Bandura et al.'s learning core study on aggression Flashcards
Assumptions of the learning approach and how they relate to this core study
Learning trough observation, imitation and modelling. Bandura conducted this study to determine whether a child would imitate aggressive behaviour if he or she witnessed such behaviour in an adult.
The psychology that is being investigated
social learning theory: four stages of learning:
- Attention: observers must be paying attention to the behavior of the model.
- Retention: observers must store what they observed in their long term memory
- Reproduction: observers must replicate or choose not to replicate the behavior
- Motivation: if observers experience vicarious reinforcement, they are much more likely to replicate the behavior
The background
Measuring children’s tendency to imitate adult behavior, specifically in the absence of the model, and gender specific models.
The Aim
Investigate observational learning of aggression:
1. To see if children would replicate aggressive behavior in the absence of the model
2. Look for gender differences in learning aggression.
The procedures in modelling behaviour
room 1
* brought indivudaly to room had meet model in the hall and invited to play
* child in one corner designed picture with prints and stickers
* researcher took model to other corner wit a toy set, mallet and 5 ft bobo doll
* non-aggrsive model plaed with tinker toys ignoring bobo
* aggresive played with tinker and then proceed to sit, punch and hit bobo
* included verbal agression
* about 10 mins
Verbal agression words said
- “pow”
- “throw him in the air”
Procedure in agression arousal
Room 2
- child taken to a room with attractive toys
- Child played with them for 2 minutes but then told they could not and they were reserved for other children
State 3 of the attrative toys in the agression arousal phase
- fire-engine
- complete doll set
- jet fighter plane
the procedure used to ‘test for delayed imitation’.
- There were a variety of toys in the (experimental) room.
- The child spent 20 minutes in the (experimental) room.
- Behaviour was observed through a one-way mirror by 2 observers
- The session was divided into 5 second intervals.
- A total of 240 response units were recorded per participant.
State the 3 types of aggression recorded in the delay for imitation room
- imitative agression
- non-imitative agression
- partially imitative agression
what was the inter-rater reliabilty result
.90
Aggresive Toys in the Test for delay imitation room
- 3ft bobo doll
- mallet
- 2 dart guns
non-aggressive Toys in the Test for delay imitation room
- crayons
- dolls
- teddy bears
The research method used
Main - experimental
(observations)
The number of participants and where they are from
- 72
- 36 male & female
- from stanford unversity nursery
Outline the conditions
- 8 conditions + control group
- children were match for their agression levels (avoid confounding variable)
- Nursery and research rated 51 of the children on a 0-5 scale on aggresion levels
The sampling method used
opportunity
The experimental design used
independent groups
matched pairs
The controls used
- same toys in rooms 2 and 3
- same amount of time in each stage
Data collection method used
- a behavior checklist
- included mallet aggrssion and sits on bobo
Independent and dependent variables used
Independent
* Gender of the children
Dependent
- levels of agression
Ethical issues
- children did not leave in the same physical or psycholgical state they entered with.
- Showed agressive behaviour and could have continued after the study
Results
Quantitative/qualitative data & how it is represented and interpeted
Quanitiatve data recorded through a behavioural checklist
Conclusion Drawn
- Witnessing an aggressive act is enough to produce aggression in the person who
observed it - Boys are more likely to imitate aggression compared to girls
- Children who see aggressive models are more likely to imitate aggression that
those seeing no model
Strengths
Methodological issues:
Reserach method, reliabilty,validty,generalibily,& control of variables
- reliabilty beacause of standerdized procedure included time ps spent watching modeland layout of the room.
- Internal validty as controls were high for each group including time watched the model. Insure IV is affecting the DV
Weakness
Methodological Issues
Reserach method, reliabilty,validty,generalibily,& control of variables
- generlizabilty only 6 children were used in each individual IV group, low generalizability.
- lack of mundane realism, participants were asked to partake in and observe tasks that are nothing like real life.
Everyday Life
The issues of application of psychology and how it realtes to the study
- Children can be shown TV where role modles are kind and helpful and popular as a result. Bandura found aggression is boserved and imitates, pro-social behvaiour can also be learned this way.
Individual and Situational explanations debate
how it relates to the study
: this study supports the situational side of the debate as the situation that the children found themselves in caused the imitated aggressive behaviour.
Nature vs. Nurture Debate
how it relates to the study
: this study supports the situational side of the debate as the situation that the children found themselves in caused the imitated aggressive behaviour.
Use of children in psychological
How it realtes to the core study
less susceptible to demand characteristics however could become more aggressive after this study.because of psychological harm by witniessing high levels of agresion and frustration with no playing with the “best toys”
