Social Cultural Studies

aim of Odden & Rochat

to investigate how Samoan children were 'enculturated' by obersving their parents, other adults, older siblings, and peers (the role of social cognitive learning on the development of cultural norms in Samoa)

Participants of Odden & Rochat

28 children (4-12 years) in a single Samoan village (as well as their caretakers and other adults surrounding these children)

Procedure of Odden & Rochat

the researchers carried out a longitudinal study for 25 months researchers observed children in different contexts and conducted semi-structured interviews with adults and children the researchers looked at the behavior of line fishing and conceptual understanding of rank and hierarchy the also carried out a multiple-choice test

Results of Odden & Rochat

researchers found through interviews that many of the children's skills (household chores like cooking and washing and fishing) had been acquired through observational learning. they found that young males spent a lot of time watching the adult males fish, receiving no direct instruction. they also found that children of around 10 years old would borrow the adults' fishing equipment and experiment on their own without any adult supervision. by age 12, most children were able to fish on their ownchildren were skilled and learned from observation of adults and older children. Samoan children could learn rather abstract concepts by observing and listening to adults the children also had a reasonably good understanding of the complex hierarchal system although no one had taught them. it appeared that they also learned social rules regarding how to behave with people of higher rank according to observational learning as well. The children had a broad understanding of the concepts and the rituals of their society (according to multiple choice test)

Conclusion of Odden & Rochat

it appears that cultural norms are not taught directly, but rather learned through the active observation by the children of the adults in the community although other cultures may have fewer status differences between parents and children, and although parents may tell and teach children about different aspects of their culture, it can be assumed that observational learning also plays a role in enculturation elsewhere

Method of Odden & Rochat

method triangulation (longitudinal - interviews and observation)

Aim of Steele & Aronson

to see how stereotype threat affects test performance in African Americans

Participants of Steele & Aronson

114 male and female black and white undergraduates from Stanford university

Procedure of Steele & Aronson

there were two independent variables in the study: the race of the participant and the test descriptions. the participants were given a 30-minute standardized test of verbal ability similar to the SAT. in the experimental condition (stereotype threat), participants were told that the test diagnosed intellectual ability: "a genuine test of your verbal abilities and limitations" in the control condition, participants were told that the purpose of the research had nothing to do with intellectual ability: "to better understand the psychological factors involved in solving verbal problems" participants were randomly assignedto one of the conditions; however, they made sure that there were equal numbers of participants in each condition. the assumption was that linking the test to ability would activate the existing racial stereotypes, so black participants face the threat of fulfilling the stereotype

Results of Steele & Aronson

there was no significant difference between male and female participants. African-Americans did poorly when they believed that the test was a test of their ability, but did just as well as the white Americans when they believed that it was a test of problem-solving skills. in other words, African-American participants performed worse than their white counterparts in the stereotype threat condition while their performance equaled that of their white counterparts in the control condition

Conclusion of Steele & Aronson

when a person is aware of a negative stereotype or expectation, the amount anxiety may increase and performance will hence decrease. these effects can, however, be decreased by awareness of that stereotype.

Method of Steele & Aronson

laboratory experiment IV: race of the participant and the test descriptions DV: performance on test

What was the aims of the study by Levine et al?

To investigate how the personality of a city might be related to helping behaviour in non-emergency situations, in a wide range of cultures in large cities and the world in relation to four specific community variables

What 4 community variables were considered in the Levine study?

1. Population size 2. Pace of life 3. Economic prosperity 4. Cultural values (e.g. individualism, collectivism or simpatia)

What was the design of the study by Levine et al?

Quasi-experiment (independent variable was naturally occurring). It used an independent measures design, a correlation was used to analyse the results of this cross-cultural research.

What was the sample of the study by Levine et al?

23 countries, The study used an opportunity sample and around 50 participants in each of the cities were tested

What was the first step of the procedure of the study by Levine et al?

1. Able participant selected 2. Selected when approaching a second potential participant who crossed a predetermined line

What was the procedure for the dropped pen condition of the Levine study?

Experimenter dropped pen 10 feet from participant (participant was scored as having helped if they called out to or returned the pen to the experimenter)

What was the procedure for the Injured leg condition of the Levine study?

Experimenter walked with a limp and wore a leg brace, they dropped a stack of magazines and attempted to pick them up (Participant was scored to have helped if they began to help without offering)

What was the procedure for the blind man crossing the road condition of the Levine study?

Experimenter wore dark glasses and held a white cane and waited at s street corner until someone offered to help (helped if they informed the experimenter that the light was green)

What countries were considered the most and least helpful?

Highest measure of helping = Brazil (1.66) Lowest Measure of helping = Malaysia (-2.04)

What results were gathered from the Levine et al study?

• Simpatia countries (e.g. Brazil) were considered significantly more helpful than non-simpatia - Negative correlation between economic productivity and helping behaviour (less economically productive countries were more helpful) - People in faster cities were less likely to help

Aim of Lueck and Wilson

Investigate the factors that can affect acculturation stress in Asian immigrants to America

Method of Lueck and Wilson

semi-structured interviews

Procedure of Lueck and Wilson

• The sample of this study was around 2,000 Asian-Americans. Around half of the sample were born in Asia and had immigrated to America, while the other half were the children of immigrants. A variety of Asian cultures were represented (including Chinese, Vietnamese, and others). The interviewers had a similar cultural background to the participants, and could speak their native language. - The participants were interviewed about their acculturation experiences. The interviews were semi-structured, meaning that all participants were asked a number of prepared, standard questions, while additional follow-up questions could also be asked later.

Results of Lueck and Wilson

• Around 70% of participants reported feelings of acculturation stress - Participants who were fully bilingual had the lowest rates of acculturation stress. Being fully bilingual helped participants maintain strong ties to their Asian culture while also being able to integrate in American society. - Experiences of discrimination, prejudice or stereotyping significantly increased acculturation stress - Participants who shared similar values with their family had lower acculturation stress, perhaps because of less family conflict over different cultural values - Participants who were very satisfied with their economic opportunities in American also had lower acculturation stress

Conclusion of Lueck and Wilson

Acculturation stress is very common amongst immigrants. Language proficiency, family cohesion, economic opportunities, and prejudice are all factors that affect acculturation stress

Aim of Park and Rothbart 1982

To study in-group bias and out-group homogeneity effect

Participants in Park and Rothbart 1982

90 college females on university campus

Procedure of Park and Rothbart 1982

1) Questionnaires to rank their sorority and the out-group sorority on ten characteristics (8 favorable and 2 unfavorable characteristics)

2) Judge similarity of the members of their own sorority and the other two sororities

Results for In-Group Bias in Park and Rothbart 1982

ranked the 8 favorable characters as more typical of in-group sorority and the 2 unfavorable characteristics as typical of the out-group sororities

Results for out-group homogeneity effect in Park and Rothbart 1982

Judged the out-group as being more similar to each other than girls in their own sorority