On Conditional Hypotheses and Gender as a Status Characteristic

Abstract

This article concerns the logic and empirical assessment of conditional hypotheses; as an example, we examine gender as status. A variety of expectation states hypotheses on gender effects in task groups assume that gender is a status characteristic for the group members. We report on an experiment designed as a check of whether the participants meet that assumption and, if so, to what extent. Subjects were male and female undergraduates assigned to work with either a male or a female partner on a novel perceptual task. We collected behavioral data on rejection of influence from the partner, and self-reports on perceptions of the task situation. Results show no significant differences across conditions in influence rejection, and only a few such differences in the self-reports. After reviewing possible alternative interpretations of the results, we conclude that gender was not a status characteristic in this case. Other implications ofthe findings are also examined.