classic study - sherif et al. 1954/1961 robbers cave study Flashcards
what was the aim of the robbers cave study?
to investigate how intergroup conflict arises and how it can be reduced through superordinate goals
what theory does the robbers cave study support?
realistic conflict theory
which suggests intergroup conflict arises when groups compete for limited resources
who were the participants in the robbers cave study?
22 boys aged 11-12 from middle-class, protestant backgrounds in the usa
selected for being psychologically stable
describe the setting of the robbers cave study
the study was conducted in a summer camp at robbers cave state park in oaklahoma USA
to create a naturalistic environment
what were the three stages of the robbers cave study?
- group formation
- intergroup conflict
- conflict resolution
what happened during the group formation stage?
the boys were divided into two groups (the Rattlers and the Eagles) and engaged in bonding activities within their groups
what happened during the intergroup conflict stage?
the groups were introduced to each other and took part in competitive activities eg. tug of war, baseball
leading to hostility, name-calling and fights
how was intergroup conflict resolved in robbers cave study?
superordinate goals were introduced, such as fixing water supply and pushing a food truck which required cooperation between the groups
what were the key findings of the robbers cave study?
-intergroup competition led to hostility and aggression
- cooperation on superordinate goals reduced conflict and created positive relationships between groups
what type of data was collected in the robbers cave study?
qualitative data (observations of behaviour, interviews)
quantitative data (sociometric measures of group preferences)
how does the robbers cave study demonstrate ecological validity?
the study took place in a realistic settling (summer camp) and the participants were unaware they were being studied, leading to natural behaviours
how does the robbers cave study relate to realistic conflict theory?
it demonstrates that competition for resources creates intergroup conflict and that superordinate goals can resolve it
how might demand characteristics have affected the robbers cave study?
even though the boys were unaware of the studies aims, the presences of the researchers could have influenced their behaviour
what type of field experiment is the robbers cave study and why?
a field experiment as it was conducted in a natural setting, with some control over variables
how does the robbers cave study contribute to understanding real-world conflicts?
it highlights how competition for scarce resources (eg. jobs, land) leads to conflict and suggests shared goals can reduce conflict
