The mean in the results for males were higher with the physical types of reinforcement than for females.

The mean in the results for females was higher with the verbal types of reinforcement than for males. Point Sampling is when enough information is gathered on a person the researcher moves onto the next until all 20 participants are observed (10 male, 10 female). The behaviours were recorded by using the method of point sampling. She used the apparatus (tally chart listing the different category systems) to define each type of reinforcement. She then sat in a seat at an appropriate distance from the person being observed. She then selected an appropriate person who would be available for a long enough period of time, so enough information could be gathered on them. She was observing the way in which members of the same gender praised/criticised each other, either verbally, physically or both.

(See Appendix A) Procedure In this investigation the observer firstly selected a public place where she could carry out her observation. The chart was designed by firstly conducting a short preliminary observation to gather the different types of reinforcement used by the target population. Apparatus and Materials Tally chart listing different types in reinforcement used by the target population. Twenty people were observed, ten of each gender. The small group that were selected as representatives of the target population were selected by using the sampling method Opportunity Sampling, as the researcher chose anyone who was in the target population and was available for a sufficient amount of time to be observed. The target population in this investigation were college students aged 16 – 18 attending a sixth form college in west London. Participants A large group of people whom we are interested in measuring are called a target population. Extraneous Variables The study was performed in the same place so the confounding variable, situational variable, wouldn’t occur and affect the results. These were smiling, tutting, verbal encouragement, nudging soft/aggressively and hugging. In this investigation the DV is the type of reinforcement males and females use to reinforce each other.

Participant observation