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Social Science: Family Studies
Related ASU Research Stories
Social Structure on the Playground (feature)
Publication Date: Fall 1998
In a recent study, ASU scientist Carol Martin surveyed the peer preferences of 184 Phoenix children ages four to six. During the study, she showed each child pictures of a single boy, a single girl, a group of three boys and a group of three girls.
She then asked each child questions such as:
How much would you like to play with that boy?
How much would a girl like to play with that boy?
How much would another boy like to play with that boy?
How much would other kids like it if you played with that boy?
Her findings were succinct and to the point. Kids were most eager to play with same-sex children. They believed other girls would not like to play with boys, and vice versa.
They also did not think that they would they would win much approval from their peers if they played with members of the opposite sex.—Amanda Kingsbury