Bandura Variation Studies

Question 1

Aim of Bandura Study (1963)

Answer 1

• To investigate whether a filmed model would have the same effect as a live model on children’s aggression
• To investigate whether cartoon aggression would have a similar impact to realistic filmed aggression

Question 2

Procedure of Bandura Study (1963)

Answer 2

• Laboratory experiment using an independent groups design (48 boys and 48 girls aged 39-52 months)
• Dependent variable was the level of aggression the child displayed
• Independent variable was the model:
  Live aggression condition: Watch an adult aggress towards a Bobo doll
  Filmed realistic aggression: Watched the same behaviour displayed on a screen
  Cartoon aggression condition: Watched on TV a model dressed as a black cartoon cat perform the same aggressive behaviour towards a Bobo doll as in the other condition
  Control group: Didn’t watch aggression
• Then the same procedure as the original study

Question 3

Findings

Answer 3

• The 3 experimental groups all displayed increased aggression
• The differences between the 3 experimental groups were not significantly however they were significantly different compared to the control group

Question 4

Conclusion

Answer 4

• Exposure to live or filmed aggression increases the likelihood of aggression in response to frustration, even if it is modelled by a cartoon figure

Question 5

Aim of Bandura (1965)

Answer 5

• To consider whether reinforcement and punishment of an aggressive model would influence the aggression displayed by the observers in response to frustration

Question 6

Procedure

Answer 6

• The procedure was the same as previous studies
• Participants were 33 boys and 33 girls aged 42-71 months
• The independent variable was the observed consequence for the model
• The dependent variable was the aggression in the children
• The children was allocated 1 of the 3 conditions
  Modelled rewarded condition: Children saw a second adult praise the model for their aggression and give them a drink and chocolate
  Modelled punished condition: Second adult scolded the model and spanked with with a rolled by magazine
  No consequence condition: Model was neither reinforcement nor punished
• The children were then purposefully frustrated and taken into the playroom
• However all the groups were later offered attractive rewards to aggress towards the doll

Question 7

Finding

Answer 7

• Children in the model punished condition were significantly less aggressive than the other two groups
• However when introducing the promise of a reward, wiped out the difference, increasing the scores significantly for all the group

Question 8

Conclusion

Answer 8

• Punishment reduces imitated aggression
• However reinforcement is a more powerful influence on aggression

Question 9

Strength of Bandura variation study

Answer 9

• One strength is that the study had high internal validity
• The children were matched based on existing aggression, reducing the potential effect of individual differences in aggression
• Multiple conditions included non aggressive conditions allowed researchers to control spontaneous aggression
• The children were observed one at a time which avoids the issue for conformity effects in the children’s aggression
• These levels of control were useful as we can be reasonably sure that the observed aggression was a result of observed the aggressive models

Question 10

Weakness of Bandura variation study

Answer 10

• One weakness of the study is that it doesn’t provide an explanation for long term aggression
• Bandura only observed the immediate effects of observing aggression in children, having no explanation for whether those aggressive changes are long term or not
• We cannot know if the children will continue to apply this aggressive behaviour outside of this study
• The study does explanation how aggressive behaviour us learnt byt not information on how aggression is maintained