Questions and Answers
What was the aim of Bandura's Bobo Doll experiment?
They wanted to see whether exposure to aggression would influence behavior and whether boys would be more likely to imitate aggressive behavior.
What was the procedure of Bandura's Bobo Doll experiment?
- 72 children aged between 3 and 6 were split into three groups: a control, an aggressive model, and a non-aggressive model. The groups were further split by same sex and opposite sex models. The children in each group were matched for aggression. The child in the aggressive condition watched the model act aggressively in the same room, then were brought to another room with toys where their behavior was scored.
What were the results of the Bobo Doll experiment?
Boys were more likely to be aggressive in all three conditions, exhibiting both verbal and physical aggression after watching the aggressive model, particularly when the model was the same sex.
What are the conclusions of Bandura's Bobo Doll experiment?
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Is there generalizability in Bandura's study?
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Is there reliability in Bandura's Bobo Doll experiment?
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What is the application of the Bobo Doll experiment's findings?
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Is there validity in Bandura's study?
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What ethical consideration is noted regarding the Bobo Doll experiment?
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Study Notes
Aim of the Experiment
- Investigated the impact of exposure to aggression on children's behavior.
- Explored whether boys were more likely to imitate aggressive behaviors compared to girls.
Procedure
- Sample included 72 children aged 3 to 6 years.
- Participants divided into three groups: control, aggressive model, and non-aggressive model.
- Further divided by same-sex and opposite-sex model exposure.
- Groups matched for initial levels of aggression.
- In the aggressive condition, children observed the model acting aggressively towards toys.
- Following observation, children were taken into a room with both aggressive and non-aggressive toys; their play behavior was scored.
- Employed a single-blind technique with two observers for data collection.
Results
- Boys exhibited higher levels of aggression across all groups.
- Boys were significantly more verbally and physically aggressive after viewing the aggressive model than girls.
- Greater likelihood of imitation was observed when the model was of the same sex as the child.
Conclusions
- Exposure to aggressive behaviors increases the likelihood of children acting aggressively.
Generalisability
- Findings cannot be generalized to adults due to the sample consisting solely of children.
- Participants came from the same university nursery, limiting representation of the wider child population.
Reliability
- Experiment demonstrated high reliability through the use of two observers and a single-blind technique.
- Repeated measures design and well-documented procedures enhance repeatability.
Application
- Research suggests that minimizing children's exposure to aggressive behaviors may inform censorship policies.
Validity
- Combines repeated measures and matched groups allowing for cause and effect conclusions.
- Demonstrated ecological validity by simulating a nursery environment, promoting natural behavior.
- However, the Bobo doll's design may lead children to believe hitting it is a normative play behavior.
Ethics
- Concern regarding potential teaching of aggressive behavior to children during experimentation.
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