Bandura et al

• Bandura et al (1961) conducted a study to find out whether children learn aggression by imitating adult models and if they are more likely to learn from same-sex models
• Study participants


  • 60 boys and girls aged 3 to 6
• Experimental groups


  • Aggressive model
  • Non-aggressive model
• Aggressive model


  • Attacked a Bobo doll physically and verbally for 1 minute
• Non-aggressive model


  • Played with Tinker toys for 10 minutes
• Procedure


  1. Children were deliberately annoyed

  2. Taken to a room with a one-way mirror

  3. Observed for 20 minutes
• Children who saw aggressive models


  Imitated them, showing more physical and verbal aggression than those watching non-aggressive models
• Boys


  More likely to imitate a male model
• Girls


  More likely to imitate a female model
• Bandura et al concluded that observing aggression without reinforcement results in imitative learning, especially for same-sex models
• Questionnaire


  An alternative method to collect data, by assessing participants' views of the model's behaviour
• Advantages of using a questionnaire

  • Allows assessment of participants' views and perceptions
  • Potentially less resource-intensive than observational methods
• Disadvantages of using a questionnaire

  • May not capture actual behavioural imitation
  • Potential issues with self-report data (e.g. social desirability bias)
• Questionnaire-based study would need to consider methodological and ethical factors, such as validity, reliability, and participant privacy/consent