The influence of academic achievement level, ethnicity, and sex on the risk-taking behavior of high school seniors

Abstract

The purpose of this inquiry was to determine if differences exist in the risk-taking behavior of high school seniors differing in academic achievement level, ethnic background (Anglo and Mexican American) and sex. The investigation was conducted in May 1974 at McAllen High School, McAllen, Texas. Subjects for the study were 200 randomly selected students from a population of 705 high school seniors. The sample was stratified by academic achievement level (high and low achievement), ethnicity (Anglo and Mexican American), and sex (male and female) so that 20 subjects were represented in each of the 8 sub-groups. An additional 40 subjects (5 to represent each of the 8 sub-groups) were randomly selected to control for information dissemination among students. To assess risk-taking behavior, as it related to academic achievement level, ethnicity, and sex, subjects were presented with an instrument that consisted of 12 toggle switches and a "losing" light. Subjects were told that they would earn $0.25 if they allowed the investigator to explain the task. In addition, subjects were told that 11 of the 12 toggle switches were "safe" or "winning" switches while the other was a "bad" or "losing" switch. The participants earned $0.25 for every "winning" switch they flipped; but if they flipped the "losing" switch, all monies earned had to be returned to the investigator. Furthermore, subjects were told that the "losing" switch would be randomly assigned to one of the 12 switches so that it would be impossible for them to know which was a "winning" or "losing" switch..