Social Learning Your CC is excellent: p111-115 Topic: Explain social learning theory with reference to two studies. Bandura (1961) & Gergely et al (2002)

Warm up: Bandura would argue that Reilly will learn socially about ice skating in which conditions?

Who is Albert Bandura? bandura@stanford.edu Canadian born, Stanford researcher/psychologist UBC alumni! Author of social learning/cognitive theory – a blend of traditional behaviorism & cognitive influence Theory of self efficacy

Context: Behaviourist approach Stimulus – response Study behaviour that we can directly SEE/MEASURE - output Mind is inaccessible to scientific inquiry, so why study it? We can’t see it, can’t measure it, and it’s unscientific to do so

Late 19t C John Watson: conditioning fear in Baby Albert Thorndike ‘puzzle box’; rewarding cats if they pulled a string BF Skinner, ‘Skinner Box’; highly mechanized; rewards, operant conditioning

But What’s not explained?

Bandura: Agreed with some aspects of behaviourism BUT Incorporated importance of cognition in his social theory – one of the first to do this. We can learn by watching/observing/ paying attention/remembering/insight/vicarious experience

“Social cognitive theory (1986) holds that an individual’s environment, cognition, and behaviour all interact to determine how he functions, as opposed to one of those factors playing a dominant role.”

Key aspects to social learning theory Humans learn through observation We imitate behaviour whether it’s taught to us or not (direct, indirect) Behaviour is modeled by others and retained Be thinking: what’s the implication for research method? With your neighbor, complete an ARMM CIRL

Your review: Key aspects to social learning theory In order for social learning to take place, we must: Attention; we must actually be looking at the beh; focused on it Retain: meaning, we can recall when we do for production Motor reproduction: DO the behaviour *Motivated: have to want to produce the behaviour

What impacts motivation to learn? Consistency: repeated exposure to the beh Identification with model: ie: younger students identify with older students – same school, DP Rewards and punishments: learning will take place at higher rate when rewarded; less rate when punished Likable: when models are identified with and liked – learning happens at a greater rate

Study 1: Bandura (1961) Multi aim: would children imitate adult agg? Would children imitate same gender model more? Sample: 36 boys, 36 girls, age 3-6, so preschool – Gr 1 Grouped based on interview with teachers/parents Group 1: watched agg adult bash Bobo (clip) Group 2: watched non agg adult put toys together Control: no model/played in room w/toys

Bandura (1961) After watching, agg induced – how? Result: Those who watched agg model more likely to demonstrate verbal/phys agg Gender: girls more likely to imitate verbal agg; boys phys agg You are NOT required to evaluate in SAQ, but some critical points you have? I’m sure you have plenty! Chat 

Outline how Bandura’s study uses 2 research methods: Lab exp Non participant observation IV: type of model Control: no model DV: op’d agg Controlled variables: model actions; toys in the room, Bobo doll, location; time they see the model; sequence of agg acts; same verbal statements Can it be replicated? – YES Generalize results Update your RM topic index! Researchers were removed – watched kids through one way mirror; video Interview stage – semi structured

Study 2: Gergely et al (2002) Selective imitation (14month olds) Read study Aim/proc/findings Replicate the study w/ neighbor Notes: What does this study demonstrate about SLT? At home: Text 123, aim/proc/findings