Kevin P. Spotts
George L. Gradwell, Jr
Zachary R. Kaplan
 Conceptual

Nature- behavioral and personality traits
originate from heredity


Origins
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.
 Historical


Origins
Exact origin of titled concept is unknown
Discussed by Francis Galton (English Victorian
Polymath), Shakespeare, Charles Darwin, and
John Locke (English Philosopher) in various
settings
 What
factors influence one’s opinions on
“Nature vs. Nurture?”



 Is
Decade Born?
Political Affiliation?
Number of Siblings?
there a noticeable difference in the
opinions of males and females?
 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 politeness
Surveys taken on Wednesday, June 1st, between
3pm and 5pm
 Additional
surveys completed by adult
members of Zack and George’s scout troops

We needed more old people

Gender (circle one):
Male
Female

Decade Born (circle one):
1980s
1990s

Political Affiliation (circle One):
Independent
Other
1940s
None
1950s
Republican
1960s
1970s
Democrat



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

All data categorized and entered into fathom


Some groups combined so all conditions could be met
 Response to Nature vs. Nurture question, decade
born, political affiliation
X² 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!
 Predict
which two variables have a
relationship with one’s opinion on nature vs.
nurture




Gender?
Decade Born?
Political Affiliation?
Number of Siblings?
 What
is the relationship?
Collection 1
Gender
F
Less_Choice
M
A
10
16
26
B
22
21
43
C
16
22
38
48
59
107
Column Summary
S1 = count
Choice A: Majority/All Nature
Choice B: 50/50 Nature/Nurture
Choice C: Majority/ All Nurture
M: Male
F: Female
Row
Summary
-
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%
Collection 1
Less_Decades
A
Less_Choice
B
Row
Summary
A
20
6
26
B
14
29
43
C
15
23
38
49
58
107
Column Summary
S1 = count
Choice A: Majority/All Nature
Choice B: 50/50 Nature/Nurture
Choice C: Majority/ All Nurture
Decade A: 1930s-1960s
Decade B: 1970s-1990s
-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%
Collection 1
Less_Political
D
Less_Choice
R
A
10
10
6
26
B
15
11
17
43
C
13
9
16
38
38
30
39
107
Column Summary
S1 = count
Other
Row
Summary
Choice A: Majority/All Nature
Choice B: 50/50 Nature/Nurture
Choice C: Majority/ All Nurture
D: Democrat
O: Other
R: Republican
-
Democrats:
-
-
Republicans:
-
-
Choice A: 26.3%
Choice B: 39.5%
Choice C: 34.2%
Choice A: 10.3%
Choice B: 50%
Choice C: 39.7%
Other
-
Choice A: 33.3%
Choice B: 36.7%
Choice C: 30%
Collection 1
Less_Siblings
A
Less_Choice
B
Row
Summary
A
7
19
26
B
34
9
43
C
24
14
38
65
42
107
Column Summary
S1 = count
Choice A: Majority/All Nature
Choice B: 50/50 Nature/Nurture
Choice C: Majority/ All Nurture
Sibling Choice A: 0-2 Siblings
Sibling Choice B: 3+ Siblings
-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%
44.9%
55.1%
54.2%
45.8%
35.5%
60.7%
39.3%
28%
36.5%
 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

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
(10  11.7) 2 (16  14.3) 2 (22  19.3) 2
 


 ...  1.237
11.7
14.3
19.3
2
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

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
2
2
2
(
20

11
.
9
)
(
6

14
.
1
)
(
14

19
.
7
)
2  


 ...  13.8
11.9
14.1
19.7
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

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
2
2
2
(
10

9
.
2
)
(
10

7
.
3
)
(
6

9
.
5
)
2  


 ...  3.165
9.2
7.3
9.5
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
Conditions
1) Categorical Number of siblings (in this case) is
categorical
2) SRS--- Yes, systematic sampling of random population
3) All expected counts ≥5--- Yes they are
Ho: No association exists between number of siblings and NvN
Ha: Association exists between number of siblings and NvN
(7  15.8) 2 (19  10.2) 2 (34  26.1) 2
 


 ...  18.62
15.8
10.2
26.1
2
DF= 2P(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
 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

One visit to Valley Square not fully
representative of population


Parents with young children disregarded


Multiple visits in other public places could be yield
more accurate results
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

 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