Hilliard and Liben (2010)

• Aim: 

  To investigate how social category salience affects the development of gender stereotypes and inter-group behavior in preschool children.
• Method


  • Design: Field experiment with pre-test/post-test design
  • Sample: 57 US children (age range: 3 years 1 month to 5 years 6 months)
• IV & DV:

  • Independent Variable: Gender salience (high vs. low)
  • Dependent Variables:

  1. Gender attitude (measured by POAT-AM test)
  2. Play behavior with opposite-sex peers
• Procedure


  1. Pre-test: Children completed POAT-AM gender attitude test
  2. Observation of play behavior
  3. Two-week intervention:

  • High salience condition: Gender-specific language and organization
  • Low salience condition (control): No changes to usual practices

  1. Post-test: Repeat of POAT-AM and play behavior observation
  2. Debriefing program to counteract potential negative effects
• Results


  1. High salience condition:

  • Significant decrease in "both" responses on POAT-AM (increased gender stereotypes)
  • Significant decrease in play with opposite-sex peers

  1. Low salience condition:

  • No significant changes in gender attitudes or play behavior
• Hilliard and Liben's study provides valuable insights into how environmental factors can influence children's gender attitudes and behaviors, supporting Social Identity Theory's predictions. However, the limitations in sample selection and potential ethical concerns should be considered when interpreting and applying these findings.