The effect of investigator gender on lateral tympanic membrane temperature

Abstract

The measurement of tympanic membrane temperature (TMT) using hand-held infrared devices is common in both clinical and experimental research. However, the role that measurement context has on TMT has been overlooked. In the present investigation 94 women and men had their right and left TMT measured by either a male or female investigator. Regardless of participant's gender, when measured by a female investigator the right TMT was significantly lower than the left TMT. When measured by a male investigator, both male and female participants had similar right and left TMT. These lateral TMT results correspond with neuropsychological theories regarding threat appraisal.

Keywords:

• Experimenter effects
• Gender
• Laterality
• Threat appraisal
• Tympanic membrane temperature

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the US Department of Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) administered by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA-9550-07-1-0500), W. S. Helton Principal Investigator. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the US Department of the Air Force, Department of Defense, or the US government. We would like to thank Willard Larkin for providing administrative direction for this grant.