Gender Differences in Reasoning: Implications for Sentencing in Jury Trials
Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This research investigated potential disparities in reasoning and sentencing outcomes within a jury setting based on the gender of jurors. The central hypothesis suggested that women would deliver heavier sentences than men. The study involved 204 participants who completed the Wason Selection Task via an online survey. The findings of this study were notable as they revealed no statistically significant differences in reasoning and sentencing outcomes between male and female jurors. Regardless of gender, participants consistently responded similarly across various scenarios, challenging prevailing research that often links gender to varying sentencing tendencies, particularly in emotionally charged situations. The implications of this research point to the necessity for more extensive and diverse samples and subgroup analyses of participants. A multifaceted approach, incorporating various factors, is required to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how gender influences jury decision-making. If subsequent studies replicate these findings, they would indicate that, in specific situations, jurors' gender does not substantially impact their decisions. This challenges current research findings that often emphasize gender differences, particularly in emotionally charged cases. Studies like Jones et al. (2021) on child sexual abuse allegations and Bottoms et al. (2014) on adult rape victims have highlighted these gender distinctions.
Description
item.page.type
Thesis
item.page.format
Keywords
Reasoning, Decision Making, Gender, Legal Processes, Juries