Cj. Boyatzis et al., Effects of game type on children's gender-based peer preferences: A naturalistic observational study, SEX ROLES, 40(1-2), 1999, pp. 93-105
Children's propensity for interacting with peers of their own gender is a r
obust phenomenon, evident across many contexts. This study investigated how
children's gender-based peer preferences varied as a function of a context
ual variable-type of children's game. Using naturalistic observations, 242
first- to third-graders (identical numbers of boys and girls, mostly White
and middle-class) were observed playing two games that varied in their phys
icality and competitiveness; games were structured to have equal numbers of
boys and girls available as playmates. As predicted, boys and girls intera
cted significantly more with same-sec: than other-sex peers. Our prediction
of a game-type effect was partially supported: in the more competitive and
physical game, boys chose same-sex playmates significantly more often than
in the less competitive/physical game, but girls' same-sex peer preference
did not vary across the games. The findings provide further support for th
e necessity of investigating social context as an influence on children's o
wn-sex favoritism.