Bandura, Ross & Ross (1961)

Bobo doll studyBandura, Ross & Ross (1961)HypothesisTo see whether children will imitate aggressive behaviour, even if in different environments and without a model present. AimChildren will imitate the aggressive behaviour of the modelsNon-aggressive models will have an inhibiting effectSame sex model will have more influenceBoys will imitate aggression more than girls will.

ProcedureLaboratory experiment with observations, 36 boys and 36 girls from Stanford nursery aged 37-69 months. First IV: non aggressive model/aggressive model/no modelSecond IV: male model/female modelThird IV: male participant/female participantMatched Pairs study tested for aggression beforehandRated on physical/verbal behaviour towards objects and self-control.

ResultsTypes of imitation measured: Verbal aggressionPhysical aggressionNon-aggressive verbal responsesThe children in the aggressive condition modelled the behaviourThe children in the non-aggressive group had 70% that modelled the behaviourThe children in the aggressive, non-imitative behavior was displayed moreThe children in the non-aggressive group played with the toysGender: Boys imitated more physical aggressionBoys imitated the male modelGirls imitated the female modelConclusionLearning can take place by observingFreuds identification theory was provedChildren are more likely to follow the same sex model.

EvaluationThe study has controls of operationalisation of variables and cause-and-effect results can be drawn upReliability because two judges can observe the behaviour and their scores compared

The situation was not naturalThe situation wasnt ethical as the children observed physical/verbal aggression.