Title

The Truth about Models: How Well Do Mechanical Models Mimic the Observed Gender Distributions in Two-Child Families?

Author Info

William D. Stansfield, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoFollow
Matthew A. Carlton, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis ObispoFollow

Recommended Citation

Published in The American Biology Teacher, Volume 73, Issue 4, April 1, 2011, pages 213-216.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2011.73.4.5.

Abstract

We question the use of mechanical models, such as coin flipping, to represent the probabilities of gender distributions in sibship families consisting of two children. Both the assumptions of the models and the reliability of the data should be evaluated. Using models without these critical evaluations may tend to perpetuate myths rather than elucidate biological realities.

Disciplines

Biology

Copyright

2011 NABT National Association of Biology Teachers .