Independent
variable manipulated
in three conditions:
1. Agressive model
2. Non-aggressive
model 3. no model
shown (control)
Participants
72 children (36 boys,
36 girls) from a nursery
in Stanford University,
California - aged 3-5
(mean= 4.3 yrs)
24 children in aggressive
condition and 24 children
in non-aggressive
condition
6 girls in
each group
with same sex
model
6 girls in each
group with
opposite sex
model
6 boys in each
group with
same sex
model
6 boys ineach
group with
opposite sex
model
24 children in
control group
Matched pairs
design
Nursery school teacher and
experimenter rated each
child's aggressiveness out
of 5 in each category:
physical aggression, verbal
aggression, aggression
towards inanimate objects
and aggressive inhibition.
This was done so each
group of children had
equally varying levels of
agression
Time sample
Aim
To demonstrate that learning can occur
through observation of a model and that
imitation can occur in the absence of that
model
Hypotheses
1. Children exposed to
aggressive models will
reproduce acts of aggression
2. Children exposed to
less aggressive models
will reproduce less
aggressive acts
3. Children will imitate the
behaviour of a same-sex
model to a greater degree than
a model of the opposite sex
4. Boys will be more
predisposed than girls
towards imitating
aggression
Procedure
STAGE 1
Children brought into room by
experimenter, followed by
model. Children became settled
by playing with potato cutters
and prints in corner of room
Aggressive condition
Model played with tinker
toys for 1 min, then
turned to Bobo doll
e.g. shouting 'POW!'
when hitting Bobo doll
Striking Bobo doll on
head with a mallet
Non-aggressive condition
Model played quietly with
non-aggressive toys e.g.
assembling tinker-toys, in
opposite corner of room.
Model ignored Bobo doll
STAGE 2
Child subjected to
'mild aggression
arousal'
Child taken to a room with
attractive toys. After a short time
playing with them, they were taken
away by the experimenter, who told
the child that the toys were special,
and reserved for the other children
To give all groups a
chance of showing
aggression
STAGE 3
Children shown into another
room which contained
aggressive toys (Bobo doll,
mallet, dartguns...) and
non-aggressive toys (tea set,
dolls, crayons...)
Judges observed
children through a
one-way mirror for
20 mins and
recorded
behaviours in
5-second intervals.
CATEGORIES
OF BEHAVIOUR
Imitation behaviour of
aggressive model (inc.
physical, verbal and
non-aggressive speech e.g.
"he sure is a tough fella")
Partial imitation behaviour of
aggressive model e.g. use of
mallet against other
objects/sitting on Bobo doll
without hitting it
Non-imitative physical and verbal aggression
e.g.physical aggression against other objects/verbal
non-imitative remarks e.g. 'shoot the Bobo'
Non-aggressive behaviour
e.g. sitting quietly
Results
1. The children in the aggressive
condition made more aggressive
responses than the children in the
non-aggressive and control groups
2. Boys made more
aggressive responses
than girls
3. Boys in the aggressive
model condition showed more
aggressive responses is the
model was male
Boys perceive similarities between
themselves and the model
Based upon development of child's
gender identity
4. Girls in aggressive condition
showed more physical responses if
model was male, but imitated verbal
aggression more if model was female.
Bandura reported that the children were confused
by female model, perhaps because of what the
children had learned about culturally appropriate
behaviour, e.g. a child commented; "That's not the
way for a lady to behave". However, the aggressive
acts made by the male model were more accepted
Inter-rater reliability: 0.9
Evaluation
Experimental method = can establish
causal relationship as all other
variables were controlled. The
aggressiveness of model did have an
effect on child's subsequent behaviour.
Procedure is
standardised and
replicable
Low ecological validity; no interaction
between child and model at any point +
they are strangers = not like a situation
at home with parents. Also, Bobo doll
may be unknown to children
Snapshot study: A single exposure of
aggressiveness may not have long-term effects
Improvements
Change to longitudinal: Children could observe
model and then be observed each month for a
year to see how much they have retained
Problem: participant attrition
Will be able to see
development
...ecological validity
Show children a short film that includes
aggression and then see how they directly
imitate certain behaviours in their own
natural environment e.g. playground