Classic Study - Robbers Cave (1961) - Sherif

Question 1

Who carried out robbers cave (1961)

Answer 1

Sherif

Question 2

Aim of robbers cave

Answer 2

• to investigate what factors make two groups develop hostile relationships
• to see if two groups of boys can be manipulated into conflict through competition then conflict resolution by working together

Question 3

Procedure of robbers cave

Answer 3

• ingroup formation = boys were split into two groups and had to complete tasks which formed group names
• friction phase= tournament between two groups which led to rewards like knives and medals being handed out
• intergration phase = bringing the two groups together for common goals like fixing a broken water pipe, playing a movie etc..

Question 4

Results of robbers cave

Answer 4

• boys formed a us and them mentality
• during friction phase there was name calling, destruction of each others flags and cabins, stealing, overturning beds etc and the two groups met for a fight but was intervened
• intergration phase produced cooperation and reduced hostility as the rattlers shared $5 to buy everyone soft drinks

Question 5

Conclusions of robbers cave

Answer 5

• in competitive situations ingroup solidarity increased and out group hostility increased
• friction is reduced when two groups work towards superordinate goals
• inter group conflict is inevitable in competition but can be reduced

Question 6

Generalisability of robbers cave

Answer 6

• 22 boys = androcentric, small sample (anomalies may skew results)
• sherif screened boys before hand to removed those with trouble backgrounds and antisocial behaviour
• boys were all Caucasian, bright and sporty so ethnocentric and culture bias

Question 7

Reliability of robbers cave

Answer 7

• observers only there for 12 hours a day so can’t see any other time so less accurate recordings
• sherif had a numbered score system for boys behaviour which created quantitative data
• multiple observers mean inter-rather reliability
• sherif recorded boys conversations - empirical evidence - reliable
• events can be replicated apart from fight

Question 8

Validity of Robbers Cave

Answer 8

• used multiple research methods ( observations, recording, qualitative and quantitative data etc)
• has ecological validity as the boys were at a real camp doing real activities
• lacks a control group
• Gina Perry (2014)= observers were a big influence on the boys e.g. rattlers was named after an observer shooting a rattle snake, therefore behaviour could be learned

Question 9

Ethics of robbers cave

Answer 9

• boys didn’t give consent
• Weren’t debriefed after
• subjected to risk (fighting, knives theft etc) and experimenters did little to stop it
• boys parents knew it was a psychology experiment and gave consent but weren’t allowed to visit so didn’t know what was going on therefore possible deception
• boys had the right to withdraw and two did
• the boys seemed to enjoy themselves and possible harm done in experiment was no greater than real life