bandura Flashcards
social learning theory
suggest that (1) we observe the behaviour of a ‘model, and then (2) we imitate this behaviour - ‘social learning theory’
aims
one aim of the study was to see whether a child would imitate an aggressive act. Was also investigated gender different; if participants more likely to imitate the same-sex models or whether boys would be more likely than girls to imitate aggressive behaviour.
method
- lab experiment, used a matched participant design (participant matched on pre-determined levels of aggression).
- IV were the aggressive or non-aggressive model, gender of model and gender of child.
- DV was the imitation of the aggressive behaviour observed in the playroom.
sample
- opportunity sample, participants from university nurses, Stanford, California.
- 36 boys, 36 girls, all aged between 3-5.
- aggressiveness controlled, each group had equally aggressive children (pre determined beforehand by children teachers/experimenter who knew the child on a rating scale)
- each child only participated in one condition
- two adult ‘models’ one man and woman and a female experimenter.
apparatus
- opportunity sample, participants from university nurses, Stanford, California.
- 36 boys, 36 girls, all aged between 3-5.
- aggressiveness controlled, each group had equally aggressive children (pre determined beforehand by children teachers/experimenter who knew the child on a rating scale)
- each child only participated in one condition
- two adult ‘models’ one man and woman and a female experimenter.
procedure- phase 1- modelling
- children were in experimental room, watching model play with toys including bobo.
- children placed into 3 groups
- group 1 ; aggressive model, sat on bobo and punched in saying ‘pow’ etc.
- group 2; non-aggressive model
- group 3 - control group ; no model present in the room while children playing.
- children watched a male or fable model. (for 10 mins)
procedure- phase 2- aggressive arousal
- the children were then taken into another room where they could play with all the toys.
- their play Time was abruptly stopped (after 2 minutes) so that they would be frustrated.
procedure- phase 3- delayed imitation
- the children were taken into another room, where they were observed playing with the toy.
- the children were observed by the male model (was unaware what group the children were in), through a one way mirror using observation techniques (a second observer came in to determine inter-rater reliability)
- used time sampling , the Childs behaviour was recorded every 5 seconds for 20 mintues.
- these behaviours were recorded in categories
- imitative aggression; eg siting on bobo doll, saying pow.
- partially aggressive; eg using mallet on toys other than bobo doll
- non-imitative aggression; squeezing bobo doll, saying hostile things not said by model.
reuslts- imitation of aggression
- complete imitation, children in the aggressive group imitated many phsycial and verbal behaviours of the model.
- children in non-aggressive and control groups displayed very few aggressive acts (70% had no scores)
results- gender effects
- same-sex imitation seen for boys but not girls.
- the male models had a greater influence in general than the female models.
- boys imitated more physical aggressive acts but the girls group didn’t differ in verbal aggression.
conclusion
- people will produce new behaviours that they have observed and applied them to other situations.(aggression towards bobo doll or not).
- also shows that men are more likely to be modelled.
strengths
- manipulation of IV allowed us to see casual effects.
- controlled conditions, therefore extraneous variables were reduced; more valid results
- all children, allowed bandora to see how easily children imitate adults; useful in understanding the effects of video games
- children were aware that behaviour was being studied creates demand characteristics
- obersvational techniques may be effected by observer Bias.
weaknesses
- predetermined levels of aggressive is measure by their teachers which is a subjective judgement. however validated by an experimenter.
- children more impressionable than adults, more influenced by behaviour of aggressive model, therefore results cant be generalised to behaviour of adults.
types of data
quantitive - number of aggressive acts displayed was counted, making it easy to compare the performance between the groups . however gives no explanation of why they imitated the behaviour
qualitative - the kinds of imitation that was ob served was recorded- showing that children not only imitated specifically acts of aggression but were generally more aggressive
