Tajfel et al. (1970) - Study of Minimal Groups

Question 1

The main aim of the study is to test the idea that…

Answer 1

… prejudice & discrimination can occur between groups even when there is no history between the groups, and no element of competition.

Question 2

Another aim is to look at factors that might…

Answer 2

… cause prejudice and discrimination between the groups.

Question 3

How many experiments were carried out?

Answer 3

2

Question 4

What happened in the 1st experiment?

Answer 4

Groups were created based on judgements about how many dots were in a scene.

Question 5

What happened in the 2nd experiment?

Answer 5

Groups were created based on preference for the artists Klee and Kandinsky.

Question 6

• [conclusions of study] -

Out-group discrimination is…

Answer 6

… present and easily triggered.

Question 7

• [conclusions of study] -

There is no need for groups to be…

Answer 7

… in competition.

Question 8

• [conclusions of study] -

The only thing needed to trigger discrimination was…

Answer 8

… the existence of groups.

Question 9

• [conclusions of study] -

People act according to…

Answer 9

… the social norms that they have learnt.

Question 10

Controls were used in the experiments.

This is a strength, as…

Answer 10

… cause-&-effect conclusions could be drawn.

Question 11

What made the findings reliable?

Answer 11

• large number of boys

- same findings for all groups and both experiments

Question 12

The study took place in a lab setting, which means it has…

Answer 12

… a lack of ecological validity.