4.3.1 Classic study- W&R

Question 1

3 aims of wataon and rayners study

Answer 1

1- could a fear response be conditioned
2-could a fear response be generalised
3-how long does the conditioning last

Question 2

method of study part 1

Answer 2

11m3d: albert put through regular emotional tests with no sign of fear, white rat presented and bar struck twice-signs of fear
11m10d: white rat presented with no sound-tentstive, bar struck when albert neared it x5 showed fear when rat was alone

Question 3

method of study part 2

Answer 3

11m15d: 5 days later, phobia remained, mild to dog and cotton wool
11m20d: found fear response was weakening and going through extinction, psychologists repeated process with less trials to trigger spontaneous recovery, dog and rabbit classically conditioned, negative responses continued in new lecture room

Question 4

controls of watson & rayner

Answer 4

-pre conditioning to test for phobias
-mentally stable child
-building blocks

Question 5

Evaluate Watson & Rayners (strength)

Answer 5

-high internal validity, confounding variables limited such as black curtain to hide researchers and rats caused crying, cause and effect relationship established with IV affecting DV
-high reliability, standardised procedure with method to follow and high control and film, makes it easy to repeat

Question 6

Evaluate Watson and Rayners (weaknesses)

Answer 6

-low ecological validity, lab setting in a hospital and joint stimulation of UCS and NS was artificial, difficult to generalise to real life settings
-low ethics, LA didn’t give informed consent (9 months old) and was not unconditioned as his mother moved away, may have caused psychological harm due to conditioned fears