classic study - Sherif robber's cave

Question 1

aim?

Answer 1

• to see whether if strangers placed into groups would form a close bond with each other
• if the introduction of competition would be enough to cause hostility between the two groups
• and if hostility could be reduced through the introduction of a super-ordianate goal.

Question 2

how many ptps were used?

Answer 2

22 11 year old boys selected from a sample of 200

Question 3

where were the boys from ?

Answer 3

• all psychologically well-adjusted middle class protestants from Oklahoma.

Question 4

what design method was used/

Answer 4

matched pairs design

• matched on IQ
• sporting ability

Question 5

did the boys know about each other initially?

Answer 5

• no

- they were put into two groups and neither of which knew about the other

Question 6

what happened during stage 1 in the first week?

Answer 6

• the boys were asked (in their seperate groups) to carry out a series of tasks, still unaware of the other groups
• their status and roles were recorded in the first week

Question 7

what happened in stage two?

Answer 7

the boys were made aware of each other and indulged in a competitive tournament of baseball and told that the winner would receive an awared

Question 8

what happened in stage three?

Answer 8

• the boys were brought together in order to achieve a superordinate goal which was to fix the water blockage.

Question 9

what were the results found in stage 1?

Answer 9

• boys has named themselves
• rattlers and eagles
• they had appointed leaders

Question 10

results for stage 2?

Answer 10

• expressed dislike for the other group when they were made aware of them
• competition immediately created hostility and close reports of “physical violence” was recorded
• derogatory names were used such as “sissies” and “stinkers”
• refused to eat with them
• raided huts and burnt flags

Question 11

results of stage three?

Answer 11

• hostility was reduced but briefly

- for example the boys carried out with comments such as “laddies first.” when they watched a group movie together.

Question 12

did outgroup friendships increase of decrease by the end of the study?

Answer 12

• increased
• by the end of stage 2 out-group friendships was just 6.4%
• but by the end of stage 3 this had risen by 36.4%