Sherman, Haidt, and Coan (2009) were interested in the behavioral carefulness that is needed when caring for a small, delicate child. In a research study, they addressed the question of whether or not perceiving cuteness could influence behavioral carefulness. In Experiment 1, a total of 40 undergraduate women were randomly assigned to one of two conditions to view slides of puppies and kittens (high cuteness) or dogs and cats (low cuteness). The research participants performed a task using tweezers that was designed to measure carefulness. This task was performed both before and after viewing the slides. Grip strength and heart rate were also measured before and after viewing the slides. The before-after differences in the measures were calculated for each participant and mean differences were analyzed via independent samples t-tests. The results are summarized in the table.

Summary of Task Performance by Condition

1. For which of the variables was the difference between the high cute and low cute conditions statistically significant? For the significant differences, which condition had the larger mean change, high cute or low cute?

2. Would the significant differences be considered large?

3. Would the significant differences be considered important differences?

4. Would the sample size be considered excessively large?

Transcribed Image Text:

Mean (SD) High cute Low cute t value Cohen's Variable p value n = 20 .60 (1.97) n = 20 Change in task performance .05 1.80 1.99 .63 (1.83) Change in grip strength -4.35 10.42 -3.35 6.98 .02 2.06 .72 0.36 .12 Change in heart rate 1.64 3.22 .07 1.89 .61