Pavlov's Dogs (LT), classic conditioning

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To investigate the role of conditioned reflexes in dogs’ eating behaviour and understand how salivation can become linked to new stimuli unrelated to food.

Question 2

Procedure

Answer 2

• Dogs were placed in a soundproof chamber to eliminate outside interference, allowing precise observation of reflex behaviour.
• Pavlov measured salivation by counting drops or using a glass tube.
• A metronome was repeatedly paired with food until the dog began to salivate at the sound alone.
• Pavlov explored timing by testing whether the conditioned stimulus (e.g. metronome or buzzer) had to come before the unconditioned stimulus (meat) for conditioning to occur.
• He also tested secondary conditioning by pairing a new neutral stimulus (e.g. buzzer) with the conditioned metronome.

Question 3

Findings

Answer 3

• Dogs began salivating to the metronome alone after conditioning, producing 11 drops of saliva within 45 seconds.
• Conditioning only worked when the neutral stimulus (like a buzzer) was presented before the unconditioned stimulus.
• Dogs needed to be alert and free from distraction for conditioning to take place effectively.

Answer 4

Determines a previously learnt stimulus triggers a response through association

Question 5

Strength

Answer 5

I - Pavlov used carefully controlled experiments with the environment of the dogs controlled completely, except for the variables being tested.
J - He utilised a sound proof chamber to reduce the possivilty of external sounds distracting the dogs or providing additional stimuli that could be unintended NS. Also, the collection of the dog’s saliva in a cannula helped prevent the loss of saliva and provided an objective measurment of salivation.
E - therefore, the study has high internal validity and a valid cause effect relationship can be concluded about the dog salivating at the sound of the buzzer due to the association made

Question 6

Weakness

Answer 6

I - Pavlov conducted this study on dogs, leading to issues generalising the findings of animal studies onto humans, as different species has structurally different brains.
J - Humans have a larger cerebral contex than most species, which permits more complex cognitive processes and conscious choice, whereas animals are driven more by instincts
E - Therefore while Pavlov suggested his findings on learning can be generalised to humans, this may not be entirely true due to differences in our physiology, brains and thought processes compared to dogs.