Social: Sherif et al. Robber's Cave Experiment (1954, 1961)

Question 1

What were the aims of Sherif et al. study?

Answer 1

• Find out what factors make 2 groups develop hostile relationships.
• See how this hostility can be reduced (how 2 groups can be manipulated into hostility then resolve conflict by working together).

Question 2

What was the sample of the study?

Answer 2

• 24 Ps (11yr old white boys) - reduced to 22 by end of phase 1. Opportunity sample.
• Split into 2 evenly matched groups: “Rattlers” and “Eagles”.
• Stayed at Robbers Cave State Park, Oaklahoma, camp for 3 weeks.
• Carefuly selected to be ‘typical’ of their age (e.g. sporty).

Question 3

What was the procedure of the study?

Answer 3

1. Boys arrived on separate buses and settled into their cabins on 2 separate sites (unaware of the other group).
2. Each group had Junior camp counselors (college students earning money during summer) who lived with the boys and supervised their activities, and Senior camp counselors who were P observers who stayed with the boys 12 hours a day.
   
   • Sherif wanted no interaction with the boys from his observers in any way (“Nobody is to be a leader to the boys… or interact with the subjects in any way that might contaminate the group dynamics that they are there to observe).
3. Ingroup formation lasted a week. Each group accomplished tasks (e.g. treasure hunt with $10 prize). Boys gave names and discovered the existence of the other group (immediately requested a baseball game against them).
   4.