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Bandura et al - Evaluation - Coggle Diagram
Bandura et al - Evaluation
Tell a Story
Background
Aggressive behaviours are learned through reinforcement and the imitation of aggressive 'models'
Imitation is the reproduction of learning through observation
A child's aggressive tendencies can be strengthened through vicarious reinforcement (seeing others being rewarded for behaving aggressively)
Children will readily imitate behaviour demonstrated by an adult model if model remains present
Method
Design: lab experiment, independent measures, matched participants design. IVs were: child seeing aggressive/non aggressive model, sex of model, sex of child. DV was amount of imitative behaviour shown by child in phase 3
Sample: 72 (36m, 36f) aged 37-69 months from Stanford University Nursery School
Procedure
Phase 1: children sat in room playing for 10 minutes while aggressive model was aggressive towards Bobo doll, non-aggressive model played quietly
Phase 2: children taken to room for mild aggression arousal
Phase 3; children taken into 3rd room with Bobo doll, mallet, dart gun, and non-aggressive toys. Observed through one-way mirror for 20 minutes
Results
Boys produced more imitative physical aggression than girls
Male model influenced more than female
Boys imitated male models more
Girls imitate female models more
Conclusions
Children will imitate behaviours displayed by adult models
Children can learn behaviour through observation
Male adult's behaviour has greater influence
Core studies in their pairs
How the study changes our understanding of individual, social and cultural diversity
Individual: Bandura showed that males and females imitate behaviour differently and are affected more by same sex role models. Chaney et al furthered the understanding of how males and females learn behaviours but did not differentiate between them as Bandura did
Social: The classic study Bandura et al explained the causes of behaviour and Chaney et al furthered an understanding of how behaviourist theories can be used to improve behaviour
Chaney et al carried out their research with Australian children which furthers Bandura's research in America and suggests that all children, regardless of culture are able to learn and acquire behaviour using the principle of reinforcement
How does the study relate to the area
Developmental because of the way in which it shows how children's behaviour can be influenced by the behaviour of adult role models (who the imitate). This lab study can be compared to Chaney et al's field study
How does the study relate to the perspective
Behaviourist because of the way it provides empirical support for social learning theory. this is shown through children imitating the aggressive behaviour of the role models that they observe
Research methods/techniques
One strength of using a lab experiment is that the experiment is highly standardised and controlled. This means that the chances of extraneous variables affecting the experiment is low and the experiment can be replicated easily. In Bandura's study, the experimenters were able to control the model, the room, and the time spent in each of the three phases
A weakness of using a matched participants design is that individual differences may affect results. This means that, because no two children are exactly the same, some of their behaviours may be due to their individual differences. In Bandura's study, they match children based on their results on a four five-point rating scale which only rated them on their aggressiveness and no other behavioural traits
Types of data
One strength of collecting quantitative data is that it allows us to easily compare results and draw conclusions from. This way the data can be used to find out if the results are significant or not. in Bandura's study, for the girls/female aggressive model, the mean aggression score was 5.5, compared to 12.4 for the boys/female aggressive model.
One weakness of using quantitative data is that it doesn't give reason for people's behaviours. Quantitative data doesn't contain the information needed to draw non-numerical conclusions from. In Bandura's study, while qualitative data was collected of children saying, "you should've seen what that girl did in there! She was acting like a man!", this still doesn't give an explanation for why the children were acting this way