prejudice RCT Flashcards
What are the 3 neg components to prejudice?
-Cognitive stereotyping
-Affective (stereotyping leads to) prejudice eg hostility
-Behavioural discrimination eg assault
Define stereotype
Overgeneralised belief about someone or something usually based on limited info
Define prejudice
An unfavourable extreme attitude towards someone or something eg sexism and racism
Define discrimination
Unfair treatment of categories of people
Describe realistic conflict theory?
Developed by Sherif. Prejudice is a result of conflict between two groups. The conflict arises due to competition (for perceived limited resources like food, jobs) members become prejudice and hostile which leads to increased animosity towards the other group. Intergroup hostility can be reduced by working towards superordinate goals as they have to cooperate in order to get anything done
How does reductionism relate to RCT
Sherif was prof in psych and sociology and resisted attempts to explain prejudice at a dispositional level. Continually argued with a multidisciplinary approach that psychologists should strive for both lab and field because social issues don’t occur just in a lab
PEEC Methodology in RCT
One strength of the theory is that the main supporting evidence for RCT was the Robbers cave study. For example, this was a field study set in Oklahoma with 22 boys going on a summer camp which a typical 11 year old American could be doing, which shows it is no different to ordinary life and not artificial. For example, tasks they were asked to do such as tug of war is realistic competition to expect at a camp. Therefore, making mundane realism also high due to the setting making the methodology of the study extremely strong. However, this methodology means that the theory cannot be generalised to the wider population due to the sample being all 22 white American boys. Which means it cannot be applied to anywhere non-American or any females.
PEEC evidence in RCT
One strength of RCT is that due to there being evidence there to support it, the theory has credibility. For example, Sherif’s et all Robbers Cave Study showed how competition between boys increased hostility. Additionally when they had to work towards shared goals( superordinate goals) eg fixing a water blockage, they then became more friendlier to each other. Furthermore, this theory also has cross cultural evidence as Ember & Ember observed in Tribal societies inter-group hostility increases hen they are competing for limited resources. This means, that there is an overwhelming amount of evidence to support RCT and give it credibility. However, Sherif’s own writing suggests the boys become hostile before any competition which ay indicate SIT is a better explanation for prejudice.
Applications PEEC IN RCT
One strength of RCT is that it is practical and has real world applications. This means that it suggests prejudice and hostility can be reduced if they have superordinate goals. For example, Aronson et al used a jigsaw technique to get students to work together which reduces levels of competition and hostility between classmates. It also explains hostility towards immigrants if people perceive resources like jobs are limited they view the immigrants as competitors and feel prejudiced against them.
What was the aim of Sherif’s study?
To investigate inter-group relations, focusing on group formation, the effect of competition and how to resolve group conflicts
IV of Sherif’s study?
Stage of experiment in group formation, friction phase, and i8ntegration phase. This is a repeated measures design.
DV of Sherif’s study?
Intergroup behaviour was measure by observing the boys behaviour and friendship patterns and tape recording their convos, recording phrases they used and the boys filled out questionnaires on their attitudes to their own group and other group
What is the sample in Sherif’s study?
The study was a field experiment. The sample as 22 ,11 year old boys. All were whit, American, lower-middle-class and protestant. Selected by opportunity sampling and split into evenly matched group of boys. Rattlers and Eagles.
What is the procedure in Sherif’s study? (in group formation)
Arrived on separate buses and settled into into their cabins in Oklahoma. Unaware of the other group. Each group has counsellors who were really ppt observers & sociometric measures to investigate status positions and roles within the group. In group formation lasted a week where each group had to bond via tasks like a treasure hunt and were given group names to strengthen group identity and develop group norms. At the end of this stage they were made aware of the other group
What was the procedure in Sherif’s study? (friction phase)
As soon as awareness of other groups hostility increased. Experimenters encouraged conflict eg competing for desirable prizes like penknives, tug or war, baseball games.
Describe the integration phase?
Reduce tension between groups by working towards a superordinate goals. Such as watching films together and joint problem solving activities such as removing a blockage
Results of RCT
Stage 1) Boys bonded with their groups and had leaders and expressed dislike of the other group and had a us vs them attitude
Stage 2) Competition led to immediate hostility eg Eagles refused to eat with Rattlers, shouted insults ,raided huts and burned flags. A strong sense of in-group favouritism and neg out-group bias when asked to self-report who were their friends 93% chose exclusively their own group.
Stage 3)Getting them together like in a dining hall didn’t reduce hostility. Joint problem solving tasks helped eg Rattlers spent a $5 on drinks for both.
Conclusions of Sherif’s study
Strong in group identities formed initially. Some hostility observed as soon as awareness suggest prejudice with no competition. Competition = intense hostility. Contact itself wasn’t enough to reduce hostility
Generalisability PEE Sherif
One weakness of Sherif study is that it lacks generalisability due to the sample. For example, there was only 22 boys who were all from the same socio-economic status, all protestant ,white, American and 11. This means we cannot generalise findings to other populations or adults which reduces its usefulness.
Reliability PEEC Sherif
a strength of the study is that it has high reliability. for example, triangulation was used to collect data; observations, tape recordings and sociometric analysis. this offers a variety of datasets to explain differing aspects of the phenomenon of interest. however, Tyerman and Spencer replicated the study and did not find the same results. therefore, this suggests that the procedure and findings are not reliable as it did not produce consistent results
Applications PEEC Sherif
a strength of the study is that it has applications to reduce prejudice by working together towards superordinate goals. For example, the jigsaw teaching technique. this is where students are divided into groups of 4-6 and individuals of each group work together, and then return as an instructor. this allows groups to co operate and reduce friction which was tested by Aronson and worked successfully to reduce bullying
Validity PEEC Sherif
One strength of the study is that ecological validity is high due to the data collection methods. For example, the counsellors being participant observers, recordings and the boys not knowing they were being observed reducing any demand characteristics. This suggests the findings of the study are accurate and therefore increasing the overall validity of the study. Furthermore, the ecological validity is high due to it being set in a real summer camp in Oklahoma which is a natural setting for young boys. However, as there was no control group instead pre & post experiment attitudes are compared. Which means cause and effect relationships cannot be clearly demonstrated.
Ethics PEEC Sherif
A weakness of the study is the ethical issues. For example, the ppts were deceived as even though parents had been told, the boys thought it was a real summer camp. Additionally, arguments broke out and they called each other names which could have caused psychological harm which counsellors didn’t stop and the parents could not visit the boys. Which decreases the ethics of the study massively as the boys themselves did not give any consent and it can be seen as stressful to deliberately cause hostility. however, there was a right to withdraw. For example 2 of the participants leaving showing they could leave anytime.
Main differences between RCT and SIT?
RCT suggests competition for resources between 2 groups is important for conflict to arise whereas SIT argues merely being categorised into a group is enough for there to be prejudice and discrimination.
