Bandura

• What was the aim of Bandura's study?


  To demonstrate that children who witness aggressive behaviour from an adult will imitate this aggression, and that children are more likely to imitate same sex models.
• What was the sampel size and age range in Bandura's study?


  36 boys and 36 girls aged between 37 and 69 months.
• What were the three conditions in Bandura's study?


  Control group, group exposed to an aggressive model, group exposed to a passive model (different for each gender ~6 kids per group).
• How did Bandura ensure comparable aggression levels across groups?


  Children were pre-tested for aggression in a nursery using a 5-point scale to assess physical aggression, verbal aggression, and aggression toward objects.
• What method did Bandura use to confirm reliability in aggression ratings?


  Inter-rate reliability: two observers rated 51 children, resulting in a reliability score of 0.89
• Describe Stage 1 in Bandura's experiment for the non-aggressive condition.


  The model quietly played with blocks, ignoring the Bobo doll.
• Describe Stage 1 in Bandura's experiment for the aggressive condition. 


  The model initially played with blocks, then aggressively attacked the Bobo doll, including hitting it with a mallet and verbally insulting it.
• What happened during Stage 2 (mild aggression arousal)?


  Children were taken to a room with attractive toys but were told they were reserved for other children, creating mild frustration.
• What happened during Stage 3 (final stage) in Bandura's study?


  Children were taken to a room with various toys, including both non-aggressive and aggressive toys, and observed for 20minutes through a one-way mirror.
• What were the types of aggression Bandura measured?


  Imitative physical aggression, imitative verbal aggression, non-imitative aggression.
• What were the key results of Bandura's study?


  Children exposed to aggressive models were more aggressive.

  Boys showed more aggression than girls, especially when it was a same sex model.

  Girls showed more physical aggression with male models, but more verbal aggression with female models.
• Give strengths of Bandura's study.


  Controlled aggression levels between groups. Highly controlled experimental conditions.
• Give limitations for Bandura's study. 


  Small sample size, difficulty in generalisation. Does not address whether aggression is innate or biologically drive. Ethically problematic and lacks ecological validity.