Chaney: Funhaler Flashcards
Individual/Situational Explanations
Situation is determining the frequency and success of medical compliance, i.e. use of Funhaler. The features of the device, (situation) in influencing the the parents and the children’s attitude.
Some individual explanations implied, since some 20% of children did not achieve the 4 or more breath cycles when using the Funhaler.
LINKS TO AREAS/PERSPECTIVES - Developmental + Behaviourist
Developmental - Chaney et al. show how positive and negative reinforcements can be used to develop a child’s behaviour - specifically in medical compliance. It shows how parents can effectively acquire desired behaviours.
Behaviourist - the Funhaler features are based on Skinner’s theory of operant conditioning. Positive reinforcement is used to develop a desired behaviour - spinner spins/whistle blows, as well as negative reinforcement - breathlessness removed when Funhaler used (unpleasant feeling taken away).
In relation to behaviourism, the study also shows classical conditioning, since the child develops a negative association between the inhaler and the outcome of not complying, i.e. mothers anger, not being allowed to play. Funhaler encourages a positive association.
LINKS TO KEY THEMES - External Influences on Children’s Behaviour
Chaney et al. has shown how behaviourist theories, such as operant conditioning, can be used to develop a child’s behaviour in a beneficial way. The use of the Funhaler increased adherence, and also changed the child + parents attitude.
It adds to our understanding of the key theme, since Bandura et al. found that children learn and imitate behaviour through social learning, while Chaney et al. showed that behaviour can be learned/changed using positive reinforcements.
reductionist/holistic
reductionist as it doesn’t take Into account what is happening in that child’s life they may be going from a. family crisis, what is their relationship with their parents are they being bullied are they ill in other areas etc, this is not necessarily a bad thing as you could argue that none of these factors matter as the child has asthma and that is all that matters they need to use the inhaler however on the other hand it reduces the validity of the tests as they don’t control the extraneous variables and how can we be sure that the Funhaler is what is causing the increase in compliance or the reduction
