Lorenz

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To investigate the effects of imprinting on goslings

Question 2

Method

Answer 2

Field experiment

Question 3

Procedure

Answer 3

• Lorenz randomly divided the goose eggs
• half of the eggs were hatched with the mother goose in their natural environment (control group)
• the other half were hatched in incubator where the first moving object they saw was Lorenz
• Lorenz recorded the behavior of the goslings who they imprinted on
• once the eggs had hatched the two groups of goslings were mixed up and Lorenz observed who and what they followed
• he varied the time between birth and seeing a moving object so that he could measure the critical period of imprinting

Question 4

Findings

Answer 4

• the incubator group that saw Lorenz first imprinted upon and followed Lorenz everywhere whereas the group saw the mother goose first imprinted upon and followed her
• Lorenz identified a critical period 12-17 hours after hatching in which imprinting had to take place otherwise it wouldn’t print at all
• in addition goslings who imprinted on to humans would as adults birds attempt to mate with humans

Question 5

Conclusion

Answer 5

Goslings imprint on the first moving object that they see there is a specific time period in which this needs to take place otherwise they may not attach

Question 6

AO3

Answer 6

Lorenz research into the effects of imprinting on attachment is that it can be praised for practical applications. This is because the principles of the research that goslings has to imprint within 12-17 hours otherwise they wouldn’t print at all. This shows the importance of the critical period in attachment for future relationships. Psychologists can use this information in order to promote early interactions between parent and infants and reduces issues later in life. Therefore Lorenz research is an important part of applied psychology for the understanding of both animal and human attachment

Question 7

AO3

Answer 7

Moreover Lorenz’s research may be criticized for researcher bias. Lorenz recorded his own observations of the birds an he may have chosen to only include findings that would only support his theory of imprinting and ignore findings such as gosling who did not imprint on him . Therefore this lowers internal validity of the tests h as it my not truly be measuring the effects of imprinting on attachment