Classic Study: The Robbers Cave Experiment
Aim:
Sherif, 1954/1961 set up a summer camp at Robbers Cave State Park aiming to explore how competition and frustration of a
group’s goals can lead to unfavourable stereotyping and prejudiced attitudes towards outgroups, and encourage ingroup
solidarity and cooperation.
Procedure:
3 Stages:
Field experiment.
STAGE 1 - Group formation - the boys took part on
Independent variable = whether the atmosphere at
non-competitive activities so they could bond with
the camp was one of competition or cooperation.
their groups, The Rattlers and The Eagles.
Sample - 22 middle-class, Protestant, 11 yr old boys
STAGE 2 - Friction - groups learn of each other’s
from Oklahoma USA.
existence and they wanted to verse. Baseball contest
Divided into 2 groups.
- name calling, fights and scuffles. Trashed each
Parents and doctors gave full consent not knowing
other’s cabins and destroyed flags. Ingroups were
the kids were being observed.
seen as brave, tough and friendly. Outgroups seen as
2 groups arrived on separate days in 2 diff locations
sneaky and sinister.
with its own bunk-house, hide-out and swimming
STAGE 3 - Social Contact - superordinate task to
places.
reduce friction. Fixing the water supply but went
3 week study using covert observation, recordings,
back to hostility. Made dinner together and played
ranked scales on the beliefs about each other and
games around a campfire,
questionnaires.
Conclusion:
Intergroup competition leads to increase intergroup favouritism but outgroup hostility. Increased social contact is not
enough to reduce prejudice but superordinate tasks can.
Evaluation:
SELECTION AND ALLOCATION OF CHILDREN - strength is the careful matching of the 2 groups for high internal validity.
The researchers spent over 300 hours observing and found the final 22. Matched them with the interests and skills of
other members. This meant that the results could not be explained due to pre-existing differences.
Aim:
Sherif, 1954/1961 set up a summer camp at Robbers Cave State Park aiming to explore how competition and frustration of a
group’s goals can lead to unfavourable stereotyping and prejudiced attitudes towards outgroups, and encourage ingroup
solidarity and cooperation.
Procedure:
3 Stages:
Field experiment.
STAGE 1 - Group formation - the boys took part on
Independent variable = whether the atmosphere at
non-competitive activities so they could bond with
the camp was one of competition or cooperation.
their groups, The Rattlers and The Eagles.
Sample - 22 middle-class, Protestant, 11 yr old boys
STAGE 2 - Friction - groups learn of each other’s
from Oklahoma USA.
existence and they wanted to verse. Baseball contest
Divided into 2 groups.
- name calling, fights and scuffles. Trashed each
Parents and doctors gave full consent not knowing
other’s cabins and destroyed flags. Ingroups were
the kids were being observed.
seen as brave, tough and friendly. Outgroups seen as
2 groups arrived on separate days in 2 diff locations
sneaky and sinister.
with its own bunk-house, hide-out and swimming
STAGE 3 - Social Contact - superordinate task to
places.
reduce friction. Fixing the water supply but went
3 week study using covert observation, recordings,
back to hostility. Made dinner together and played
ranked scales on the beliefs about each other and
games around a campfire,
questionnaires.
Conclusion:
Intergroup competition leads to increase intergroup favouritism but outgroup hostility. Increased social contact is not
enough to reduce prejudice but superordinate tasks can.
Evaluation:
SELECTION AND ALLOCATION OF CHILDREN - strength is the careful matching of the 2 groups for high internal validity.
The researchers spent over 300 hours observing and found the final 22. Matched them with the interests and skills of
other members. This meant that the results could not be explained due to pre-existing differences.
