The Prevalence of Risky Shift in Activists and Non­activists as Related to Gender Difference and Residential Background

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to conduct an empirical investigation on the prevalence of risky shift in activists and non-activists as related to gender difference and residential background. For this purpose, several theories have been proposed to account for the occurrence of risky shift. These are (1) Social comparison theory, (2) Persuasive arguments theory, (3) Diffusion of responsibility theory (4) Risky as a value theory. Review of relevant literature was made to highlight the concepts relating to risky shift. An overview of theoretical orientations and empirical findings was made for the clarification of the objectives and hypotheses of the study.

Three hypotheses were formulated. The first hypothesis was that activist would take mare risky shift as compared to non-activist. The second hypothesis was that males would take more risky shift than females. The third hypothesis was that respondents with urban residential background would take more risky shift than the respondents with rural residential back-ground. These hypotheses were framed in the perspectives of theoretical orientation, empirical findings and personal observations in the area of risky shift in the context of Bangladesh.

The sample of the study was composed of 280 respondents between 24 and 26 years of age. They were equally divided into activists and non-activists. Each category was again divided into males and females. They were again equally subdivided into urban and rural on the basis of their residential background. The choice Dile1nma Questionnaire (Bengali version) was administered on each respondent separately for the collection. of data on risky shift. The Choice Dilemma Questionnaire contained twelve hypothetical situations. The highest possible score was (12x9) 108 and the lowest possible score was (12xl) 12. The risky shift score was 60. Hence a total score of 60 or above was regarded as risky shift score. The split-half reliability of CDQ was computed with odd an even numbers and the coefficient of correlation was 0.68. When Spearman-Brown Prophecy formula was applied, the correlation coefficient raised from 0.68 to 0.81. Thus the satisfactory internal consistency of the CDQ was obtained.

The study involved factorial design with risky shift as dependent variable and two levels of political orientation (Activist/ Non-activist), two levels of genders (Male / Female) and two levels of residential background (Urban/ Rural) as the independent variables.

The results of the study were computed using the statistical technique of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). It was found that main effects for political orientation as well as

residential background were statistically significant. A two-way interaction involving political. Orientation and residential background was also statistically significant. Both activists and non-activists obtained risky shift score but activists expressed significantly higher choice in favor of risky shift as compared to non-activists. Similarly, both urban and rural respondents obtained risky shift score but urban respondents expressed significantly higher choice for risky shift as compared to rural respondents. Activists with urban residence expressed significantly higher choice as compared to their counterpart rural respondents but no urban-rural difference in case of the preference for risky shift was obtained for non-activists.

In conclusion it may be said that the analysis of results across all three independent variables provided support for first and third hypotheses regarding gender differences between males and females. Additionally, interaction effects showed a higher trend for risky shift across political orientation and residential background. The results supported that political attachment serves as encouragement for a person to take more risky behavior than the person who has no political attachment.