Essay

Describe how Albert Bandura and his colleagues operationally defined and measured physical aggression in the Bobo doll experiment. Specifically, recall the type of measure used, the setting of the play session, its duration, and the specific acts that were counted.

Question: Describe how Albert Bandura and his colleagues operationally defined and measured physical aggression in the Bobo doll experiment. Specifically, recall the type of measure used, the setting of the play session, its duration, and the specific acts that were counted.

Sample answer: In the Bobo doll experiment, Bandura and his colleagues used a behavioral measure to operationally define physical aggression in a playroom setting. Children were allowed to play in a room containing a clown-shaped punching bag (Bobo doll) for a 2020-minute period. The researchers measured physical aggression by counting the specific number of aggressive acts—such as hitting the doll with a mallet, punching, or kicking it—committed by each child during this timeframe.

Key points:

  • Identified the measurement type as a behavioral measure in a playroom setting.
  • Recalled that the observation duration was exactly 2020 minutes.
  • Listed the specific aggressive acts counted: hitting with a mallet, punching, or kicking.
  • Recognized that physical aggression was quantified as the frequency count of these specific acts.

Rubric: A complete response must: 1. Identify the measure as a behavioral measure. 2. Mention the playroom setting containing a clown-shaped punching bag (Bobo doll). 3. State the observation duration of exactly 2020 minutes. 4. Specify the physical acts counted (hitting with a mallet, punching, or kicking).

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Updated 2026-05-26

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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