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Flip or Treat: The Impact of Language on Risk Taking Behavior

CSEF · 2015 Behavioral & Social Sciences

Joshua L. Richland · Pressman (Rabbi Jacob) Academy, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County

Overview

Objectives/Goals The objective of this project was to see whether a person is more prone to take a risk in a foreign language or a native language. Methods/Materials The materials used consisted of an iPad, pencil, and paper. The subject would be asked, in their designated language, either Hebrew or English, if they want to flip the coin (on the iPad) to earn an additional marshmallow. If it lands on the side they chose, they receive an additional marshmallow. If it lands on the side that they didn't choose, they lose a marshmallow. If they chose not to flip the coin, they get to keep the marshmallow. Record the subject's decisions with the pencil on the paper. The data will be measured by the amount of times the subject wants to flip the coin. Results People turned out to be more prone to taking a risk in their native language. The average percentage of times the subjects were willing to flip the coin in their foreign language, was 51 percent, while it was slightly higher at 53 percent in their native language. The total percentage of times that people flipped the coin in Hebrew was 61 percent while the total percentage of times the subjects flipped the coin in English was 67 percent. In both Hebrew and English, the standard deviation was 7.07. Conclusions/Discussion The results of the experiment did not support the hypothesis, but what was learned is that there is not much of a difference between your willingness to flip a coin in a foreign language compared to a native language. When a seventh grader makes basic everyday types of decisions, they can trust that their preference will not be biased by the language a circumstance is presented in. In other words, should the seventh grader's understanding of the foreign language be sufficient enough to hold a simple conversation, they would make the same decision regardless of the language they were thinking in.

Summary statement

This project tested whether someone is more prone to take a risk in a foreign language as opposed to their native language.

Help received

My mother helped me make the board and edit documents. My father helped by buying all the materials needed. Mr. Hartung, my teacher, helped edit the documents and answer my countless questions.

Competition history

  • CSEF 2015 Behavioral & Social Sciences · Entry J0423

Resources

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