cooper and mackie 1986

Question 1

aim?

Answer 1

To see if aggressive video games would lead to increased aggression.

Question 2

sample?

Answer 2

84 children, aged 9-11
from schools in New
Jersey, USA

Question 3

research method/ design?

Answer 3

Lab experiment
independent measures design

Question 4

procedure?

Answer 4

1) Two groups - played or observed
either missile command (high agg.),
pacman (low agg.), or maze (control).
2) Playroom - observed which
toys each child played with
(aggressive, active, quiet, skill).
3) Asked questions about
reward/punishment using buzzer.

Question 5

findings?

Answer 5

• Children playing aggressive game
  spent longer playing with aggressive
  toy. Esp. with girls
• Boys preferred to play.
• Type of game had no effect on
  interpersonal aggression (buzzer qus.)

Question 6

conclusion

Answer 6

Playing or watching an aggressive video game had an impact on aggressive behaviour of girls but not boys.

Question 7

Limitations

Answer 7

1. Sample was culturally biased -
   cannot be generalised.
2. Lacks ecological validity as it was a
   lab experiment (artificial conditions)