Bandura experiment (classic study)

Question 1

Background of this study

Answer 1

Previous research showed children would imitate a role model’s behaviour when present which was the common belief at the time
Previous behaviourist theories on conditioning: first to focus on social learning theory

Question 2

How does this study link to behaviourism?

Answer 2

Because of the belief that children behave due to interactions w the environment. Eg observe role model and then imitate them (social learning theory)

Question 3

Aim of study

Answer 3

To see whether children imitated behaviour of an adult role model, (when role model not present) in a controlled environment
And factors would affect imitation: sex of role model, sex of child

Question 4

What factors of the role model might affect children’s imitation of them?

Answer 4

Their gender, if they are of the same gender of the child
Or if the role model is displaying gender stereotypical behaviour

Question 5

4 hypotheses

Answer 5

Seeing aggressive behaviour of role model causes imitation of similar aggressive acts
Observing non aggressive behaviour of role model inhibits child’s aggression
Children imitates same sex role model more
Boys show more aggression than girls

Question 6

Sample

Answer 6

72 children aged 3-5
36 girls
36 boys

Question 7

Where did the study occur?

Answer 7

At Stanford university’s nursery USA

Question 8

Sample method

Answer 8

Opportunity sample of using the 72 children who happened to be present at university’s nursery

Question 9

Which experimental design was used?

Answer 9

Matched participant design

Question 10

How was the study matched participant design?

Answer 10

Because it included a pre test on the children’s base level of aggression to control this and ensure each condition had both aggressive and non aggressive children

Question 11

How was the pre testing carried out?

Answer 11

Nursery teacher and experimenter observed children and ranked them on different types of aggression with a total score
Put into groups of 3 with same aggression rating

Question 12

How was the pretesting used to determine the conditions of experiment?

Answer 12

1 from trio saw aggressive model
1 saw non aggressive mode
1 saw no model (control)

Question 13

Strength of pre testing

Answer 13

Inter rather reliability of 0.89: ensure observations were reliable thus consistent matching

Question 14

Conditions within AGGRESSIVE model condition

Answer 14

6 boys saw male model
6 girls saw male model
6 boys saw female model
6 girls saw female model

Question 15

Conditions within no model condition

Answer 15

12 girls
And 12 boys

Question 16

Conditions within NON AGGRESSIVE model condition

Answer 16

6 boys saw male model
6 girls saw male model
6 boys saw female model
6 girls saw female model
All whom were non aggressive

Question 17

What was the physical aggression like for boys who saw an aggressive male model?

Answer 17

25.8 displays of physical aggression

Question 18

What was the physical aggression like for girls who saw an aggressive male model?

Answer 18

7.2 displays of physical aggression

Question 19

What was physical aggression like for boys who saw non aggressive male model?

Answer 19

1.5 displayed physical aggression

Question 20

What was physical aggression like for girls who saw non aggressive male model?

Answer 20

0.0
No display of physical aggression

Question 21

Control group aggression between girls and boys

Answer 21

1.2 girls displayed physical aggression compared to 2 boys

Question 22

Stage 1 of procedure

Answer 22

Children in each room individually and played with toys. Dependent on the condition of role model (or no role model) they’d observe this for 10 mins

Question 23

What would the aggressive role model do?

Answer 23

Had a standardised procedure of aggressive acts eg:
Hit bobo with mallet
Throw in air
Repeatedly punch it

Question 24

What would non aggressive model do?

Answer 24

Quietly play with tinker toys and ignore bobo doll

Question 25

Stage 2 of procedure

Answer 25

Mild aggression arousal, where children were taken into room with high interest toys but then forbidden to play with them after 2 mins

Question 26

Why did researchers want to cause aggression arousal?

Answer 26

Cos Previous research suggested seeing aggression inhibits immediate aggression
So any if the aggression learnt from model would be shown
Or if despite going through this, children who saw non aggression model inhibited aggression, would confirm the models influence

Question 27

Stage 3

Answer 27

Children were allowed into a different room with toys + bobo doll and observed by people in a 2 way mirror to see if they imitated aggression at bobo doll

Question 28

What were the possible aggressive toys?

Answer 28

Dart guns
Ball hanging from the ceiling
Mallet

Question 29

What did the researchers aim to observe in stage 3?

Answer 29

Imitative physical/verbal aggression of model
Partial imitative aggression
New type of aggression not imitative
No aggression (inhibition)

Question 30

What were the timings for observation in stage 3?

