Classic Study SOC

• What was the aim in Sherif's study?

  To see whether prejudice would develop between 2 groups of similar people by putting them in competition
• Ppts in Sherif's study

  22 boys of similar "well adjusted, normal" backgrounds at a summer camp

  -> 11 years old, American, middle class
• Sherif study procedure

  Ppts allocated to two groups and neither group was aware of the other

  Each group developed rules and ideas on how to behave

  After 1 week each group was made aware of the other, they then formed in groups and out groups

  Competition was then introduced setting up a tournament including tug of war and basketball where prizes were earned, results were manipulated (eg. using camp inspections)
• How were the ppts in Sherif's study made to work together?

  Superordinate goals were introduced

  • water supply had "broken" so the teams worked together to fix it
  • they worked together to pull a stuck truck out of the mud
  • they all came together to pay for a film they all wanted to watch
• Results of Sherif's study

  Boys showed a strong preference for the in group, before the tournament there were feelings of competitiveness, prizes awarded were stolen by the losers
• Conclusion from Sherif's study

  Prejudice and discrimination are a consequence of competition
• Robbers cave generalisability

  Ppts all white, middle class, American boys and only 22 ppts were used so low generalisability
• Robbers cave reliability

  No standardised procedures as it wad a field study, findings would be hard to replicate
• Robbers cave application

  Reducing competition between groups will reduce prejudice, a fairer society with fair distribution of wealth and resources would be better
• Robbers cave ecological validity

  Natural environment and were unaware that they were being observed, so they had more natural behaviour
• Robbers cave internal validity

  Competition was seen as the cause for prejudice, however negative feelings developed as soon as the groups were introduced, so competition may not be the only cause of prejudice
• Robbers cave ethics

  No full informed consent, parents did not know what was going on and boys were deceived

  Boys almost got into a fight due to the conflict produced
• When did Robber's Cave Study take place?

  1961
• What is your classic study?

  Robber's Cave - Sherif 1961