Lorenz-Ao1 Flashcards
Aim
Investigating effects of imprinting in goslings
Method
Lab experiment
How the goose eggs divided ?
Randomly
How were the eggs halved?
Half with mother goose
Half hatched in incubated in which first moving object they saw was lorenz
What was recorded ?
Behaviour of goslings
Once they hatched what happened to the 2 groups of goslings?
They were mixed up in which Lorenz observed who / what they followed
What did lorenzo measure ?
Critical period of imprinting
What was found about the incubator group ?
Imprinted and followed lorenz everywhere
What was found about the group who saw the mother first ?
Imprinted and followed her
What is the critical period that needs to take place for this attatchment to take place ?
12-17 hours and if not occurred chicks will not attach to mother figure
What do goslings that imprint human attempt to do ?
Mate with humans
Conclusion
Gosling imprint on the first moving object seen
There is a specific time in which this needs to take place
Ao3 weakness researcher bias
Criticised for researcher bias
Lorenz recorded own observation of the birds
May have chosen to include findings that would support theory of imprinting and ignore findings such as goslings who did not imprint on him
Thus lowering internal validity of research as it may not truly measure effects of imprinting in attatchments
Ao3 strength practical applications
Lorenz research into effects of imprinting praised for practical applications
Because principles of research , goslings had to imprint writhing 12-17 hours otherwise they would not imprint at all , showing importance of critical period
Shows importance of how psychologists can use this information to improve early interactions between parents and infant to reduce issues later on in life
Thus this research is important and part of psychology for understanding both animal and human attatchments
