Side Bias and Accidents in Japan and India

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine (a) the incidence of leftward bias for paired organs (hand, foot, eye, and ear) in India (n = 418) and Japan (n = 697), and (b) the incidence of accident amongst individuals with leftward, rightward, and no bias across countries. The impetus for the study was obtained from a speculation that individuals with leftward bias commit more accidents than their counterparts. Data were collected with the help of a questionnaire on side bias, along with a checklist on accidents (included in the questionnaire). Results showed that participants from these two countries did not differ in terms of leftward-ness for any of these forms of side bias. Left-handers were found to commit more accidents in India but not in Japan. Reanalysis of data in terms of left-, mixed-, and right-handedness indicated that mixed handers committed more accidents than extreme (left- + right-) handers in Japan but not in India.

Key Words:

• handedness
• laterality
• side bias
• accident rates