Isabel Robertson and Emily Weiler
Whitworth University
Analysis and Results
The number stuff!
Hypotheses
Hypothesis 1:
We hypothesize that hand gesture cues will result in more positive personality trait attribution overall, while body posture cues will result in more negative personality trait attribution.
Hypothesis 2:
In a secondary analysis of the attribution of specific traits to posture and hand gesture cues, we hypothesize that body posture will be more negatively attributed to traits of agreeableness, sociability, and emotional stability, and hand gestures will be more positively attributed to traits of agreeableness, sociability, and emotional stability.
Analysis Score Prep
1. 10 images with 3 trait scales= 30 numerical scores per participant
2. 5 images per cue group = 15 numerical scores per participant per cue group
Hypothesis 1:
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3 scores for each image were averaged
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5 averaged scores for each cue group (posture and hand gestures) were added to reach a sum
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Score average sums were used to compare the means between the posture cue group and the hand gesture cue group.​
Hypothesis 2:
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3 scores for each image, 1 for each trait = 5 total scores for each trait in each cue group
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5 scores for each trait were added to find a sum
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posture group had 1 sum for each trait (agreeableness, sociability, emotional stability) and hand gesture group had 1 sum for each trait
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Score sums were used to compare between the specific traits for each individual cue group
Initial Analysis Scale for Positive or Negative Attribution
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1--2--3--4--5--6--7--8--9--10--11--12--13--14--15--16--17--18--19--20--21--22--23--24--25
sum scores/average sums <10 = negative attribution
sum scores/average sums between 11-19 = neutral attribution
sum scores/average sums >20 = positive attribution
Design
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Within groups design (all participants received both testing conditions)
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Images and trait scales were presented in the same order for every participant
Statistical Tests​
Hypothesis 1: Repeated Measures t-test
Hypothesis 2: Repeated Measures ANOVA
Hypothesis 1:
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The means scores were higher in the hand gesture cue group, although both the hand gesture cue group and the posture cue group fell into the overall neutral trait attribution range (trait score sum average between 11 and 19).
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A repeated measures t-test revealed that non-verbal communication did not affect positive or negative trait attribution (M= -.1378, SD=2.89), t(51)= -.343, p=.733.
The hypothesis was not supported.
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Hypothesis 2:
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Participant trait scores for posture for emotional stability were higher than those for agreeableness and sociability. All three trait attribution sum scores fell within the overall neutral attribution range (sums between 11 and 19).
A repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a significant difference in the perception of posture for the three trait levels, F(2,102)=17.000, p<.05, η2=.250.
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A Tukey's posthoc analysis revealed significantly higher scores for emotional stability compared to agreeableness (p=.000). Emotional stability was also significantly higher than sociability (p=.000).
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The hypothesis was partially supported.
Participant trait scores for hand gestures for sociability and emotional stability were higher than those for agreeableness. All three trait attribution sum scores fell within the overall neutral attribution range (sums between 11 and 19).
A repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a significant difference in perception of hand gestures for the three trait levels, F(2,102)=6.559, p=.002, η2=.114.
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A Tukey's posthoc analysis revealed significantly higher scores for sociability compared to agreeableness (p= .002). Emotional stability was also significantly higher than agreeableness (p=.007).
The hypothesis was partially supported.