Albert Bandura’s Albert Bandura’s Observational Observational Learning Theory and Learning Theory and ImitationImitation

By: Lianna Dehan and Trudy Marchica

Bandura’s BiographyBandura’s Biography

Born December 4, 1925 in Mundare which is a small town in Born December 4, 1925 in Mundare which is a small town in northern Alberta, Canadanorthern Alberta, Canada

Received his bachelor degree in psychology at University of Received his bachelor degree in psychology at University of British Columbia.British Columbia.

Continued his schooling at University of Iowa and received his Continued his schooling at University of Iowa and received his PHD in 1952. PHD in 1952.

It was at the University of Iowa where he became familiar with It was at the University of Iowa where he became familiar with behaviorist tradition and learning theory. behaviorist tradition and learning theory.

In 1953, he wrote his first book along side of Richard Walters In 1953, he wrote his first book along side of Richard Walters called Adolescent Aggression.called Adolescent Aggression.

He was the President of American Psychological AssociationHe was the President of American Psychological Association In 1980 he received the APA award for distinguished scientific In 1980 he received the APA award for distinguished scientific

contributions.contributions. He presently works at Stanford University He presently works at Stanford University

Observational Learning Observational Learning TheoryTheory

- Bandura claimed that “in social situations, Bandura claimed that “in social situations, people often learn much more rapidly simply by people often learn much more rapidly simply by observing the behaviors of others” observing the behaviors of others”

- Bandura found that there are four components Bandura found that there are four components of observational learning: of observational learning: Attentional ProcessesAttentional Processes Retention Processes Retention Processes Motor Reproduction ProcessesMotor Reproduction Processes Reinforcement and Motivational ProcessesReinforcement and Motivational Processes

Attentional ProcessesAttentional Processes

One cannot imitate a model without One cannot imitate a model without paying attention to the model.paying attention to the model.

A model is often attractive because of the A model is often attractive because of the qualities he or she posses. These qualities he or she posses. These qualities such as prestige, power, and qualities such as prestige, power, and success gain the attention of the success gain the attention of the observer and begin the process of observer and begin the process of observational learning. observational learning.

Retention ProcessesRetention Processes

Retention process is the way one remembers Retention process is the way one remembers the model’s actions so he can imitate them.the model’s actions so he can imitate them.

Bandura explains, “In order to reproduce social Bandura explains, “In order to reproduce social behavior when the model is no longer present behavior when the model is no longer present to serve as a guide, the response patterns to serve as a guide, the response patterns must be represented in memory in symbolic must be represented in memory in symbolic form. form.

Example: mentally rehearsing the actions or Example: mentally rehearsing the actions or practicing the actions will help one remember practicing the actions will help one remember what he learned.what he learned.

Motor Reproduction Motor Reproduction ProcessesProcesses

This is when a person uses the proper This is when a person uses the proper motor skills to accurately reproduce their motor skills to accurately reproduce their model. model.

A five year old can observe his parent A five year old can observe his parent operate a car, but this does not mean he operate a car, but this does not mean he has the ability to correctly drive an has the ability to correctly drive an automobileautomobile

Reinforcement and Reinforcement and Motivational ProcessesMotivational Processes

This process refers to the idea that a This process refers to the idea that a child will be more likely to imitate a child will be more likely to imitate a behavior if he is likely to gain a reward behavior if he is likely to gain a reward

““When positive incentives are introduced, When positive incentives are introduced, observational learning that previously observational learning that previously remained unexpressed is likely to remained unexpressed is likely to emerge in action.”emerge in action.”

Bobo Doll ExperimentBobo Doll Experiment

ModelsModels

Children are prone to imitate models that are more Children are prone to imitate models that are more intelligent, skillful, and knowledgeable than themselves intelligent, skillful, and knowledgeable than themselves and others around them.and others around them.

Children have a broad range of influences- parents, Children have a broad range of influences- parents, teachers, peers, and older siblings.teachers, peers, and older siblings.

When a child has the choice, he is likely to select models When a child has the choice, he is likely to select models with similar attributes and ignore those that have little in with similar attributes and ignore those that have little in common with.common with.

There are two types of models:There are two types of models:

SymbolicSymbolic Exemplary Exemplary

Symbolic ModelsSymbolic Models

Models presented through oral or written Models presented through oral or written instructions, pictorially, or through a instructions, pictorially, or through a combination of verbal and pictorial combination of verbal and pictorial devices. devices.

The media is a good example of The media is a good example of pictorially presented models. pictorially presented models.

televisiontelevision moviesmovies radioradio

Exemplary models Exemplary models

Can be pictorial models or represented Can be pictorial models or represented through verbal descriptions.through verbal descriptions.

