What is a strength of Bandura's 1961 study?

The strength of Bandura's 1961 study lies in the use of controls and a standardized procedure. This approach enhances the reliability and validity of the research findings. By implementing controls, Bandura was able to minimize extraneous variables that could influence the behavior of the children during the experiment. The standardized procedures ensured that all participants were exposed to the same stimuli and followed consistent methods of observation, which allows for better comparisons between different conditions and groups. Consequently, this structured framework provides stronger evidence for the conclusions drawn regarding observational learning and aggression, crucial elements of Bandura's social learning theory.

In contrast, while a naturalistic setting could offer ecological validity, Bandura's study was primarily conducted in a controlled environment, which can be seen as a limitation in terms of how well the results generalize to real-world situations. The sample size, although notable, was not particularly large, thus limiting its generalizability as well. Additionally, involving only one condition does not allow for the demonstration of different behaviors across varying circumstances, which limits the understanding of the complexities of learning through observation.