChoice B: 50/50 Nature/NurtureChoice C: Majority/ All Nurture
D: DemocratO: OtherR: Republican
EXPLORATORY DATA: POLITICAL AFFILIATION VS. “NATURE VS. NURTURE”
- Democrats:- Choice A: 26.3%- Choice B: 39.5%- Choice C: 34.2%
- Republicans:- Choice A: 10.3%- Choice B: 50%- Choice C: 39.7%
- Other- Choice A: 33.3%- Choice B: 36.7%- Choice C: 30%
AB
C
Less_Political
4 8 12 16D
0 4 8 12 16Other
0 4 8 12 16R
Frequency of Less_Choice
count
Collection 1 Bar Chart
EXPLORATORY DATA: SIBLINGS VS. “NATURE VS. NURTURE”
Collection 1
RowSummary
Column Summary
Less_Siblings
B
Less_Siblings
A
A
B
C
Less_Choice
7 19
34 9
24 14
65 42
26
43
38
107
S1 = count
Choice A: Majority/All NatureChoice B: 50/50 Nature/NurtureChoice C: Majority/ All Nurture
Sibling Choice A: 0-2 SiblingsSibling Choice B: 3+ Siblings
EXPLORATORY DATA: SIBLINGS VS. “NATURE VS. NURTURE”
AB
C
Less_Siblings
5 10 15 20 25 30 35A
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35B
Frequency of Less_Choice
count
Collection 1 Bar Chart
-0 to 2 Siblings:-Choice A: 10.8%Choice B: 52.3%Choice C: 36.9%
-3+ Siblings -Choice A: 45.2%-Choice B: 21.4%-Choice C: 33.3%
SAMPLE POPULATION
10
20
30
40
50
60
Gender
F M
count
Collection 1 Bar Chart
10
20
30
40
50
60
Less_Decades
A B
count
Collection 1 Bar Chart
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Less_Siblings
A B
count
Collection 1 Bar Chart
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Less_Political
D Other R
count
Collection 1 Bar Chart
44.9% 55.1%
35.5% 28
%
36.5%60.7% 39.3%
45.8%54.2%
CONCLUSIONS ABOUT POPULATION Political affiliation and gender do not effect
an individual’s opinions on Nature vs. Nurture in our community
Decade born and number of siblings DO effect an individual’s opinion on Nature vs. Nurture Individuals born from 1930s-1960s more likely
to believe that NATURE is a larger factor Individuals born from 1970s-1990s more likely
to believe that Nature and Nurture play equal roles or that NURTURE is a larger factor
Individuals with 3+ siblings are more likely to believe that NATURE is a larger factor
INFERENTIAL ANALYSIS
X²TEST OF INDEPENDENCE: GENDER AND “NATURE VS. NURTURE”
Conditions 1) Categorical Data--- Gender is categorical 2) SRS--- Yes, systematic sampling of random population 3) All expected counts ≥5--- Yes they are
Ho: No association exists between Gender and NvN Ha: Association exists between Gender and NvN
X²TEST OF INDEPENDENCE: GENDER AND “NATURE VS. NURTURE”
237.1...3.19
)3.1922(
3.14
)3.1416(
7.11
)7.1110( 2222
DF= 2 P(X²>1.237)= .54
-We fail to reject Ho because P-value .54 > α= .05.-We have sufficient evidence that there is no association between gender and opinion on Nature vs. Nurture
X²TEST OF INDEPENDENCE: DECADE BORN AND “NATURE VS. NURTURE” Conditions
1) Categorical Data--- Decade Born is categorical 2) SRS--- Yes, systematic sampling of random population 3) All expected counts ≥5--- Yes they are
Ho: No association exists between decade born and NvN
Ha: Association exists between decade born and NvN
X²TEST OF INDEPENDENCE: DECADE BORN AND “NATURE VS. NURTURE”
8.13...7.19
)7.1914(
1.14
)1.146(
9.11
)9.1120( 2222
DF=2 P(X²>13.8)= .001
-We reject Ho because P-value .001< α=.005- We have sufficient evidence that an association exists between decade born and opinion on Nature vs. Nurture
X²TEST OF INDEPENDENCE: POLITICAL AFFILIATION AND “NATURE VS. NURTURE”
Conditions 1) Categorical Data-Political Affiliation is categorical 2) SRS--- Yes, systematic sampling of random population 3) All expected counts ≥5--- Yes they are
Ho: No association exists between political affiliation and NvN
Ha: Association exists between political affiliation and NvN
X²TEST OF INDEPENDENCE: POLITICAL AFFILIATION AND “NATURE VS. NURTURE”
165.3...5.9
)5.96(
3.7
)3.710(
2.9
)2.910( 2222
DF=4 P(X²>3.165) = .53
- We fail to reject Ho because P-value .53> α= .005-We have sufficient evidence that there is no association between political affiliation and opinion on Nature vs. Nurture
X²TEST OF INDEPENDENCE: NUMBER OF SIBLINGS AND “NATURE VS. NURTURE”
Conditions1) Categorical Number of siblings (in this case) is categorical2) SRS--- Yes, systematic sampling of random population3) All expected counts ≥5--- Yes they are
Ho: No association exists between number of siblings and NvNHa: Association exists between number of siblings and NvN
X²TEST OF INDEPENDENCE: NUMBER OF SIBLINGS AND “NATURE VS. NURTURE”
62.18...1.26
)1.2634(
2.10
)2.1019(
8.15
)8.157( 2222
DF= 2 P(X²>18.62)= .0001
-We reject Ho because P-value .0001 < α= .005-We have sufficient evidence that an association exists between number of siblings and opinion on Nature vs. Nurture
APPLICATION TO POPULATION From the findings of the X² Tests of
Independence, we can conclude that in our population: No association exists between one’s opinion
on Nature vs. Nurture and gender No association exists between one’s opinion
on Nature vs. Nurture and political affiliation An association exists between one’s opinion
on Nature vs. Nurture and the decade in which one was born
An association exists between one’s opinion on Nature vs. Nurture and the number of siblings one has
BIAS/ERROR One visit to Valley Square not fully
representative of population Multiple visits in other public places could be
yield more accurate results Parents with young children disregarded
Perhaps parents with young children have particular opinions on Nature vs. Nurture
Personal error Only one person asked for volunteers Intimidation factor- 3 observers approaching
one subject Bias in wording or survey Response bias in survey
PERSONAL OPINIONS Surprised with association between siblings
and opinions on Nature vs. Nurture We thought that the association would be the
reverse of what it turned out to be Not surprised with association between
decade born and opinions on Nature vs. Nurture Opinions are more progressive as time
progresses- who you are is not solely determined by your genes
Not surprised with no associations between political affiliation/ gender and Nature vs. Nurture
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