1. Bandura (1965)

2. Aim:
To see whether children will copy an aggressive model shown in a film clip.
To see whether the model being punished, rewarded or having no consequences for this behaviour affects the children’s desire to imitate the aggressive behaviour.
To see how many of the aggressive behaviours the child will imitate when given rewards.

3. Procedure: Sample 33 boys and 33 girls from Stanford Nursery School
Age range 3-6 months

4. Procedure:
Children were randomly divided into two experimental groups: model rewarded for aggressive behaviour, model punished for aggressive behaviour. There was also a control group 11 participants in each group

5. Procedure: The children were led into a room by the researcher.
They were told that they could go into a surprise playroom, where they would wait for the experimenter, whilst they dealt with some business.
In the room was a television that was showing a 5 minute long programme.
The model in the programme was exhibiting aggressive behaviour. Depending on the condition the model was either punished, rewarded or no response.

6. Procedure: The programme:
The model walked up to the BoBo doll and told him to ‘clear the way.’
The model stared at the doll and then showed four distinctive aggressive behaviours, along with verbal statements: *
The order of behaviour was repeated twice.
At the end the model was either rewarded or punished.

7. Procedure:
Model Rewarded Condition: A second adult walked up to the model with a soft drink and some sweets. The adult also said that the model was a ‘strong champion’ deserving of ‘considerable treats.’ while the model ate the reward, the adult continued to positively reinforce the aggressive behaviour. Model Punished Condition: A second adult walked up to the model shaking his finger at the model saying ‘You big bully. You quit picking on that clown. I won’t tolerate it.’ As the model drew back the second adult tripped and fell. The second adult sat on the model and hit him with a rolled up newspaper, reminding him of how bad he was. The model ran off crying and the second adult saying, ‘If I catch you doing that again, you big bully, I’ll give you a spanking. You quit acting that way.’

8. Procedure:
Control Group: The closing scene had no reinforcement.

9. Procedure:
Observation: * Same as original study, however only for 10 minutes instead of 20.

10. Results:
Children who saw the role model receive rewards or no consequence for the aggressive behaviour were more likely to copy it.
The children who saw the model punished copied the aggressive behaviour less.

11. Conclusion:
Children do learn through vicarious reinforcement.