Sherif (1954/1961) Flashcards
What is the aim of Sherif (1954/1961) ?
To explore how competition and frustration of a group’s goals can lead to unfavourable stereotyping and prejudiced attitudes towards the out-group, encouraging in-group solidarity and cooperation.
What is tha sample of Sherif (1954/1961) ?
22 middle class, Protestant 11 year old boys from Oklahoma USA.
What is the IV of Sherif (1954/1961) ?
Whether the atmosphere at camp was of completion or cooperation.
What is the DV of Sherif (1954/1961) ?
The number of friends identified in the out-group.
Describe the procedure of Sherif (1954/1961).
- The boys were divided into 2 groups ensuring each compromised those with equal abilities e.g. IQ, sporting prowess.
- Consent was collected by parents and doctors as the boys were unaware of the observation.
- Parents paid a small fee and were asked not to visit.
- The boys arrived on separate days and were deliver to different destinations with their own bunkhouse, hide out and swimming pools.
- Stage 1 (group formation) - the boys took part in non-competitive activities so they would bond with their group (Rattlers or Eagles) e.g. tent pitching, building campfires.
- Stage 2 (friction) - each group learned of the others existence and a tournament was created with prizes of medals and a trophy e.g. tug of war, baseball, tent pitching.
- Stage 3 (reducing friction) - initial tasks involved increasing contact e.g. eating together and later superordinate goals were introduced e.g. mending a broken water supply, starting a broken down truck.
What are the findings of Sherif (1954/1961) ?
- Named their groups, established a leader and differing social norms became apparent - Rattlers were tough and swore a lot whilst the Eagles cried more when injured and were anti-swearing.
- Wanted to challenge each other to a baseball contest and hostility developed rapidly e.g. name-calling, fights, burnt the others flag - only 6.4% of Rattlers friends were Eagles and 7.5% Eagles friends were Rattlers.
- Social contact and superordinate goals initially did little to reduce friction as soon after fixing the water they began insulting each other once again but after the truck they made dinner together and hostility reduced, left the camp as friends - 36.4% of Rattlers friends now Eagles and 23.2% of Eagles friends now Rattlers.
What are the conclusions made from Sherif (1954/1961) ?
- Intergroup competition leads to increased ingroup favouritism and solidarity but also outgroup hostility.
- Increased social contact is not enough to reduce prejudice but a series of superordinate goals can reduce prejudice effectively.
- Lead to the development of Realistic Conflict Theory.
Strengths of Sherif (1954/1961).
G -
R - standardised procedures, attempts to replicate
A - explanation of origin of prejudice offering ways to reduce it e.g. rival groups work towards common goals, Jigsaw classroom technique.
V - took place in a natural environment of Robber’s Cave Camp with everyday activities increasing mundane realism.
E -
Weaknesses of Sherif (1954/1961).
G - only involved 12 year old boys, homogenous group as they were all white and middle class, can’t represent other ages, genders, backgrounds, times, countries.
R - low control over extraneous variables due to field experiment, can’t replicate exact conditions as there might have been variables unaccounted for that affected the data.
A -
V - no control group to compare the data to reducing the ability to infer cause and effect, lacks internal validity.
E - the boys were unaware they were in a study so were deceived thinking it was a real camp, physical and psychological harm as fights broke out and purposeful creation of hostility and tension.
