This study investigated the effect of birth order and sex on goal setting and actual performance by boys and girls of elementary school age on a ring-toss task. Children were asked to give a verbal estimate of the number of successful trials out of 10 they expected to complete. Data were analyzed by 2 (sex) × 2 (birth order) analyses of variance. Results indicated that firstborn boys set higher goals and performed significantly better than later-born boys, firstborn girls or later-born girls.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AltusW. D.Birth order and its sequelae. Science, 1966, 15, 44–48.
2.
CaplanP. J.KinsbourneM.Sex differences in response to school failure. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 1974, 7, 232–235.
3.
CasherB. B.Relationship between birth order and participation in dangerous sports. Research Quarterly, 1977, 48, 33–40.
4.
FakouriM. E.Relationships of birth order, dogmatism and achievement motivation. Journal of Individual and Social Psychology, 1974, 30, 217–220.
5.
ForerL.The birth order factor. New York: Pocket Boob, 1977.
6.
LandersD. M.MartensR.The influence of birth order and situational stress on motor performance. Psychonomic Science, 1971, 24, 165–167.
7.
LewkoJ. H.GreendorferS. L.Family influence and sex differences in children's socialization into sport: A review. Chicago, IL: Human Kinetic Press, 1977.
8.
LongstrethL. E.Birth order and avoidance of dangerous activities. Developmental Psychology, 1970, 2, 154.
9.
MehrabianA.Measures of achieving tendency. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 1969, 29, 445–451.
10.
NisbettR. E.Birth order and participation in dangerous sports. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1968, 8, 351–353.
11.
SampsonE. E.Birth order, need achievement and conformity. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1962, 64, 155–159.
12.
SampsonE. E.HancockF.An examination of the relationship between ordinal position, personality, and conformity: An extension, replication, and partial verification. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1967, 4, 398–407.
13.
YiannakisA.Birth order and preference for dangerous sports among males. Research Quarterly, 1976, 47, 62–67.
