Sheriefs study
This study was done by muzafir sherief in 1954 and later based on this study he
proposed realistic conflict theory.the aim of this theory was to see what factors lead
to the hostile relationship between two groups and how this could be reduced and also
to study how two groups can be manipulated into a conflict through competition and
how this can be reduced by making them work together. The IV of this study was
measuring the behaviour and friendship patterns and also by making the participants
fill out a questionnaire after two stages this gave a numerical data hence this study is
both quantitative and qualitative. The participants consists of 24 males 11 year old
boys who were white American and belonged to middle class protestant background
they were selected by opportunity sampling the participants reduced to 22 due to 2
boys leaving the campsite due to homesickness. The boys came into the campsite
unaware of the other group which lead to ingroup formation during the first stage of
the study it proved the theory correct by observing prejudice and the second stage
proved the theory correct by measuring the prejudice. The boys were observed 12 hrs
a day by an observer. Sheriff introduced a superordinate goal to fix a broken water
tank and a food truck which lead to integration phase. The results showed that when
the boys got to know about the outgroup they themselves initiated the friction phase
and during this phase they showed very arrogant behaviour towards the outgroup by
calling name and the eaglers burning the ratlers flag. The results of the questionnaire
showed that the outgroup friendship during the friction phase was 6.4% and it
increased to 36.4% after the integration phase. In the integration phase when they
had to watch movies and eat together this led to negative impact but this reduced when
they had to work for the superordinate goal. In conclusion when two group meet in a
competition environment this leads to ingroup favouritism and outgroup hostility which
increases intergroup conflict but this can be reduced by making them work towards a
common goal.
This study was done by muzafir sherief in 1954 and later based on this study he
proposed realistic conflict theory.the aim of this theory was to see what factors lead
to the hostile relationship between two groups and how this could be reduced and also
to study how two groups can be manipulated into a conflict through competition and
how this can be reduced by making them work together. The IV of this study was
measuring the behaviour and friendship patterns and also by making the participants
fill out a questionnaire after two stages this gave a numerical data hence this study is
both quantitative and qualitative. The participants consists of 24 males 11 year old
boys who were white American and belonged to middle class protestant background
they were selected by opportunity sampling the participants reduced to 22 due to 2
boys leaving the campsite due to homesickness. The boys came into the campsite
unaware of the other group which lead to ingroup formation during the first stage of
the study it proved the theory correct by observing prejudice and the second stage
proved the theory correct by measuring the prejudice. The boys were observed 12 hrs
a day by an observer. Sheriff introduced a superordinate goal to fix a broken water
tank and a food truck which lead to integration phase. The results showed that when
the boys got to know about the outgroup they themselves initiated the friction phase
and during this phase they showed very arrogant behaviour towards the outgroup by
calling name and the eaglers burning the ratlers flag. The results of the questionnaire
showed that the outgroup friendship during the friction phase was 6.4% and it
increased to 36.4% after the integration phase. In the integration phase when they
had to watch movies and eat together this led to negative impact but this reduced when
they had to work for the superordinate goal. In conclusion when two group meet in a
competition environment this leads to ingroup favouritism and outgroup hostility which
increases intergroup conflict but this can be reduced by making them work towards a
common goal.
