Just an observation on the pop cultural relevance of the studies t shirt variables to the aim of the study. Graphic t shirts, especially with vintage inspired themes are incredibly popular among young adults. Depending on the research participant who wore the shirt of course, the ability to pull off a Manilow shirt would actually be considered pretty rad and ironic. For this reason,I'd have guessed more people would notice it over a MLK shirt.

Hi. I certainly agree that many vintage shirts are popular with young adults, but before conducting the study, the researchers tested to ensure that the Manilow shirt would be viewed as embarrassing and that shirts like Martin Luther King, Jr. would be viewed positively. Also, they used a variety of shirts (e.g., Jerry Seinfeld, whose show was still on the air at the time the data were collected) too to make sure the effect wasn't tied to a particular shirt. The interesting thing is that if one student viewed a Manilow shirt as rad and another viewed it more negativity, they BOTH would overestimate the likelihood that others would remember it. Thanks for the comment!

I really liked the findings of this experiment, it explains why kids growing up (especially in high school) put so much emphasis on how they look. They feel that other people will judge them and ultimately not become as popular as they wanted. To end up hanging out in the library, after being rejected by there peers.