Evaluation of Robbers cave experiment

Question 1

Reliability?

Answer 1

• were controls such as careful sampling and observations to ensure the same procedures where carried out
• Therefore cause and effect conclusions could be drawn easier when observing naturally-occurring groups

Question 2

Ecological validity?

Answer 2

• High because the boys were carrying out real life activities of a summer camp experience
• However the 2 groups of boys were artificial and didn’t share any history unlike real life groupings

Question 3

Validity?

Answer 3

-Several different data collecting methods were carried out and they all agreed with each other in the results so good validity

Question 4

Application?

Answer 4

When people compete for scarce resources there is a rise in hostility between groups (in times of unemployment white people may be racist to black people for stealing their jobs)

Question 5

Ethics?

Answer 5

• No informed consent
• No right to withdraw (Parents not allowed to visit so could not check on children’s welfare)
• The boys were deceived as they thought they were really at summer camp
• participants not protected from physical and psychological harm as in phase 2 name calling and fights occurred

Question 6

Generalisability?

Answer 6

hard to generalise as the sample was restricted to boys with specific backgrounds and similar ages so findings not representative of all children