7.

Bandura Bobo Doll Study Variations:

Findings of 1963

Why is this study interesting in terms of TV, video games and celebrities?

Findings of 1965

Why is this study interesting? Think

about celebrities and children who
copy them
 1.Identification 2.Justification 3.Elaboration

There were several The children were matched based on
aspects in Bandura’s existing aggression, reducing the
design ensures that it potential effects of individual differences
has high internal validity. in aggression being a extraneous
variable.
The multiple conditions included a non-
aggressive conditions, allowed the
researchers to control for spontaneous
aggression.
These levels of control were
useful as we can be
reasonably sure that the
observed aggression was a
result of observing the
aggressive models

Furthermore the children were observed

one at a time, which avoids the issue for
conformity effects in the children’s
aggression.

Counterpoint: Mundane realism

The environment and the “aggressive” task was very artificial and controlled. The conditions in
which the children observed an aggressive role model, the toy they were to play with and the fact
that they were playing alone are different from the typical environments that a child might display
aggression. For example in a crowded classroom where they have to fight over a toy. Therefore, the
findings of observational learning of aggression might not apply to settings outside the laboratory

Bandura’s studies however Bandura only observed the immediate
does not provide an effects of observing aggression in children.
explanation for long term Having no explanation for whether those
aggression. aggressive changes are long term or not.
We cannot know if the children will
continue to apply this aggressive behaviour
outside of this study.
So while this study provides an
explanation to how an
aggressive behaviour can be
learned, it doesn’t provide
information as to how
aggression is maintaine

A weakness of both of One child was reported by Noble (1975) So this means the
these studies is that to have said “Look Mummy, there's the experimental procedure may
elements of the doll we have to hit”. This suggest the have lower internal validity,
procedure could have children believed they were expected to researchers can’t be sure that
cued the children as to hit to doll. Believing that is what the the aggression results reflect
how they were expected adults wanted them to do, why would learning, or whether they were
to behave else they have been left with a doll after affected by the children’s
seeing an adult hit it? demand characteristics.
 Practice questions:
1. State two differences between the procedure of the methods from Bandura et al
(1961) and Bandura et al (1965) (2 marks)
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2. State two differences between the results of Bandura et al (1961) and Bandura et
al (1963) (2 marks)
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3. Explain one strength and one weakness of Bandura (1961) (4 marks)

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