WOMEN'S BRAINS
by Stephen J. Gould in "The Panda's Thumb" 1980 (pp 152-159)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS1. What is the general point that Gould is presenting?
Gould is pointing out all of the ways in history that men have proven that they’re brains are larger than women’s. Even though, when the scientists conducted their expierements, they used non equal men and women.
2. What is the general evidence on which that conclusion is based?
Studies conducted between men and women, based on the size of their heads.
3. What is the gender of all the researchers producing those data and conclusions?
They were all male, except for one school teacher.
They were all male, except for one school teacher.
4. What weaknesses or problems with those data and their interpretation does Gould point out?
They were biased, as they were men, and they didn’t take into account that women are shorter, and their heads are smaller.
They were biased, as they were men, and they didn’t take into account that women are shorter, and their heads are smaller.
5. a) Name the one woman anthropologist mentioned who studied the subject of this essay. b) What did she find after proper correction of Broca's data? c) What were her conclusions from that finding?
a)Maria Montessori b) smarter students had larger heads c) Women, she concluded, were intellectually superior, but men had prevailed heretofore by dint of physical force.
6. What conclusion does Gould reach about the central issue?
a)Maria Montessori b) smarter students had larger heads c) Women, she concluded, were intellectually superior, but men had prevailed heretofore by dint of physical force.
6. What conclusion does Gould reach about the central issue?
He concludes by saying the whole experiment was useless.
7. Make a general statement about the role of bias and assumptions in the collecting, processing, and interpretation of data in scientific studies.
In science, the role of bias-ness and assumptions plays inside every scientist, no matter who he or she is.
8. What other kinds of bias can you think of that might influence observations and interpretations in science?
Your age, and religion. Also what race you are, and even where you are from.
9. Describe your initial feelings (about the subject, the author, etc.) after reading the first 4 pages.
I think that the scientists should not have been so bias against women, and should have done more ‘fair’ expierementing. They should have used men and women more alike, rather than different heights and ages.
10. Describe your feeling after finishing the entire article
This article was a bit confusing, for there were many different people, and different views. But it was very informative, and showed the bias-ness of people from years ago.
7. Make a general statement about the role of bias and assumptions in the collecting, processing, and interpretation of data in scientific studies.
In science, the role of bias-ness and assumptions plays inside every scientist, no matter who he or she is.
8. What other kinds of bias can you think of that might influence observations and interpretations in science?
Your age, and religion. Also what race you are, and even where you are from.
9. Describe your initial feelings (about the subject, the author, etc.) after reading the first 4 pages.
I think that the scientists should not have been so bias against women, and should have done more ‘fair’ expierementing. They should have used men and women more alike, rather than different heights and ages.
10. Describe your feeling after finishing the entire article
This article was a bit confusing, for there were many different people, and different views. But it was very informative, and showed the bias-ness of people from years ago.
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