Bandura et al aggression

Question 1

Background (to test)

Answer 1

done to test social learning theory and to understand the learning of gender specific behaviour

Question 2

social learning theory, three main concepts

Answer 2

observation ,retention, imitation

Question 3

vicarious learning theory meaning

Answer 3

where children learn through imitation

Question 4

method

Answer 4

controlled observation and lab experiment

Question 5

why was it a lab experiment

Answer 5

because the children thought they were no longer on the nursery school grounds- were in an artificial environment

Question 6

Design

Answer 6

independant measures design

Question 7

explain design

Answer 7

no child could be in all three groups at once- children were matched for aggression in threes

Question 8

IV (3)

Answer 8

• exposure to aggressive models (o by aggressive/ non-aggressive)
• gender of model (o by whether model is male/female)
• gender of learner

Question 9

DV

Answer 9

imitation of the aggressive behaviour

Question 10

DV operationalised

Answer 10

amount of physical and verbal aggression to inanimate objects shown by children

Question 11

Sample size

Answer 11

72 kids

Question 12

boy girl distribution of sample

Answer 12

36B and 36G

Question 13

Sample locale

Answer 13

Stanford university nursery school

Question 14

mean age of children

Answer 14

52 months

Question 15

sample age range

Answer 15

37 to 69 months

Question 16

Describe the experimental groups (3)

Answer 16

There were 8 groups of 6 students each and a control group consisting of 24 subjects.

Question 17

Describe how the experimental design was allocated (3)

Answer 17

Half the experimental subjects were exposed to aggressive models and the other half of the experimental subjects were exposed to the models that were non-aggressive.

These groups were further subdivided into male and female subjects.

Half the subjects in the aggressive and non aggressive conditions observed same-sex models while the remaining subjects in each group viewed models of the opposite sex.

Question 18

Describe how matching took place (5)

Answer 18

In order to increase the precision of treatment comparisons,

subjects in the experimental and control groups were matched individually

based on rating of their aggressive behaviour in social interactions in the nursery school

This was done using four five-point rating scales by the experimenter and a nursery school teacher who knew the children reasonably well.

On the basis of these scores, subjects were arranged in triplets and assigned at random to one of two treatment conditions or to the control group.

Question 19

Describe the scales used to measure aggression

Answer 19

The scales measured the extent to which subjects displayed physical aggression, verbal aggression, aggression toward inanimate objects and aggressive inhibition.

The scale measuring aggressive inhibition measured the subjects’ tendancy to inhibit aggressive reactions in the face of high instigation therefore providing a measure of aggression anxiety.

Question 20

How was the composite score of aggression obtained

Answer 20

by summing the ratings on all four aggression scales.

Question 21

Four hypothesis

Answer 21

1. behaviour observe, imitate
2. behaviour not observe, not imitate
3. boys copy male model ,girl copy female model
4. boys will copy aggression more than girls

Question 22

aim

Answer 22

investigate observational learning of aggression in children i.e whether children will learn aggression by observing a model

Question 23

what was used to measure aggression

Answer 23

five point scale that was filled by the experimenter and the nursery school teacher- both knew the children reasonably well

Question 24

3 toys in room 1

Answer 24

potato print, tinker toy set, mallet and bobo doll (adult size)

Question 25

3 toys in room 2

Answer 25

fire engine, locomotive, doll set

Question 26

3 toys in room 3

Answer 26

bobo doll- child size, mallet, two dart guns (there was a one-way mirror)

Question 27

three controls

Answer 27

1. toys in room 1 and 3 were the same and always in the same position
2. actions of the aggressive model were the same in the same order for the same length of time
3. observations were done by two independant observers.

Question 28

Imitative learning

Answer 28

learning of new behaviour which is observed in a role model and imitated later in the absence of the model

Question 29

Child was in room 1 for how long before going to room 2

Answer 29

10 minutes

Question 30

what is the frustration aggression hypothesis

Answer 30

the child is highly likely to behave in an aggressive way given the opportunity

Question 31

Examples of verbal aggressive behaviour (3)

Answer 31

• sock it in the nose
• throw him in the air
  kick him

Question 32

Examples of physical aggressive behaviour (3)

Answer 32

• sit and bobo doll and hit with mallet
• throw bobo doll in air
• kick bobo out of room

Question 33

Example of non-aggressive behaviour

Answer 33

model played quietly with the tinker toy set

Question 34

what was child told in room 2

Answer 34

’ these toys are her very best toys, that she did not let anyone play with, and that she had decided to reserve them for the other children’

Question 35

How did the experimenter reduce her influence on the subject’s behaviour?

Answer 35

by remaining as inconspicuous as possible by busying herself with paper work at a desk in the far corner of the room and avoiding any interaction with the child

Question 36

Behaviour in room 3 was observed for how long?

Answer 36

20 minutes

Question 37

Prediction

Answer 37

subjects would reproduce agressive acts resembling those of their models

Question 38

How was it useful (2)

Answer 38

• As the study showed that aggression can be observed and imitated, TV networks might want to censor the content of TV programmes
• Ensure that there are warnings on TV shows about the level of aggressive content allowing parents to choose what their children should/ should not watch

Question 39

Result of complete imitation of imitative behaviour

Answer 39

subjects exposed to the aggressive models had significantly higher scores than those in the other groups

Question 40

Results for partial imitative aggression

Answer 40

Girls who observed nonaggressive models performed a mean number of 0.5 mallet aggression responses as compared to mean values of 18.0 and 13.1 for girls in the aggressive and control groups, respectively.

Question 41

Result for non imitative aggression

Answer 41

• The aggressive and non-aggressive group had a significant difference from each other as the aggressive groups had the greater amount of aggression
  • Girls spent more time playing with dolls with the tea set and colouring. In comparison, boys had more exploratory play with the guns

Question 42

Result for non imitative aggression

Answer 42

• The aggressive and non-aggressive group had a significant difference from each other as the aggressive groups had the greater amount of aggression
  • Girls spent more time playing with dolls with the tea set and colouring. In comparison, boys had more exploratory play with the guns

Question 43

Result of influence of the sex of model

Answer 43

• no difference in terms of verbal aggression
• male to male created higher imitation of physical and verbal imitative aggression and more aggressive gun play
• female to female created more imitative verbal aggression and more non imitative aggression compared to boys

Question 44

Nature debate

Answer 44

The boys were more likely to imitate physical aggression. This shows that boys are ‘born’ more aggressive as they are naturally more aggressive

Question 45

Nurture debate (3)

Answer 45

Boys were more likely to imitate the physical aggression that they had only seen from a model. This shows that they have learnt the aggressive behaviour from observing the model.

Children had been matched on levels of aggression so nay increased aggression levels they showed in the study had to be learnt

Bandura stated that it was the social learning theory that caused the aggressive behaviour

Question 46

Explain the ethic of confidentiality

Answer 46

any data should not be identifiable as a single participant’s response

all we know is that the children were from a nursery at Stanford University Nursery school and their mean age.

Question 47

Explain the ethic of protection from physical harm

Answer 47

Ppts should leave the study in the same physical state as they entered

Children could have injured themselves when playing or hitting the bobo doll

Question 48

Explain the ethic protection from psychological harm

Answer 48

Participants should leave the study in the same mental state as they entered

The children could have left the study thinking that aggression was good so their way of thinking had been changed

Question 49

Explain the ethic right to withdraw

Answer 49

Participants should be able to leave the study at any point

In the experimental room, the experimenter remained with the child so they could not leave the room