Methods - Paper Option 1

Cooper: Research Methods
Short Paper Option 1: (Remember, you must do one of the three short paper assignments during the
semester.)
Due: Tuesday, March 10
Approximate Length: 3 typed, doubled-spaced pages

For this assignment, you will basically be repeating the Myers study cited in the Harford article. If you choose, you may to do the study in a bar (or restaurant with a bar area like TGIF, Applebees, etc) but only if you are 21 or older. If you would like to do the study in a different kind of eating or drinking establishment, you must come and talk to me first.

For the study, you should go to a place where you will be able to see/hear what people are ordering and how long it takes them to get served. Likewise, you should find a place that will have a significant number of customers. Also, be sure get at least 15 female and 15 male observations. (As such, you should also try to avoid locations that are predominantly female or male.)

1. Briefly summarize the findings of the study that Caitlin Myers did (as cited in the Harford article). Explain what you plan to do (Which place are you going to? What time of the day?) (Approx. 1/2 page)

2. What do you expect the results of your study to be? Do you expect your findings to be similar to those of Myers’ study? Why or why not? (Approx. ½ page)

3. Discuss your findings. Specifically, you must provide the following information. 1) How many observations did you do? 2) What were the differences in the ways that male and female customers were treated? 3) What was the difference in average wait times? 4) Were there differences even after accounting for differences in the type of drinks? Again, be as specific as possible in answering these questions (Approx. 1 1/4 pages)

4. Was your hypothesis confirmed? What surprised (or did not surprise) you about your findings? Do you think you would get the same findings if you repeated your study a week later? (Approx. ¾ page)