Social - Classic study Robbers cave study

Who performed the Robbers cave study and when?

Sherif et al (1961)

What was Sherifs aim?

To determine whether competition causes prejudice between boys who do not know each other.

Describe the participants of the robbers cave study.

22 white, middle class, protestant boys aged between 11-12

Where was the robbers cave study held?

Robbers cave park Oklahoma USA

What were the four stages of the robbers cave experiment?

1. Group formation

2. Ficticion stage

3. Reducing prejudice

4. End of the study

Describe what occurred prior to the group formation stage.

The boys did not know each other and were put into one large group. Here they got to know each other during activities

Describe the group formation stage.

- Boys separated into 2 groups by experimenters without their knowledge

- The groups developed individual characteristics

- Boys who had been friends were deliberately separated

Describe the fictition stage.

- Boys were made to compete in tournaments

- Only prizes for first place (scarce resources)

- When one group won (eagles) the losers got aggressive

What were the 2 groups called?

Rattlers and eagles

What types of aggression was shown at the fictition stage?

- Theft of prizes and belongings

- Raiding of each others camps

- Physical fights

- Setting each others flags on fire

How did Sherif et al collect data during the experiment?

- They were positioned in the camp as 'camp counsellors'

- They observed boys behaviour

- They used hidden microphones

Describe the reducing prejudice stage.

The boys had to perform tasks together as one group instead of two competing (superordinate goals)

What are superordinate goals?

A goal that could only be achieved through cooperation between the groups - tasks of mutual benefit

What were the superordinate goals the boys had to participate in?

- Fixing the water tank

- Pulling a food truck out of the mud

- Pooling money to watch a film

What was special about these superordinate tasks?

They were engineered by the experimenters

Describe the end of the study (Sherif).

- The boys rated each other positively (even those from previously opposing groups)

- The groups mingled, played and sat together

What did Sherif conclude from the study?

- Competition causes prejudice and conflict

- Forcing group cohesion can intensify prejudice

- Superordinate goals can reduce prejudice

What percentage of boys were friends between the groups during the competition phase?

Roughly 6% were friends

What percentage of boys were friends between the groups during the super-ordinate goal phase?

About 25-30%

Who performed the boy scout study?

Tyreman and Spencer (1983)

What did the boy scout study find?

That the boys were much less prejudiced towards each other, possibly because they had known each other before hand

Describe the validity of the Robber's Cave experiment.

- High ecological validity - The boys were used to going to camp so the environment was ordinary to them - this means the findings can be applied to real life

- High mundane realism - The tasks they performed were ordinary tasks for boys on camp to perform

- High internal validity - Sherif matched the boys in groups equally for sport and IQ ability. This ensured his results were accurate. He needed the competition to occur according to the in group and out group prejudice and competition not individual differences

What issue with validity is there in Sherif's study?

Issue with internal validity - two boys from the same group went home so the groups were not evenly matched. This could have impacted his results