Answer 30

Observe for 20 mins and record behaviour every 5 seconds
= 240 total reports
Using time sampling

Question 31

Conclusion and result for imitative aggression

Answer 31

Children who saw model were more likely to show aggression
Boys who saw aggressive male model showed 25.8 physical aggression compared to girls who saw same aggression male model showing 7.2 physical aggression

Question 32

Results and conclusion based on imitation of same sex model

Answer 32

Mean number of boys who displayed physical aggression was 25.8 seeing aggressive male model compared to 12.4 in aggressive female model
= more likely to imitate same sex

Question 33

Conclusion and results for gender roles affecting the model

Answer 33

Observing male aggressive model for both genders of the children caused high physical aggression than observing female aggressive model
Imitation more likely based on what’s stereotypically associated w genders
Shown by qualitative data

Question 34

Qualitative data after seeing aggressive female model

Answer 34

‘That girl was just acting like a man’
‘That ain’t no way for a lady to behave’

Question 35

Qualitative data after seeing aggressive make model

Answer 35

‘He’s a good fighter like daddy’
‘He beat up bobo. I want to sock like [him]’

Question 36

What was controlled in this experiment?

Answer 36

Same actions and phrases of aggressive model
Time spent in each room
Same location
Same aggression arousal stage
Same male or female model
Same layout and type of toys

Question 37

Why was the actions of the aggressive model against the bobo doll standardised?

Answer 37

Because children were being observed, wanted to ensure children were acting aggressively because they were imitating these specific actions

Question 38

Reliability strengths

Answer 38

Replicable because actions of model were standardised
Inter rated reliability check of 0.89 to ensure consistent matching in pre test
Standardised for all participants: all had same experience

Question 39

Weaknesses of reliability

Answer 39

Per condition, the sample is not large enough to prove a consistent effect across target population (6 children per condition once put into groups

Question 40

Strengths of sample method

Answer 40

Opportunity = quick and convenient for researcher

Question 41

Weaknesses or sample method

Answer 41

Biased sample because only gathered from Stanford Uni so doesn’t represent children of different social backgrounds ie not children of a prestigious uni

Question 42

Strengths of population validity

Answer 42

Occurred in a University which is more likely to have diversity in terms of cultural backgrounds
Mix of genders

Question 43

Weaknesses of population validity

Answer 43

Uses children from Stanford Uni nursery suggesting they are of upper class so doesn’t not represent lower classes

Question 44

Strengths of ecological validity

Answer 44

Children used to playing with toys in a nursery = represents real life

Question 45

Weaknesses of ecological validity

Answer 45

Not a normal event to be alone in a room with a stranger who starts beating up a bobo doll = not as realistic

Question 46

Strengths of construct validity

Answer 46

Controlled variables to ensure extraneous variables didn’t affect DV and were measured instead eg if the layout of room could have caused more aggression if it differed (?)
Matched Ps design = controlled P variables: so children previously aggressive wouldnt by chance end in one condition and bias results
Specific model actions to ensure Ps were actually imitating model: stylised aggression and not previously learnt
Weren’t aware of study so acted naturally

Question 47

Strengths (ethnocentrism) in this study

Answer 47

From a University nursery so may have more diversity in cultures

Question 48

Weaknesses (ethnocentrism) in the study

Answer 48

Only gathered from Stanford Uni, other cultures outside of the USA (even Stanford) may act differently and other countries, eg differences in cultures in how they respond to role models

Question 49

Weaknesses of construct validity

Answer 49

No test was followed up to see if learned behaviour had long term affects so may not be accurate in a measure of long term impact witnessing aggression has on children, the dependent variable

Question 50

Strengths of ethics

Answer 50

Informed consent = teachers consented on their behalf
Confidentiality kept

Question 51

Weaknesses of ethics

Answer 51

Deception = children weren’t told the aim of the study
Harm = mild aggressive arousal may knock childrens self confidence if told they’re not special enough for toys

Question 52

Nature vs nurture debate

Answer 52

Falls into both! Nurture = influences of the environment in this case observation of role model effect behaviour (imitation of aggression). Behaviour is learnt. Acceptance towards male aggression could explain gender difference, shown in qualitative data collected
Nature = boys had higher aggression than girls due to differences in testosterone?

Question 53

How does this show free will

Answer 53

The fact that there were differences caused by gender of role model eg less imitative physical aggressive acts when the model is male show some cognitive process behind when to show aggression: we are not always determined to show aggression when put in a situation