Handshake: Effects of Environment and Gender

Introduction

Past Research

Sparked our interest…Handshaking, Gender, Personality, and

First Impressions, by Chaplin et al., (2000)

Handshaking, Personality, and Psychopathology in Psychiatric Patients, a Reliability and Correlational Study, by Åström, et al., (1993)

Purpose

Examine how differences in scripts affects the participants’ handshaking characteristics

Examine how the gender of both the researchers and of the participants affects the participants’ handshaking characteristics

Hypotheses

Locus of Control & Self-EsteemScriptGender

ParticipantResearcher

Method

Participants

42 Undergraduate General Psychology Students

12 Males & 30 FemalesMean age = 19.40 yearsAll participants were treated

according to APA ethical guidelines

Materials

ScriptsCasualFormal

Surveys UsedLocus of Control

Rotter’s Internal-External Control Scale

Self-EsteemNew York State Self-

Esteem Scale

Handshake Rating ScaleLikert Scale from 1-

5GripStrengthDuration

Video Cameras

Scripts

CasualThanks for coming today. How’s your day going? All right,

before we get started, the Psych Dept. wants you to fill out these forms so that you will get credit for doing this. It’ll only take a second. All right, now you will be filling out two surveys about your personality and self-esteem. Don’t worry about them, just fill it out the best you can. We just want to find out some information about your personality and your self-esteem. When you are done, just let me know. Okay, you can go ahead and get started.

Scripts

FormalThis study is investigating personality traits. You will be asked to

fill out multiple-item surveys on personality and self-esteem, as honestly as possible. When you are finished, please turn your completed surveys into the experimenter in the front of the room. All your responses will remain anonymous. The surveys contain no marker, so your name will not be associated with any responses or results. You will be classified by gender, and a randomly assigned participant identification number will be given to your survey. Your participation is voluntary and you may stop at any time without penalty. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask one of the experimenters. Before we begin, however, I need you to fill out these forms for the Psychology Department in order for you to receive for this experiment. Thank you for your time and participation.

Handshaking Rating Scale

Strength1--------2--------3--------4--------5limp firm

Duration 1--------2--------3--------4--------5short long

Grip 1--------2--------3--------4--------5

incomplete complete

Design

2x2x2 Factorial DesignCompletely Between-Subject DesignParticipants individually runRaters blind to script

Conditions

Female Ss, Casual script, Female Rs

Female Ss, Formal script, Female Rs

Female Ss, Casual script, Male Rs

Female Ss, Formal script, Male Rs

Male Ss, Casual script, Female Rs

Male Ss, Formal script, Female Rs

Male Ss, Casual script, Male Rs

Male Ss, Formal script, Male Rs

Handshake Training

Pre-established self-rated scaleResearchers handshake based on

consistent comparison scale

ProcedureIndividual Ss brought into room

Instructions and Surveys given by Rs according to script condition

Upon completion of surveys, Rater entered room and performed handshake Rater immediately scored handshake

Ss was then debriefed

Results

Results

Multiple ANOVAsInternal/External Locus of Control

Grip p = .43 NSStrength p = .44 NSDuration p = .77 NSAverage p = .61 NS

Multiple ANOVAsSelf-Esteem (high/low)

Grip p = .68 NSStrength p = .81 NSDuration p = .74 NSAverage p = .97 NS

Results, con’t.

Results - Grip

Main EffectsGender p = .93 NSScript p = .06 *Gender of Rs p = .003 *

2-way InteractionsGender & Script p = .07 *Gender & Gender of Rs p = .07 *Script & Gender of Rs p = .16 NS

Grip, con’t.

3-way InteractionsGender, Script & Gender of Rs p = .19 NS

Grip Graph

2-way Interaction for Gender/Script & Gender/Gender of Rs

012345

Casual Formal

Script

Rat

ing

Male Ss & Male Rs Female Ss & Male RsMale Ss & Female Rs Female Ss & Female Rs

Results - Strength

Main EffectsGender p = .51 NSScript p = .02 *Gender of Rs p = .03 *

2-way InteractionsGender & Script p = .02 *Gender & Gender of Rs p = .04 *Script & Gender of Rs p = .07 *

Strength, con’t.

3-way InteractionGender, Script, & Gender of Rs p = .21 NS

Strength Graph

2-way Interaction for Gender/Script, Script/GenderRs & Gender/GenderRs

012345

Casual Formal

Script

Scor

e

Male Ss & Male Rs Female Ss & Male RsMale Ss & Female Rs Female Ss & Female Rs

Results - Duration

Main EffectsGender p = .09 *Script p = .17 NSGender of Rs p = .02 *

2-way InteractionsGender & Script p = .62 NSGender & Gender of Rs p = .20 NSScript & Gender of Rs p = .03 *

Duration, con't.

3-way InteractionGender, Script & Gender of Rs p = .02 *

Duration Graph

3-way Interaction for Gender/Script/GenderRs

012345

Casual Formal

Script

Rat

ing

Male Ss & Male Rs Female Ss & Male RsMale Ss & Female Rs Female Ss & Female Rs

Results - Average

Main EffectsGender p = .799 NSScript p = .03 *Gender of Rs p = .005 *

2-way InteractionsGender & Script p = .06 *Gender & Gender of Rs p = .05 *Script & Gender of Rs p = .04 *

Average, con’t.

3-way InteractionGender, Script & Gender of Rs p = .07 *

Average Graph

3-way Interaction for Gender/Script/Gender of Rs

012345

Casual Formal

Script

Rat

ing

Male Ss & Male Rs Female Ss & Male RsMale Ss & Female Rs Female Ss & Female Rs

Evaluation of Hypotheses

Internal/External Locus of Control & Self-EsteemNo significant results

ScriptMain effectMarginal interaction with Gender Interaction with Gender of RsMarginal interaction with Gender & Gender

of Rs

Gender of SsMarginal interaction with Script Interaction of Gender of RsMarginal interaction with Script & Gender of

Rs

Gender of RsMain effect Interaction of Gender Interaction of ScriptMarginal interaction with Gender & Script

Evaluation of Hypotheses, con’t.

What it all means...

“It Depends”

Discussion

Discussion

ImplicationsFirst Impressions

Interview Settings

Cross-cultural UnderstandingOthers Understanding the “American”

handshake

Discussion, con’t.

ShortcomingsExpose to all conditions

“Backpack Factor”

Operationally Define Casual & Formal Script

Discussion, con’t.

Future ResearchCultural Background Differences

Manipulate Environment

Different Age Groups

Conclusion

QUESTIONS??