Prejudice: Classic Study (Sherif 1954)

Question 1

What was the aim of Sherif’s study?

Answer 1

• To investigate how in-group behaviour developed to include related out-group hostility using competition
• To investigate how this friction can be reduced

Question 2

Who were used in the sample?

Answer 2

• 22 boys
• 11 years old
• from Oklahoma, America

Question 3

What participant design was used?

Answer 3

Matched pairs on IQ and sporting ability.

Question 4

What type of method was used?

Answer 4

• Field experiment with repeated measures
• Questionnaires
• Observations

Question 5

What were the 3 stages of the experiment?

Answer 5

1) In-group formation
2) Friction phase
3) Integration phase

Question 6

Briefly describe the procedure of the study.

Answer 6

• A field study of 2 groups of 11 year old boys from America, matched on IQ + sporting abilities
• None were aware of each other’s existence, and were randomly assigned to 2 groups of 11
• Data was collected through observation, sociometric analysis, and tape recording
• The experiment was broken into 3 phases:
  1) In-group formation = establishing culture and group norms and names (The Eagles and The Rattlers)
  2) Friction phase = the first contact between the groups in sports competitions (such as baseball and tug of war)
  3) Integration phase = reducing friction by increasing contact (such as eating together) and by solving problems that require teamwork (such as the water shortage problem)to reach superordinate goals
• All parents were asked to stay away as not to make the boys homesick

Question 7

What was the IV and DV?

Answer 7

IV = Stage of the experiment
DV = Intergroup behaviour and level of competition measured by observation

Question 8

What were the results of phase 1 of Sherif’s study?

Answer 8

1) In-group formation

- group stereotypes emerged with verbal hostility to out-groups (e.g. sissies)

Question 9

What were the results of phase 2 of Sherif’s study?

Answer 9

2) Friction phase
- Boys characterised in-groups with favourable terms and vice versa
- Prejudice went from verbal to physical (fighting)
- (R) 6.4% (E) 7.5% = out-group friendships

Question 10

What were the results of phase 3 of Sherif’s study?

Answer 10

3) Integration phase
- Contact between groups had little success
- One which required cooperation caused hostility to subside
- (R) 36.4% (E) 23.2% = out-group friendships

Question 11

What were the conclusions of his study?

Answer 11

• Conflict of interest and competition for lack of resources cause prejudice
• Increased contact doesn’t help
• Working towards a superordinate goals helps
• People overestimate the abilities of their group
• People underestimate the abilities of out-groups