BANDURA Flashcards
What is imitative learning?
Learning a new behaviour through observing a role model and imitating it later in the absence of the model.
What was the aim of Bandura’s 1961 study?
To investigate whether a child would learn aggression by observing a model and reproduce this behaviour in the absence of the model, and whether the sex of the role model was important.
What research method was used in Bandura’s study?
Laboratory experiment with controlled situations.
What design was utilized in Bandura’s study?
Independent measures design with matched participants.
What was the sample size and demographic in Bandura’s study?
72 children aged 3-6 years, with 36 boys and 36 girls from the Stanford University nursery.
What sampling method was used in Bandura’s study?
Opportunity sampling.
What are the independent variables (IV) in Bandura’s study?
Model-type, model-gender, and learner-gender.
What is the dependent variable (DV) in Bandura’s study?
The behaviour the child displayed.
What were the four scales used to rate children’s aggression before the experiment?
- Physical aggression
- Verbal aggression
- Aggression to inanimate objects
- Anxiety
What conditions were the children assigned to in Bandura’s study?
- Control group (no model)
- Aggressive model group
- Non-aggressive model group
What actions did the aggressive model perform in the aggressive condition?
Attacked the Bobo doll and used aggressive comments like ‘Kick him’.
How were the children’s behaviours observed during the experiment?
Through a 1-way mirror in 5-second intervals.
What was the inter-rater reliability score in Bandura’s study?
0.89.
What were the main results of Bandura’s study regarding aggression?
Children exposed to aggressive models imitated their behaviour and were more aggressive than children in other groups.
True or False: Boys were more likely to imitate physical aggression than girls.
True.
What did the results show regarding non-aggressive play between genders?
- Girls played with dolls
- Boys played with guns
What conclusions were drawn about observation and imitation in Bandura’s study?
- Observation and imitation cause behaviour to be learnt without reinforcement
- Observed aggressive behaviours are imitated
- Observed non-aggressive behaviours are imitated
- Children are more likely to copy a same-sex model
- Boys are more likely to copy aggression than girls
What is one strength of Bandura’s study?
It was a laboratory experiment, allowing control of extraneous variables.
What is a weakness regarding the sample size in Bandura’s study?
Only 6 children were used in each experimental condition, leading to a small sample size.
What ethical issue was raised in Bandura’s study?
Some children might have been harmed by becoming more aggressive.
How does Bandura’s study apply to everyday life?
It shows that children, especially boys, are influenced by exposure to violence or aggression in real life or through media.
What explanation does Bandura’s study provide for children’s imitation of aggressive behaviour?
The situational influence of models.
What factors explain the differences in behaviour acquisition between boys and girls?
Individual factors and social rewards for sex-typed behaviours.
Fill in the blank: Boys imitated more aggressive behaviour than girls due to the influence of _______.
[hormone testosterone]
