There is a debate in society as to which factor factors more heavily in peoples’ sexuality and gender identification:   Genetics or environment.   Genetics perform the obvious functions, like determining our biological sex at birth, and the changes that take place during puberty.   But that’s where the certainty ends.

 How people identify as gender-wise, is influenced by a variety of factors.    None has been absolutely proven to be dominant in explaining gender identification.   There are societal forces, biological forces, and psychological forces at play.   The end result is an individual that chooses behavior, clothing, social circles, and occupations, based upon, or in opposition to, their biological gender.  How in line each person’s psychological make-up is with respect to their identification is individual.  

For this assignment, you will do internet research in two domains of gender research:  Biological and Environmental.  For each domain, select 2 theories.  So you will research two Biological theories, and two Environmental theories.   

 For each theory, please provide the following:

1:   The hypothesis behind the theory.   What specific question were the researchers trying to answer?   It’s not enough to say is gender genetic or environmental.   The research has to answer more specific questions than that.   The authors associated with both studies must be included here.   Anonymous studies will not count.

2.  The precise methodology behind the study.   This includes the numbers of people in the samples, and how the control and experimental groups were structured.   Th actual method of how the study was administered must be detailed.  For instance, just saying “A questionnaire was used” is not enough.  As many details about that method as possible must be included.  

3.  A substantive review of the results of the study.   It is important to tie the results in with the hypothesis being tested, and to posit whether the results support or do not support the researchers’ hypothesis.  

4.   References.  Please all references at the end of the paper.  References do not count towards the 8 page content requirement.

Rules:

8 content pages.   Cover pages and references are not included in the 8 page count.

This paper must be double-spaced with standard 1 inch margins.   Papers with greater than double spacing, an/or larger than one inch margins will docked 10 points.

Content includes 4 pages for biological theories and 4 for environmental.  Small variations in this rule are ok.  

References must be listed at the end of the 8 content pages.

Content does NOT include cover page and reference pages.  You are required to submit 8 pages of content.  5 points will be deducted for each page short of 8.

NO POLITICAL STATEMENTS OF ANY SORT ARE TO BE MADE IN THIS ASSIGNMENT.   THEY WILL RESULT IN A LOWERING OF YOUR GRADE.   THIS ASSIGNMENT IS CONCERNED ONLY WITH THE FACTS OF THE RESEARCH YOU ARE PRESENTING.  IF THE RESEARCH IS OF A POLITICAL BEND, IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.   IF YOU HAVE DOUBTS, CONTACT ME TO DISCUSS.