Sherif (Classic)

• What was the main aim?

  See if it is possible to cause prejudice by putting 2 groups in competition
• What was the secondary aim?

  See if prejudice can be reduced by introducing superordinate goals
• What was the sample size?

  22 boys
• How old was the sample group?

  Ages 11-12
• Where did the experiment take place?

  Summer Camp at Robbers cave
• Give 3 more details about the sample

  1.All middle class

  2.All Protestant

  3.All matched on IQ
• What is Stage 1 called?

  In-Group formation
• What happened in stage 1 (in-group formation)

  2 groups kept seperate and had to work together to achieve group goals
• What were the results of stage 1 (in-group formation)?

  They created team names (eagles and rattlers)

  Both had team leaders

  Knowledge of out-groups led to hostility

  Each had rules, a flag and T-shirts

  Name calling the other group
• What was stage 2?

  Inter group relations- the friction phase
• What happened in stage 2 (inter group relation)?

  Tournaments were set up where points could be earned and prizes for the winners.

  Bean collecting task
• What were the results of stage 2 (inter group relations)

  1.wanted to compete as soon as they knew of each other

  2.name calling

  3.raided others bunkhouses

  4.one group burnt the others flag after a fight

  5.winners prize was stolen
• What was stage 3?

  Inter group relations phase
• What happened in stage 3 (inter group relations phase)

  introduced superordinate goals
• What were the 3 superordinate goals they had to achieve?

  1.pool money for a movie night

  2.fix the water tank

  3.pull the bus out of mud for a trip
• What were the results of stage 3 (inter group relations phase)

  worked together to achieve all the goals
• What was the conclusion?

  -competitions increases prejudice and discrimination

  -superordinate goals decrease it
• Give 3 strengths of this study

  1.low demand characteristics- didn’t know they were part of a study

  2.high ecological validity- natural environment

  3.All ppts were matched on characteristics so individual differences wouldnt affect attitudes
• Give 3 weaknesses of the study:

  1.the children were deceived

  2. low generalisability- sample was only boys aged 11-12, American, and Protestant

  3. deliberately induced prejudice- could lead to harm being caused + no evidence of a debrief