Tajfel and Turner's research into prejudice Flashcards
What was the aim of the Minimal Groups Study (Tajfel & Turner 1971)?
To examine if being classified into the in group and out group was sufficient to cause prejudice and discrimination, without any history and without using competition
Who were the participants of the Minimal Groups Study?
Experiment 1: 64 male school boys aged 14-15 years old
Experiment 2: 48 male school boys aged 14-15 years old
What was the methodology of the Minimal Groups study?
Laboratory study at a comprehensive school in Bristol, UK
What was the procedure of the Minimal Groups study? (3 points)
Experiment 1:
+ Participants were split into 8 groups of 8 and shown an image of 40 flashing dots on the screen
+ Asked to estimate the number of flashing dots
+ Supposedly divided into 2 groups – over estimators and under estimators
Experiment 2:
+ Participants were split into 3 groups of 16 and asked if they preferred Klee or Kandinsky paintings
+ Split based on preference of artist
Both:
+ Participants were in fact randomly assigned to groups
+ They were provided a 2x14 matrix and asked to allocate ‘points’ to either participants in the in-group or the out-group
+ Participants were told the points would later be converted into money
What were the results of the Minimal Groups Study? (2 points)
The boys chose to allocate more points to the ‘in-group’, despite the accuracy of the 40-dot estimation
When participants had the choice of maximum joint profit for all or maximum profit for their group, they chose in-group
What was the conclusion of the Minimal Groups study? (2 points)
Despite no direct competition between the 2 groups, boys consistently displayed in-group favouritism
The mere existence of in-groups and out-groups alone was enough to cause prejudice
How generalisable is the Minimal Groups Study? (3 points)
Limited generalisability of the sample population
Androcentric sample - makes it difficult to generalise findings to female populations
Ethnocentric - the UK is an individualistic society that values autonomy and freedom of speech so it is not representative of collectivist cultures which value interdependence
How reliable is the Minimal Groups Study (Tajfel & Turner 1971)? (4 points)
Reliable because of the laboratory methodology used which includes a standardised procedure
Same:
+ 40 flashing dots/ paintings of Klee and Kandinsky shown to the boys
+ Duration of time
+ Environment
+ Matrices used to allocate points to each other
Highly controlled environment - easily replicable procedure that can be repeated by other researchers
Demonstrated as two experiments were conducted
Can the Minimal Groups Study (Tajfel & Turner 1971) be applied to real life? (3 points)
The study’s findings have strong application to real life by helping to reduce prejudice between groups in society
E.g. football hooliganism
Prejudice existing without direct competition can be used to understand why people may behave in hostile and aggressive manners towards the opposing team - to raise their own self-esteem
Has direct application when shaping how society recognises and stands up against prejudice and discrimination
How internally valid is the Minimal Groups Study (Tajfel & Turner 1971)? (3 points)
It is a valid measure of prejudice behaviour
The quantitative data collection method of point allocation later converted into a monetary reward is objective and can be measured directly - reduces researcher bias
Cause and effect between the formation of in-groups/out-groups and point allocation can be established
How ecologically valid is the Minimal Groups Study? (3 points)
Low ecological validity - laboratory experiment in a school setting
The artificial task of allocating points to a member of the opposing team and being shown images of 40 flashing dots is not realistic
Low mundane realism and low task validity - real-life social identities are formed by much more complex processes
How ethical is the Minimal Groups Study (Tajfel & Turner 1971)? (3 points)
The boys were not fully informed they were taking part in a psychological study - they believed it was a study investigating vision
However, the boy’s parents and teachers gave presumptive consent on their behalf
Long-term psychological harm could have been caused - the boys would return to their everyday lives at school where prejudicial behaviours may have continued
