A researcher sorts Class 8 students into two groups only by whether they prefer mango juice or orange juice. The students then share prize points between other students whose identity is hidden by code numbers. Which of the following statements are correct?
(A) The study follows the logic of the minimal group paradigm.
(B) The students have been grouped on a flimsy criterion with no past history or future.
(C) The students are likely to give more points to members of their own group.
(D) As identities are hidden, the students are likely to share points equally between the two groups.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → A, B and C only
(A) The study follows the logic of the minimal group paradigm. — Correct. Trivial groups, hidden identities and sharing by code number and group are the design of Tajfel's minimal group paradigm.
(B) The students have been grouped on a flimsy criterion with no past history or future. — Correct. A juice preference, like a liking for paintings, is a flimsy criterion. The groups have no past history or future.
(C) The students are likely to give more points to members of their own group. — Correct. Tajfel found that children favoured their own group even in such minimal groups. The same is expected here.
(D) As identities are hidden, the students are likely to share points equally between the two groups. — Incorrect. Hidden identities did not lead to equal sharing in Tajfel's study. Knowing only the group membership was enough for children to favour their own group.
NCERT (2026-27): “Ingroup and Outgroup … “… The children then distributed money between recipients only by code number and group membership.” “7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 You will agree that these groups were created on a flimsy criterion (i.e. preference for paintings by two artists) which had no past history or future. Yet, results showed that children favoured their own group.” |