Bandura

Question 1

What was the aim of the study?

Answer 1

1. Children would be more aggressive when observing an aggressive role model.
2. If children would be more influenced by a same-sex role model.

Question 2

What was the sample size and demographics?

Answer 2

72 children; 36 girls, 36 boys, aged 3-5 from Stanford University nursery school.

Question 3

How were the children divided into groups?

Answer 3

72 children total;
24 aggressive role model group- Female aggressive role model- 6 girls, 6 boys
Male aggressive role model- 6 girls, 6 boys
24 non-aggressive role model group- Female non-aggressive role model- 6 girls, 6 boys
Male non-aggressive role model- 6 girls, 6 boys
24 control group

Question 4

What were the independent variables (IV) in the study?

Answer 4

1. If the role model was being aggressive or not.
2. Whether the role model was the same sex or opposite to the children.

Question 5

What was the dependent variable (DV) in the study?

Answer 5

Tally chart the number of physical and verbal attacks (aggression) and non-aggressive actions.

Question 6

What was the procedure of the experiment?

Answer 6

• Lab experiment
• Covert and structured observation- 2 different observers couldn’t see what each other were writing, every 5 seconds they would tally the aggressive/non-aggressive behaviours- removes subjectivity
• Children were unaware they were being observed
• Children in a nursery playing with stickers and finger paint stick
• The experimental groups then observed an adult role model enter a room and interact with a 6-foot-tall bobo doll through a scripted routine
• Then the experimental group got sent to a room with less toys to ‘get bored’ for a few minutes
• Then moved into an observation room full of loads of toys including a toy mallet and gun then observed and filmed there for 20 minutes to tally their behaviours

Question 7

What were the results for the control group?

Answer 7

Very little physical and verbal aggression.

Question 8

What were the results for the aggressive group and non- aggressive group?

Answer 8

A: Highest aggression, especially with male children and a male role model.
NON A: - little aggression

Question 9

What conclusion did Bandura draw from the study?

Answer 9

Compare boys’ aggression after male role-model, average 25.8
Compare girls’ aggression after female role-model, average 5.5
Bandura concludes that behaviour can be learned by imitation even if it hasn’t been reinforced (as Skinner suggested OPERANT CONDITIONING). In fact, complex patterns of behaviour can be learned through imitation without needing reinforcement for each part.

Question 10

generalisability?

Answer 10

• Large sample therefore any anomalies are averaged out
• Only generalisable to children
• Eurocentric- studied AMERICAN-born children only

Question 11

reliability?

Answer 11

• Filmed for inter-rater reliability so other researchers can watch and comment their own subjective views
• 2 observers watching
• Standardised procedure- interactions with the bobo doll followed the same order on the script

Question 12

validity?

Answer 12

• Lacks ecological validity as its set in an unnatural environment
• Children didn’t know what was being studied so there’s no demand characteristics

Question 13

What ethical concerns were raised?

Answer 13

• Potential to affect the children’s views on violence or becoming violent in the future
• Conclusions from this study could affect society (boys were more influenced by a male aggressive role model) boys are naturally more aggressive? Boys will be boys? = socially sensitive research
• Presumptive consent or consent given from parents/guardians

Question 14

What was the aim of the 1963 study?

Answer 14

To see if video/cartoon role models have an impact on aggression.

Question 15

What were the conclusions of the 1963 study?

Answer 15

Control- 54, Live role model- 83, Film role model- 92, Cartoon role model- 99.

Question 16

What was the aim of the 1965 study?

Answer 16

Aim- if the role model was being rewarded would the children reciprocate the same behaviour and vice-versa if they were being punished post an act of aggression.

Question 17

What conclusion did Bandura draw from the 1965 study?

Answer 17

Bandura concludes that children will be less likely to imitate role models they see being punished. However, the No Consequences condition shows that behaviour doesn’t have to be punished or rewarded for it to be imitated.
When offered incentives, even children who watched the model being punished show that they had in fact learned the aggressive behaviour.