Classic study - Sherif robbers cave

Question 1

What is the aim of Sherif’s study?

Answer 1

Explore if 2 groups could be manipulated into conflict through competition and then conflict resolution by working together

Question 2

What is the IV?

Answer 2

The stage of the experiment:
- in group formation
- friction phase
- integration phase

Question 3

What is the DV?

Answer 3

inter group behaviour was measured by:
- observing boys behaviour
- observing friendship patterns
- recording conversations
- boys filled out questionnaires on their attitudes towards their own group and the other group

Question 4

What was the sample?

Answer 4

22 11-year-old boys from Oklahoma, USA + opportunity sampling

Question 5

What were the two groups?

Answer 5

The boys were split evenly based on skills sets between the “rattlers” and the “eagles”

Question 6

What was the procedure?

Answer 6

1. in group formation:
   boys settled into 2 cabins on 2 sites + unaware of the other group + lasted for 1 week + completed tasks together
2. Friction phase:
   The 2 groups were introduced and where put into competitions against eachother + involved baseball, tug-of-war, scavenger hunt + trophy promised to winners

• name calling began
• destroying eachother flags
• raiding camps
• rattlers stole the eagles prizes after they won the tournament

3. Integration phase:
   groups began to have meals and watch films together + introduced superordinate goals (fixing broken water pipe + starting up a truck)

Question 7

What were the results?

Answer 7

Outgroup friendships at end of friction phase:
eagles = 7.7%
rattlers = 6.4%

Outgroup friendships at the end of integration phase:
eagles = 23.2%
rattlers = 36.4%

Question 8

What are the conclusions?

Answer 8

• intergroup competitions lead to increased ingroup solidarity and outgroup hostility
• increased social contact is not sufficient in reducing prejudice
• superordinate goals can reduce prejudice effectively

Question 9

Generalisability

Answer 9

P: Low generalisability
E: A small sample of only 11-year-old boys was used
E: results may not generalise to girls or mixed sex groups + may not generalise to adults

Question 10

Reliability

Answer 10

P: inter-rater reliability
E: Sherif used multiple observers on occasion to oversee boys behaviour
E: Similar, clear data should be collected

Question 11

Application

Answer 11

P: reducing prejudice
E: Study shows that the use of superordinate goals can reduce outgroup hostility
E: In real world situations hostility can be reduced if groups are made to work together towards common goals

Question 12

Validity

Answer 12

P: High ecological validity
E: The boys where at a real summer camp completing real activities
E: The boys behaviour should reflect how they would behave in a real work situation as the boys believed everything to be real

Question 13

Ethics

Answer 13

P: Ethical guidelines were broken
E: boys took part in fights and name calling
E: subjects the boys to possible psychological and physical harm that may make them uneasy about joining future research