Chaney Flashcards
What did Chaney look at
External influences on children’s behaviour
What type of core study is Chaneys?
contemporary
Background
Asthma is a chronic condition that affects about 1 in 10 people. Even though there are treatments for asthma, the problem is that some people (particularly little children), do not use their inhalers correctly.
Aim
to see if operant conditioning could be used to encourage children to want to use their inhalers, and when they do; use it correctly.
What’s operant conditioning
Changing the likelihood of a behaviour occurring again through reinforcement & punishment
What’s positive reinforcement
Encouraging a behaviour happening again by adding a reward
What’s negative reinforcement
Encouraging a behaviour happening
again by removing an unpleasant stimulus
How did the fun haler bring positive reinforcement
Added reward of spinner and whistle
How did the funhaler do negative reinforcement
The inhaler took away the nasty asthma symptoms
Sample
32 Australian kids
22 boys and 10 girls
Ages 1.5 - 6 years
Recruited from 7 paediatric or GP clinics within a 51km radius of Perth, Western
Australia. The clinics spanned differing socio-economic and geographical areas.
Step 1 of procedure
Parents contacted by phone before being visited at home. Written, informed consent was obtained before they filled in a questionnaire about their child’s current inhaler spacer device (either Aerochamber or Breath-a-Tech).
Step 2 of procedure
Given funhaler for child to use for 2 weeks
Step 3 of procedure
After the 2 weeks, parents were contacted again and given another questionnaire to fill in (this time asking them about the Funhaler spacer device).
What we’re the findings about behaviour
50% had achieved the desired 4 or more breath cycles per delivery with their previous asthma inhaler spacer device
80% achieved this with the Funhaler spacer device.
What we’re the findings about attitudes
10% of parents had said they were completely happy with their
child’s previous asthma inhaler spacer device
61% of parents said this about the Funhaler spacer device.
How does this study link to nature nurture debate
This study is on the nurture side of the debate as the children’s behaviour changed as a result of the new funhaler.
How does this study link to free will v determinism debate
This study is on the deterministic side of the debate as the children’s asthma usage is determined by what inhaler they have at the time.
What does this study explain (behaviourist perspective)
how children are learning behaviours due to operant conditioning
What’s the key theme of the study within the behaviourist perspective
This study explains how the funhaler (an external influence) is changing their medical compliance
How does study link to developmental area
This study is showing how children’s behaviour can change due to the experience of using a funhaler
Similarity (sample)
Bandura studied children 37-69 months from Stanford Uni Nursery
Chaney studied children 1.5-6 years old suffering from asthma from around Perth, Australia
Similarity (nurture)
Bandura explains how the experience of watching an aggressive model made children imitate those actions
Chaney explains how the experience of using a funhaler changed the compliance of children towards their asthma medication
Difference (data)
Bandura - observation through one way mirror for 20 mins
Chaney - self report questionnaire about behaviour/attitude towards inhaler
Difference (design)
Bandura - matched participants by pre testing children on 4x5 point scales of aggression
Chaney - repeated measures by giving parents questionnaires about their regular inhaler and then again after using the funhaler for 2 weeks
What has the study shown us about the key theme
It has shown us that the behaviour of children can be changed by reinforcement (rather than just by observing and imitating role models)
What have the studies not shown us about the key theme
About adults
