Committee Chair

Weathington, Bart L.

Committee Member

O'Leary, Brian J.; Biderman, Michael D.

Department

Dept. of Psychology

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of different body characteristics on perceived competence; specifically, height, weight, and physical appearance. Participants were asked to login to their online school accounts and were then directed to a specific survey. All surveys consisted of the same questions, but included a different photograph. Participants then listened to a pre-recorded speech after being told that the individual in the photograph was the individual giving the speech. All surveys asked participants to rate judgments of height, weight, and physical appearance, compared to the average American. The speech provided the basis for the competence and credibility ratings. The data was analyzed using an ANOVA. The original results produced no significant results, but based on the post hoc tests, all three hypotheses were generally supported. These findings suggest that height, weight, and appearance have an effect on judgments of perceived competence.

Degree

M. S.; A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science.

Date

5-2011

Subject

Prejudices

Keyword

Competence; Physical appearance

Discipline

Industrial and Organizational Psychology | Psychiatry and Psychology

Document Type

Masters theses

DCMI Type

Text

Extent

x, 54 leaves

Language

English

Rights

https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

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