Behaviourism

Question 1

strength:it is scientific

Answer 1

E:skinners theory of operant conditioning+research on rats utilised all aspects of the scientific method
E:skinners theory was empirical as he observed how the rats behaved. it was also objective as it produced quantitive data(required little interpretation)
-the theory of operant conditioning is falsifiable as it leads to an easily tetsabks hypothesis.
-skinners research was replicable as it was conducted with clearly operationalised variables in controlled conditions with a clear procedure allowing other researchers to replicate his procedure and findings.
L:therefore behaviourist theories and research demonstrate the key features of science so we can trust their claims as being scientific.

Question 2

limitation:assumptions of behaviourism were attacked by Chomsky

Answer 2

E:chomsky observed that by the age of 4/5, most children developed an almost limitless capacity to understand and practice sentences they had never heard before
E:this observation undermines the behaviourist assumption that we are born a blank slate .chompsky argued that we are born able to think in ways. that are not the result of environmental learning e.g.we are born with an ability to produce language
chompskys criticisms helped instigate the cognitive revolution and ended the dominance of behaviourism.
L:therefore behaviourism can be challenged.

Question 3

limitation:the use of animals in behaviourist research has been criticised on ethical grounds

Answer 3

E: behaviourist research frequently used animals breaching the two key ethical principles in psychology: informed consent+protection from harm
E:behaviorist research has caused significant harm to animals e.g. skinners research involves electrocuting rats and pavlovs dogs underwent surgery to measure their saliva glands
-animals are unable to consent to their participation as they lack understanding [just because behaviourist research may have been unethical, this does not mean its ideas were wrong.]