INQUIRY

INQUIRY • Volume 19, 2015
reward value of interacting with them. This research analyzed
what factors determine the extent to which people
will rely on these pieces of information in making a decision.
In particular, trait information is likely to be seen as
stable across various contexts, whereas reward information
is likely to be seen as context specific. Therefore, this study
tested how the timing of an interaction with other people
(i.e., in the present versus the future) affects how people
use these different pieces of information in making social
choices. This research combines insights from the construal
level and learning literature to create a unique understanding
of how people learn about other people. Moreover, this
project can shed light on the important social question of
how and when people will choose to interact with others.
How to Get High Heels in the Oval: The Effect of
Psychological Distance on Voting Intentions
Abigail Bisi, Psychology
Sponsor: Professor Emily Balcetis, Psychology
Women comprise 50.8% of the American population
but are largely underrepresented in leadership. For example,
out of 44 presidents, none have been female. One explanation
for this gender imbalance is the pervasiveness of
negative stereotypes held about women in leadership positions
(Heilman and Parks-Stamm, 2007). However, not all
Americans hold such stereotypes (Alexander and Anderson,
2013). If only some Americans adopt negative stereotypes
about female leaders, why then are women grossly underrepresented
at the top? This research uses Construal Level
Theory to predict that at a distance, people use higher-level
values endorsed at the system level, including negative
stereotypes regarding female leaders. However, up close,
people use personal beliefs to inform voting decisions. To
manipulate distance, participants were asked to consider
an election either 3 or 3,000 miles away (Study 1) or an
election 2 days or 2 years away (Study 2). Results show
that when considering voting for a woman located farther
away, people rely on national beliefs, as assessed through
self-report and experimental manipulations. However, when
considering a female candidate located nearby, participants
rely on personal beliefs, as assessed through conscious and
unconscious measures of personal attitudes. This study
discusses implications for female underrepresentation in
politics, business and other male-dominated industries.
Does Not Paying Subjects a Show-Up Fee Affect Results
in Lab Experiments
Vittorio Bisin, Economics, Mathematics
Sponsor: Professor David Pearce, Economics
At New York University there are fundamentally
two types of experimental pools: one consists of unpaid
undergraduates completing experiments for class credit,
the other of volunteers who are paid a show-up fee. By
re-running in the latter pool an experiment conducted in
the former one, this project examined whether the pool
has an effect on the results of the experiment. The authors
demonstrate two statistically significant effects compared
to the original study and discuss how these results seem to
decrease framing bias compared to the original study. It is
hypothesized that this decrease in framing bias is a result
of greater incentivization due to the show-up fee.
Collaborating on a “Wicked Problem:” The Contested
Language of Climate Change Adaptation
Sheila Blair, Anthropology
Sponsor: Professor Sonia Das, Anthropology
Climate change is a complex and controversial issue
involving political, cultural, sociological and economic
dimensions. Addressing these issues in tandem brings
together stakeholders from a diverse array of professions,
classes and cultures. Communication within these diverse
groups of stakeholders is crucial to achieving mutual
understanding, yet there are far too few anthropological
linguistic studies of climate change debates. Drawing on a
discourse analysis of discussions among scientists, scholars
and other professionals, this study advances understanding
of how the goals of climate change action are negotiated.
The data analyzed are audio recordings of two case studies:
the first was a panel of “unlikely allies” open to the public,
the second an academic workshop open by invitation only.
Analysis reveals a) explicit statements regarding actors’
self-awareness about the contested nature of institutional
talk, b) conversational framings that contest key terms and
goals and c) explicit references to institutional norms as
barriers to cross-scale and/or interdisciplinary collaboration.
Thus, this study argues that although current climate
change debates are strengthened by an acknowledgement
of the need for diverse voices and increased reflexivity
about the issue’s complexity, there remain significant
obstacles to bridging institutional divides that hinder
consensus understanding.
Love at First Sight or Character Flawed? The Role of
Physical Attractiveness and Character in Dating
Chase Brennick, Psychology
Sponsor: Professor Emily Balcetis, Psychology
What inspires a person to pursue a potential romantic
partner? Prior research indicates that physical attractiveness
and positive character predict further interactions
with a prospective partner (Walster et al., 1966; Li et al.,
2002). However, not all potential dates possess both good
looks and character. In these cases, which factor takes
precedence and which can be overlooked? This research
investigated the extent to which physical attractiveness and
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