Evaluate (1927) Experiment with Salivation in dogs (8 marks)

Question 1

GENERALISABILITY

Answer 1

• Low generalisability - main problems is generalising from dogs to humans
• Humans have different brains from dogs and much more complicated thoughts and motives. → Used dogs to study mechanisms of C.C
• This means it is harder to compare results and cannot be easily applied to humans as their brains works differently to dogs. Humans responds differently to C.C.

Question 2

RELIABILITY

Answer 2

• High Reliability - it has a standardized procedure
• He got different researchers to observe the dog and measure the saliva. Pavlov ensured that each time the pairing sound was followed by food
• This gives the research inter-rate reliability and re test reliability. Allows for replication of the study to test for reliability in order to make accurate predictions for human behaviour

Question 3

APPLICATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS TO REAL LIFE

Answer 3

• The applications of the study are diverse
• Watson and Skinner promoted behaviourism. Example aversion therapy which has some success at curing people with addictions
• However, it does not work all the time on humans. Aversion therapy does not seem successful for modifying human behaviours

Question 4

INTERNAL VALIDITY

Answer 4

• High internal validity
• Extraneous variables were controlled such as distractions, making sure the room was silent (sound proofed, sand on the floor)
• This improves accuracy of results such as extraneous variables were controlled to ensure the dog was not distracted. Establishes cause and effect - classical conditioning caved learning behaviors

Question 5

EXTERNAL VALIDITY

Answer 5

• Low external validity and ecological validity
• The dogs were kept in unusual conditions tied up in a harness in a box, cut off from other dogs and humans
• They were presented with an odd stimuli, and there was nothing normal about their reactions. This means it cannot be applied to others as the results are not accurate

Question 6

ETHICS

Answer 6

• The research is very unethical - Research animals should be treated humanely, not seated up in small rooms.
• The dogs were restrained in harnesses, doors were sealed, the dogs were isolated in a small room and cannot hear anything
• Therefore, this is very unethical as it broke the scientific procedure ACT. The dog could have been caused distressed as it was unable to move and was unaware of what was happening