Bandura

Question 1

Aim of this study?

Answer 1

Bandura conducted a controlled experiment study to investigate if social behaviours (i.e. aggression) can be acquired by observation and imitation.

Question 2

Hypothesis?

Answer 2

1. Children shown aggressive models will show more imitative aggressive behaviour than those shown non-aggressive or no models.
2. Children shown non-aggressive models will show less aggressive behaviour than those shown aggressive or no model. (inhibiting effect)
3. Children would imitate the behaviour of same-sex models more than models of the opposite sex, with boys showing more imitative aggression than girls, especially with male aggressive models.

Question 3

Experimental design?

Answer 3

Laboratory experiment using matched pair design
(Why MPD? Because they matched the children in each group so that they had similar levels of aggression in their everyday behaviour)

Question 4

IV and DV?

Answer 4

IV:
- Type of model (aggressive, non-aggressive, or no model)
- Sex of model
- Sex of subjects

DV:
- the amount of imitative behaviour and aggression shown

Question 5

List the features of the sample

Answer 5

-36 boys -36 girls
- Stanford University Nursery School
- Aged between 3-6 years old
- Participants first matched individually based on pre-existing levels of aggressive behaviour.
- 2 observers observed 51 of the children in the nursery and judged their aggressive behaviour independently
on four 5 point rating scales. High reliability correlation of 0.89
- On the basis of these scores, participants were arranged in triplets and randomly assigned to the 3 conditions. (24 in each)