Bandura DEVELOPMENTAL

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

Investigate whether children will imitate aggression

Gender differences - more likely to imitate same sex models

Question 2

Design

Answer 2

Lab experiment
Matched participant design
Observational techniques
Matched in terms of aggressiveness

Question 3

IV

Answer 3

Aggressive or non aggressive model, gender of model and gender of child

Question 4

DV

Answer 4

Imitation of aggressive acts / behaviour observed in playroom

Question 5

Sample

Answer 5

Children from a university nursery school in Stanford, California.

Opportunity sample.

36 boys and 36 girls. Aged between 37 and 69 months (3 -5 years).

Mean age was 52 months (4 1/2 years).

Aggressiveness (potential extraneous variable) was controlled by ensuring each group contained equally aggressive children.

Aggressiveness ratings were determined beforehand by an experimenter who knew the children well and one of the children’s teachers.

There were 2 adult models, a male and a female plus a female experimenter.

Each child only participated in one condition: aggressive model or non-aggressive model or control condition).

Question 6

Materials / apparatus

Answer 6

Various toys including a Bobo doll.

Question 7

Procedure

Answer 7

Children played in experimental room watching model play with toys and bobo doll

In 3 groups: (IV)
Aggressive model
Non aggressive model
Control - no model

Children taken to third room where observed playing with toys and bobo doll

One way mirror by male model
Second observed present for half ps to determine inter rate reliability

3 behavioural categories:
Imitative aggression
Partially imitative
Non imitative aggression

Question 8

Results

Answer 8

Aggressive group: compete imitation

Non aggressive: few aggressive (70% zero scores)

Gender effects:
Same sex: for boys not girls
Gender model: male greater influence
Gender child: boys more physical, same verbal

Question 9

Conclusion(s)

Answer 9

1) Shows that people will produce new behaviours that they have observed (i.e., aggression towards a Bobo doll or not showing aggression towards a Bobo doll) and generalise these behaviours to others situations.

2) Also shows that males are more likely to be modelled, possibly because of their higher status.