Behaviourist Classic Research - Conditioned Emotional Reactions Flashcards
(19 cards)
What were the evaluation points of the methodology of Watson and Rayners research?
❌method was artificial
❌issues with the sample
✅controlled methodology
Why was the fact that the method was artificial a weakness of Watson and rayners research
The methodology lacks ecological validity as the location and controlled conditions were very artificial meaning it would be hard to generalise the findings of little Albert’s reactions to other environments such as home as a conditioned response may be learnt differently or not at all. Therefore it lacks external validity.
Why are the issues with the sample a weakness of Watson and Rayners research?
Hard to generalise to wider populations as it is an unrepresentative sample as Watson and Rayner only used 1 male participant, other participants such as a female from different backgrounds may have responded differently than little Albert did.
Why was the controlled methodology a strength if the method of Watson ans Rayners research?
The degree of control Watson and Rayner had over the extraneous variables such as the location and the way the furry objects were presented meant that the internal validity was increased. Therefore with such scientific methodology used their research had scientific status meaning it can be trusted over less scientific methods
What are the evaluation points of the procedure of Watson and Rayners research?
✅an internally valid procedure
❌ethical issue - psychological harm
✅a replicable study
Why is the procedure being internally valid a strength of Watson and Rayners research?
Different sessions were a strength, emotional testing beforehand to make sure he was a calm, even tempered baby with no fear reactions, use of wooden blocks as a control object and ability to control procedures e.g. what objects were presented to him and the number of joint stimulations, increases internal validity of procedures and Watson and Rayner have a legitimate measure of effects of conditioning on fear response
Why is psychological harm a weakness of the procedure in Watson and Rayners research?
Psychological harm in a vulnerable participant, created a potential life long fear response in an infant and prevented him from calming himself by sucking his thumb
Why is the procedure being replicable a strength of Watson and Rayners research?
Use of controlled observations and standardised procedures (5 distinct sessions) and filming of the process means that it can be repeated and checked for consistent results into the conditioning on fear reactions increasing external reliability
What are the evaluation points of the findings and conclusions of Watson and Rayners research?
❌findings lack external validity
❌the sample is unrepresentative
✅high internal validity
❌alternative evidence to contradict
Why is it a weakness that the findings and conclusions of Watson and Rayners research lack findings lack external validity?
Highly artificial controlled conditions so lack ecological validity, tested in a well lit dark room to see his reactions to the rat so difficult to generalise the findings to other environments such as his home. Could be argued he may respond differently in other environments or not at all in a more natural one. Lack external validity
Why is the sample being unrepresentative a weakness of the findings and conclusions of Watson and Rayners research?
Only used one male participant, how Albert responded may have been different to how a female from a different background reacted for example. May have been unique to him meaning it is hard to generalise the findings to target population of how individuals respond to conditioned fear reactions. Low external/population validity
Why is Watson and Rayners research having high internal validity a strength of the findings and conclusions?
different sessions were a strength, emotional tests prior made sure he was a calm even tempered baby beforehand, the wooden blocks as a control object ensured he wasn’t just crying at anything he was presented with and it was specific to the rat. Increases internal validity of findings and they have a legitimate measure of effects of conditioning in fear response
What alternative evidence is there to contradict the findings and conclusions of Watson and Rayners research?
Psychodynamic approach disagrees and says that fears/phobias are learnt through projections of unconscious conflicts such as little hans who was afraid of horses, Freud said he was afraid of his father (big powerful) and his fear and anxiety was projected onto horses and was the source of his phobia, this evidence strongly conflicts Watson and Rayners findings and explanations for fears suggesting there are alternative explanations
What ethical ans social implications are there for Watson ans Rayners research?
❌ethical issue - psychological harm
❌ethical issue - lack of debrief
✅Watson ans Rayner would say their study is ethical
✅social implication - health sector
✅social implication - education
Why is psychological harm an ethical implication of Watson and Rayners research?
Criticised for causing psychological harm in a vulnerable participant as may have caused a life long fear in an infant and they prevented him from calming himself by sucking his thumb. Highly unethical study
Why is the lack of debrief an ethical implication of Watson and Rayners research?
Did not deal with the ethical issues in their study. Did not debrief the mother or return Albert to his original state of no fear response to furry objects. Highly unethical, however Albert’s mother removed him from the university before they could do so
Why would Watson and Rayner say their study is ethical?
It was no more than everyday rough and tumble they said. They intended to decondition him but his mother removed him from the hospital, ethical guidelines did not exist at the time of the research being conducted
What was the social implication in the health sector of Watson and Rayners research?
Because phobias are learnt they can be unlearnt, thus led to successful application of systematic desensitisation which counter conditions which counter conditions the fear with one of relaxation. Rothbaum found reduces fear of flying for 93% if people, therefore this research has positive implications for the treatment of phobias
What social implication was there in education coming from Watson and Rayners research?
Le Francois, maximising pleasant stimuli in classrooms reducing unpleasant stimuli. Students associate school with positive experiences, better attendance better grades. Individual benefits for students but also wider society as better qualified people more skills for jobs and lower unemployment
