An Examination of Perceptions Associated with Nose Piercings

Indianapolis, IN

The recent popularity of nose piercings has received mixed reviews. Some would argue that it's simply an expression of beauty or individual taste, others would be more critical regarding the judgments associated with those who pierce their nose. The purpose of this research is to examine differences between perceptions of competence, dependability, socioeconomic status, trustworthiness and professional motivation between those with and without nose piercings. Specifically, a 2x3 factorial design will examine the differences between gender and 3 nose conditions (no piercing, nose stud and nose hoop). Does the gender of the wearer affect people's perceptions of those dependent variables? Is there a difference between perceptions of the three nose conditions?