Bandura’s study of children’s imitation of adult aggression
The aim of this experiment was to investigate the extent to which children would
imitate aggression modelled by adults and the effects of gender on imitation.
Method:
72 children (36 boys and 36 girls) were gathered ranging from ages 3 – 5 ¾.
This was a laboratory experiment (due to artificial settings) testing the effect of 3
independent variables; behaviour of the model, sex of the model and sex of the
child.
Each child was matched with another child with the same aggression level and put
into a different group in order to make the test fair.
24 children (12 boys and 12 girls) were exposed to an aggressive model. 6 boys and 6
girls observed same sex models, whilst the rest observed opposite sex models
24 children (12 boys and 12 girls) were exposed to a non aggressive model. 6 boys
and 6 girls observed the same sex model, whilst the rest observed opposite sex
models.
Finally a control group of 12 boys and 12 girls did not observe a model at all.
Procedure:
Modelling the behaviour: Each child was brought individually brought into the room
with an adult present (the model). In the aggressive condition, the adult
demonstrated aggression towards the Bobo dol by doing things such as kicking,
punching and saying things like ‘sock him on the nose’. In the non aggressive
condition, the adults assembled toys and did not interact with the doll.
Aggression arousal: In order to annoy the children and increase chances of
aggressive behaviour, the children were taken to a different room to play with nice
toys. After playing with the nice toy (train set) for 2 minutes, the toy was taken away
from them as they said it was reserved for the very best children.
Testing for delayed imitation: Children were observed playing with the toys for 20
minutes. The room contained a range of toys including a bob doll (smaller than Bobo
doll). During the observation, two observers watched from a one way mirror, but
were unaware which condition the child was in. This helped eliminate bias.
Results:
Quantitative data was recorded which showed significant differences in level of
aggression between the groups.
Children who witnessed the aggressive model were significantly more aggressive
themselves.
There was little difference between the aggression level of the control group and the
non aggressive model group.
, Boys were significantly more likely to imitate aggressive male models, whereas for
girls, the likelihood was much smaller.
Boys were significantly more physically aggressive than girls whilst girls were more
verbally aggressive after observing a female model.
Conclusions:
Witnessing aggression in a model can be enough to produce aggression by an
observer.
Children selectively imitate gender-specific behaviour. Therefore boys were more
likely to imitate physical aggression than girls because boys were more likely to
imitate aggression from same sex model.
One suggestion for these results were that children were not learning aggression at
all (they already knew how to act aggressively) but they were just inhibited by
watching the adults be aggressive, so they thought it was ok to do so because adults
did.
Chaney’s funhaler study
The aim of this study was to test whether the use of positive reinforcement via the
funhaler could improve medical compliance in young asthmatics compared to a
normal inhaler.
Method:
This research method was a field experiment which used repeated measures design
The independent variable was the device used for the asthmatic patients; either the
normal inhaler or the funhaler.
The dependant variable was how well participants complied with their prescribed
medical regime, measured through parental responses through a questionnaire.
The study involved 32 children (22 boys and 10 girls) with ages ranging from 1.5-6
years and average duration of asthma 2.2 years.
Sampling technique was random sampling of asthmatic children who had been
prescribed drugs delivered by pMDI and were recruited from different clinics.
Procedure:
Study was done in the participants’ home over a two week period
Parents had to complete a questionnaire beforehand about the child’s current
asthmatic device. This included questions on the parent’s and child’s attitude
towards medication and their compliance level.
The aim of this experiment was to investigate the extent to which children would
imitate aggression modelled by adults and the effects of gender on imitation.
Method:
72 children (36 boys and 36 girls) were gathered ranging from ages 3 – 5 ¾.
This was a laboratory experiment (due to artificial settings) testing the effect of 3
independent variables; behaviour of the model, sex of the model and sex of the
child.
Each child was matched with another child with the same aggression level and put
into a different group in order to make the test fair.
24 children (12 boys and 12 girls) were exposed to an aggressive model. 6 boys and 6
girls observed same sex models, whilst the rest observed opposite sex models
24 children (12 boys and 12 girls) were exposed to a non aggressive model. 6 boys
and 6 girls observed the same sex model, whilst the rest observed opposite sex
models.
Finally a control group of 12 boys and 12 girls did not observe a model at all.
Procedure:
Modelling the behaviour: Each child was brought individually brought into the room
with an adult present (the model). In the aggressive condition, the adult
demonstrated aggression towards the Bobo dol by doing things such as kicking,
punching and saying things like ‘sock him on the nose’. In the non aggressive
condition, the adults assembled toys and did not interact with the doll.
Aggression arousal: In order to annoy the children and increase chances of
aggressive behaviour, the children were taken to a different room to play with nice
toys. After playing with the nice toy (train set) for 2 minutes, the toy was taken away
from them as they said it was reserved for the very best children.
Testing for delayed imitation: Children were observed playing with the toys for 20
minutes. The room contained a range of toys including a bob doll (smaller than Bobo
doll). During the observation, two observers watched from a one way mirror, but
were unaware which condition the child was in. This helped eliminate bias.
Results:
Quantitative data was recorded which showed significant differences in level of
aggression between the groups.
Children who witnessed the aggressive model were significantly more aggressive
themselves.
There was little difference between the aggression level of the control group and the
non aggressive model group.
, Boys were significantly more likely to imitate aggressive male models, whereas for
girls, the likelihood was much smaller.
Boys were significantly more physically aggressive than girls whilst girls were more
verbally aggressive after observing a female model.
Conclusions:
Witnessing aggression in a model can be enough to produce aggression by an
observer.
Children selectively imitate gender-specific behaviour. Therefore boys were more
likely to imitate physical aggression than girls because boys were more likely to
imitate aggression from same sex model.
One suggestion for these results were that children were not learning aggression at
all (they already knew how to act aggressively) but they were just inhibited by
watching the adults be aggressive, so they thought it was ok to do so because adults
did.
Chaney’s funhaler study
The aim of this study was to test whether the use of positive reinforcement via the
funhaler could improve medical compliance in young asthmatics compared to a
normal inhaler.
Method:
This research method was a field experiment which used repeated measures design
The independent variable was the device used for the asthmatic patients; either the
normal inhaler or the funhaler.
The dependant variable was how well participants complied with their prescribed
medical regime, measured through parental responses through a questionnaire.
The study involved 32 children (22 boys and 10 girls) with ages ranging from 1.5-6
years and average duration of asthma 2.2 years.
Sampling technique was random sampling of asthmatic children who had been
prescribed drugs delivered by pMDI and were recruited from different clinics.
Procedure:
Study was done in the participants’ home over a two week period
Parents had to complete a questionnaire beforehand about the child’s current
asthmatic device. This included questions on the parent’s and child’s attitude
towards medication and their compliance level.
