Cooperation and competition among young children as a function of ethnic grouping, grade, sex, and reward condition

Assigned 108 pairs of 1st and 2nd graders to a game situation which required cooperation in order to win prizes. There were 6 trials in each of 2 conditions: cooperative and competitive. Significant differences were found in Ss' cooperative-competitive behavior according to reward condition and ethnic grouping. Black Ss working together were more cooperative and less competitive than pairs of whites, while blacks and whites working together were less competitive than pairs of whites but more competitive than pairs of blacks. No biological sex differences were significant. 2nd graders were more competitive than 1st graders, suggesting that maturational factors as well as school experiences may result in greater competition among children.