Classic Watson and Rayner

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To see if the fear of an animal could be induced by presenting an animal to a child when making a loud noise (classical conditioning)

Question 2

Method

Answer 2

A lab experiment – baby Albert from a hospital where his mother worked. Run over 2 months, but he was only tested on for 5 days. Part 1: (11m 3d) showed a white rat, a loud noise was given next time. Part 2: (11m 10d) the rat was shown unexpectedly, and then several times with and without steel bar – his reaction to each stimuli was recorded. Part 3 (11m 15d): They looked for transference with a dog, rabbit, fur coat and santa mask – reaction to each stimuli was recorded. Part 4 (11m 20d): renewed association with rat and steel bar, did so with dog and rabbit also. They then moved locations. Part 5 (12m 21d): Tested albert again.

Question 3

Result

Answer 3

Part 1: No fear to the white rat – as he touched it and the loud noise was given, he jumped. When it happened again, he whimpered. Part 2: Albert reached out but did not touch the rat. After shown with and without steel bar several times, Albert cried immediately with the noise alone. Part 3: He displayed fear, but was happy playing when rat was removed. Part 4: Without sound, his response was weaker – they concluded transference occurred to both different stimuli and locations. Part 5: His response was a little weaker but was still negative to all stimuli without sound.

Question 4

Conclusion

Answer 4

It is possible to create a conditioned emotional response in humans after only a few pairings of the stimuli

Question 5

+standardised

Answer 5

Careful controls – IV was clear and operationalised with DV being carefully monitored and measured – replicable – high reliability.

Question 6

+generalised

Answer 6

It demonstrated Pavlov’s evidence for CC in dogs and how it can be generalised to humans.

Question 7

-low generalisability

Answer 7

However, a case study was used – low generalisability and population validity.

Question 8

-low ecological V

Answer 8

Lack of ecological validity – lab study – may have heightened Albert’s fear.

Question 9

-low mundane realism

Answer 9

The tasks were not true to life – typically playing with animals and loud noises are not seen together – low experimental validity.

Question 10

-ethics

Answer 10

Does not follow ethical guidelines – Albert was in clear distress – there is no mention of informed consent or right to withdraw which prevents it from being replicated.