Socio-cultural approach IB psychology

Tajfel (1978) Aim and concept

A study conducted by Henri Tajfel that explored social identity theory, demonstrating how individuals categorize themselves and others into groups, leading to in-group favoritism and out-group discrimination.

Tajfel Study strengths and limitations

The strengths of Tajfel's study include its clear demonstration of in-group favoritism and the robust experimental design, while limitations involve the artificiality of the laboratory setting and the potential lack of ecological validity.

Tajfel methodology

• randomly assigned to groups based off of their “preferences” Klee and Kandinsky

• Told to allocated rewards to other individuals

Hilliard and Liben (2010) Aim and concept

• Whether the increasing of gender salience in classrooms lead children to develop gender stereotyped attitudes

• enculturation

• social identity theory

• formation of stereotypes

Hilliard and Liben study strengths and limitations

Strengths:

• focused on real world settings giving high ecological value to the study

• the study provided strong evidence for how social categorization can influence intergroup attitides

Limitations:

• Focuses on a specific age group, might limit its generalizability to other social categories or age group

• ethical considerations regarding stimulating gender stereotyped attitudes

• not possible to measure the child’s level of gender salience

Hilliard and Liben methodology

• quasi-field experiment

• manipulated an independent variable in a natural setting

• the children were divided into two conditions: high gender salience and low gender salience

• children’s gender attitudes and intergroup bias were assessed before, during, and after a two week period using measures like the preschool observation of activities and Tasks POAt AM

• and a questionnaire asking about their preferences and attitudes towards gender roles.

Charlton et al. aim and concept

• investigate whether the introduction of television to the remote island of St. Helena would lead to an increase in aggressive behavior among children aged 3 to 8 years.

• cultural dimensions

• social cognitive theory

charlton et al. methodology

• on saint helena as the introduction of television was relatively recent

• natural experiment design IV: introduction of televsion

• childrens behaviors were observed in school playgrounds using cameras

• observations were conducted in 1994 (before introduction of TV) and then after introduction of tv in 2002

• researchers analyzed the behavior on the playground behaviours observation scale

• additionall data were collected through interviews with teachers and parents and older children

Charlton et al. 2002 results

• no significant increase in antisocial behaviors

• the study suggests that factors like parental guidancce or community norms may influence the effects of televsion on childrens behaviors

charlton et al study strengths and limitations

strengths:

• high ecological validity, natural setting insights to real world behavior

• longitudinal design - long term effects

• ethical considerations- the study did not manipulate variables or deciece participants

limitations:

• no control for other variables that may influence participant behaviors

• macro level analysis, only able to assess general attitude of massess and not on individual levels

• opportunity sample, may not be a representative of thec hildren on the island

• the study does not measure cognitive processes like self efficacy or motivation which are central to sct