Tajfel

• What was the aim of Tajfel's study?


  To investigate if intergroup discrimination would occur based on being put into different groups.
• What did Tajfel hypothesise about categorisation and discrimination?


  Tajfel hypothesised that categorisation and discrimination operate automatically, even withou prior prejudice.
• Describe the sample used in Tajfel's study.


  The sample consisted of 48 boys aged 14-15 years old.
• What task were the boys asked to perform in Tajfel's study?


  The boys rated 12 paintings by Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky and were randomly allocated into groups, though they were told it was based on their artistic taste.
• What were the boys instructed to do regarding point allocation?

  Each boy awarded points to two others: one from his group and one from the other group.
• How did the first point allocation system work?

  The total points always equaled 15; if one score increased, the other decreased.
• How did the second point allocation system work?

  High value for in group = higher profit for outgroup. Mid-range value = equal points for both groups. Low value for in-group = minimal points for outgroup.
• What was the key finding in the first point allocation system?

  Boys generally awarded more points to their group.
• What was the key finding in the second point allocation system?


  Boys were willing to give their team fewer points to maximise the difference between the groups.
• What conclusion did Tajfel draw from the study?


  Even meaningless groupings lead to discrimination, as individuals favour their in-group to create a positive social identity.
• What previous beleif did Tajfel's study challenge?


  That intergroup conflict is necessary for discrimination to occur.
• Give strengths for Tajfel's study. 


  Challenged previous beliefs. High level of control, minimising confounding variables.
• Why can Tajfel's study be considered reliable?


  It can be replicated, and a follow-up study confirmed the findings even when groupings were known to be random.
• Give limitations for Tajfel's study. 


  Artificial set up, lacked ecological validity. Boys may have shown demand characteristics if they interpreted the task as competitive. Sampling bias - they were all British schoolboys.
• How might the artistic taste explanation affect the study?


  It could be seen as a prior foundation for conflict, potentially influencing the results.