A child is given an example whether it be A child is given an example whether it be a superhero, next door neighbor, or a a superhero, next door neighbor, or a friend and are told that these models friend and are told that these models actions are good and should be imitated, actions are good and should be imitated, or in some cases, bad and should be or in some cases, bad and should be avoided. avoided.

Three Effects of the Three Effects of the Observation of ModelsObservation of Models

1. Observer may acquire new responses that 1. Observer may acquire new responses that were not in his repertory. were not in his repertory.

2. If model’s actions already exist in observer’s 2. If model’s actions already exist in observer’s repertory, observation may strengthen or repertory, observation may strengthen or weaken inhibitory responses.weaken inhibitory responses.

3. Sometimes observation of models draws out 3. Sometimes observation of models draws out already known responses in observer already known responses in observer

ImitationImitation

- Imitation is the actual Imitation is the actual performance of performance of behavior that has behavior that has been observed.been observed.

Our hypothesis states:Our hypothesis states:

the younger children will be more likely to imitate their the younger children will be more likely to imitate their tutors than the older children. tutors than the older children.

The girls will be more likely than the boys to answer the The girls will be more likely than the boys to answer the questions exactly like their tutor. questions exactly like their tutor.

A child will be more likely to copy their tutor if they are A child will be more likely to copy their tutor if they are the same sex. the same sex.

If there are harder questions that the children might not If there are harder questions that the children might not know the answers to, they will be more prone to know the answers to, they will be more prone to imitating their tutorimitating their tutor

Because the children have bonded with their tutors, Because the children have bonded with their tutors, they will imitate their own tutor over another college they will imitate their own tutor over another college student. student.

Procedure for the Procedure for the QuestionnairesQuestionnaires

The questionnaires were handed out on two The questionnaires were handed out on two separate days but the procedure was the same separate days but the procedure was the same for both daysfor both days

While the kids were working with their tutors, While the kids were working with their tutors, we went to each tutor and told them that they we went to each tutor and told them that they were to answer the questions on the sheet of were to answer the questions on the sheet of paper first aloud, then write down their answer paper first aloud, then write down their answer on the blank assigned to the tutor. Then they on the blank assigned to the tutor. Then they were instructed to read the same question to were instructed to read the same question to their student, and write down their answer. their student, and write down their answer. Each tutor was handed a piece of paper with Each tutor was handed a piece of paper with the questions listed the questions listed

Data for Questionnaire 1:Data for Questionnaire 1:Tutor Tutor name/Student name/Student name and name and gendergender

What is your What is your favorite kind favorite kind of music?of music?

What is your What is your favorite favorite animal?animal?

What is your What is your favorite favorite movie?movie?

What is your What is your favorite favorite school school subject?subject?

What is your What is your favorite favorite sport?sport?

What is your What is your favorite favorite actor?actor?

*Lianna(f)/*Lianna(f)/Batuul(m) age Batuul(m) age 99

Country/Country/Jesse Jesse McartneyMcartney

Dolphin/Dolphin/cheetahcheetah

Lion Lion King/TransforKing/Transformers and mers and Alvin and the Alvin and the ChipmunksChipmunks

Theology/Theology/ReadingReading

Swimming/Swimming/street street basketballbasketball

Matt Matt Dammon/JacDammon/Jackie Chankie Chan

*Angela(f)/*Angela(f)/Anayancy (f) Anayancy (f) age 9age 9

Rock/HHip-Rock/HHip-hophop

Monkey/Monkey/Dogs,catsDogs,cats

Zoolander/Zoolander/Alvin and the Alvin and the ChipmonksChipmonks

Chemistry/Chemistry/MathMath

Soccer/Ice Soccer/Ice SkatingSkating

George George Clooney/Amy Clooney/Amy AdamsAdams

Kyle(m)/Kyle(m)/Sanchir(m) Sanchir(m) age 9age 9

Rock/NormalRock/Normal Alligator/Alligator/AlligatorAlligator

Men in Men in Black/Men in Black/Men in BlackBlack

Math/mathMath/math Baseball/Baseball/baseballbaseball

Will Will Smith/Will Smith/Will smithsmith

Emily(f)/Emily(f)/Anar(m) age Anar(m) age 1111

Countr/Countr/Tunes only Tunes only (no songs)(no songs)

Dog/dog and Dog/dog and cheetahcheetah

Waiting for Waiting for Guffman/War Guffman/War MoviesMovies

Social Social Studies/MathStudies/Math

Swimming/Swimming/SwimmingSwimming

Steve Steve Carrel/Jackie Carrel/Jackie ChanChan

*Trudy(f)/*Trudy(f)/Amy(f) age 11Amy(f) age 11

Pop and Pop and Rock/Hip-Rock/Hip-hop and hop and R&BR&B

Dog/dogDog/dog The Little The Little Princess and Princess and Finding Finding Nemo/ChipmNemo/Chipmunk Movieunk Movie

English/English/ScienceScience

Tennis/Tennis/BasketballBasketball

Brad Brad Pitt/Johnny Pitt/Johnny DeppDepp

Data for Questionnaire 2: Data for Questionnaire 2: Tutor Tutor name/studname/student name ent name and genderand gender

Would you Would you rather be rather be an an OtolaryngolOtolaryngologist or ogist or OphthalmolOphthalmologist?ogist?

