Bobo Doll (Bandura, Ross & Ross 1961)

aim

to investigate if social behaviours (eg aggression) can be acquired by observation/imitation

method

• IV = type of model

• DV = level of imitation

• 36 boys & 36 girls Stanford Uni Nursery School 3-6yrs

• pre-tested aggression observed in nursery on 4 5-point scales. match similar in groups

• 72 kids

• 24 agg

  • female model 6 boys 6 girls

  • male model 6 boys 6 girls

• 24 nonagg

  • female model 6 boys 6 girls

  • male model 6 boys 6 girls

• 24 control (no model)

procedure

• lab. 3 different conditions

1. stage 1: modelling

   • experimental group = kids in room w/ toys

     • aggressive = watch adult violent

     • non-aggressive = watch adult calm

   • control group = no model

2. stage 2: aggression arousal

   • all subjected. each taken to own room w/ toys

   • start playing; experimenter says “best toys reserved for u”

3. stage 4: test for delayed imitation

   • room had aggressive (doll/dart) & nonaggressive (crayon)

   • child there for 20mins. behaviour seen thru 1-way mirror

key findings

• aggressive model = ^ likely to imitate response (stage 3) than nonagg/control

• boys ^ likely to imitate same-sex than girls

• boys more violent

• agg girls ^ likely imitate if male

• learn social behaviour (agg) thru observational learning/watch

• girls w/ aggressive model ^ likely imitate verbal aggression if female model

limitations

1. lab (low eco validity)

2. sample not representative

3. model/child strangers so affect imitation level

4. didnt measure long-term effects of learning. same age

5. unethical - later consequences

SI

• hyp = observing aggression → ^ likelihood of aggression in observer

• convenience

• qual (observe)

• experimental - matched participants