Pace of Life: Do Ethnic Groups Differ?

Overview

Objectives/Goals The objective of this study was to determine if men from different ethnicities exhibit a different pace of life, as measured by walking speed in three different areas of daily activities: a business area, a timed area (a crosswalk), and a recreational area. Methods/Materials Fifty men from each of three different ethnic backgrounds [Hispanic, African-American, and Non-Hispanic Caucasian (White)], were timed walking 60 meters in the three areas. The areas chosen were important to determine if the purpose for the activity, and not the ethnicity, affected pace of life more. I chose a 60 meter section leading to the Fresno County Courthouse, crossing a major crosswalk, and, a shopping mall. Results The White men exhibited a significantly faster pace of life in all three areas of testing. Walking 60 meters in the business area, White men averaged 15.7 seconds; Hispanics averaged 17.8 seconds; and, African-Americans averaged 17.9 seconds. In the recreational area, averages in seconds included: White men-17, Hispanics-19.3, and African-Americans-19.8. Walking a timed crosswalk increased every groups' average speed even though the distance was the same. White men, again, exhibited the fastest walking speed at 12.9 seconds, followed by African-Americans averaging 14.5 seconds, and Hispanics averaging 15.5 seconds. Conclusions/Discussion This experiment clearly indicated a significantly faster pace of life for Non-Hispanic Caucasian men than African-American or Hispanic men in the city of Fresno. African-Americans had the slowest walking pace in two of the three areas tested, leading me to conclude they exhibit the slowest pace of life but not significantly different than that of Hispanic men. I also learned that pace of life is situational and varies with external conditions. All averages were fastest in the crosswalk condition where there was an external motivation for pace but averages were also significantly faster in the business area than in the recreational area for all three ethnicities as well.

Competition history

• CSEF 2004 Social Sciences (Junior Division Only) · Entry J1712

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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