Would you Would you rather live rather live Lithuania Lithuania or Norwayor Norway

Would you Would you rather rather snorkel or snorkel or scuba scuba dive?dive?

Would you Would you rather eat rather eat caviar or caviar or sushi?sushi?

Would you Would you rather play rather play squash or squash or lacrosselacrosse

Would you Would you rather rather parasail or parasail or windsurf?windsurf?

Would you Would you rather rather injure your injure your femur or femur or tibia? tibia?

Would you Would you rather meet rather meet John F. John F. Kennedy or Kennedy or Ronald Ronald Reagan?Reagan?

*Lianna(f)/*Lianna(f)/Batuul(m) Batuul(m) age 9age 9

Oto/opthal Oto/opthal ##

Lithuania/Lithuania/LithuaniaLithuania

Scuba Scuba dive/Scubdive/Scuba divea dive

Sushi/Sushi/sushisushi

Lacrosse/Lacrosse/squash #squash #

Windsurf/Windsurf/windsurfwindsurf

femur/tibia femur/tibia ##

Reagan/Reagan/Kennedy #Kennedy #

Kyle(m)/Kyle(m)/Anar(m) Anar(m) age 11age 11

Opthal/Opthal/OpthalOpthal

Norway/Norway/NorwaNorwa

Scuba/Scuba/scubascuba

Sushi/Sushi/sushisushi

Lacrosse/ Lacrosse/ n/an/a

Parasail/Parasail/windsurfwindsurf

Tibia/tibiaTibia/tibia Kennedy/Kennedy/kennedykennedy

*Trudy(f)/*Trudy(f)/Amy(f) age Amy(f) age 1212

Opthal/Opthal/Opthal Opthal ##

Norway//Norway//LithuaniaLithuania

Scuba/Scuba/ScubaScuba

Sushi/Sushi/SushiSushi

Lacrosses/Lacrosses/squashsquash

Windsurf/Windsurf/windsurfwindsurf

Tibia/tibiaTibia/tibia Kennedy/Kennedy/kennedykennedy

*Sean(m)/*Sean(m)/Maddie(f) Maddie(f) age 12age 12

Oto/OtoOto/Oto## Norway/Norway/Lithuania Lithuania

Scuba/Scuba/SnorkelSnorkel

Sushi/Sushi/SushiSushi

Lacrosse/Lacrosse/LacrosseLacrosse

Windsurf/Windsurf/parasailparasail

Femur//Femur//tibiatibia

Reagan/Reagan/KennedyKennedy

*Sean(m)/*Sean(m)/Margot(f) Margot(f) age 8age 8

Oto/otoOto/oto # # Norway/Norway/NorwayNorway

Scuba/Scuba/SnorkelSnorkel

Sushi/Sushi/SushiSushi

Lacrosse/Lacrosse/LacrosseLacrosse

Windsurf/Windsurf/WindsurfWindsurf

Femur/Femur/femur femur ##

Reagan/Reagan/KennedyKennedy

Lianna(f)/Lianna(f)/Sanchir(m) Sanchir(m) age 9age 9

Oto/otoOto/oto # # Lithuania/Lithuania/LithuaniaLithuania ##

Scuba/Scuba/snorkel #snorkel #

Sushi/Sushi/SushiSushi

Lacorrse/Lacorrse/Squash #Squash #

Windsurf/Windsurf/windsurfwindsurf # #

femur/femur/femurfemur # #

Reagan/Reagan/ReaganReagan # #

Weak points of Weak points of ExperimentExperiment

- The amount of children that come to tutoring The amount of children that come to tutoring weekly fluctuates, which gave us less data weekly fluctuates, which gave us less data than expectedthan expected

- Instead of using questionnaires, we should Instead of using questionnaires, we should have used a full month to conduct a more have used a full month to conduct a more complete experiment using actions of models complete experiment using actions of models as the focal point, rather than questions on a as the focal point, rather than questions on a sheet of paper. sheet of paper.

- More appealing experiment that would be less More appealing experiment that would be less obvious that we conducting an experiment. obvious that we conducting an experiment.