Pavlov Study

Question 1

Aim of Pavlov Study

Answer 1

• Initial aim was to learn about the salivation reflex; however he noted that salivation in dogs occurred not only in response to food but to stimulus that typically occurred close in time to the presentation of food
• Pavlov was then interested in explaining the role of conditioned reflexes in the eating behaviour of dogs and exploring how salivation becomes associated with new stimuli apparently unrelated to food and the properties of this association

Question 2

Procedure of Pavlov Study

Answer 2

• The dog was put into a chamber room were it couldn’t see or hear anything outside of the room, this was done to remove any variables affecting the dogs salivation
• A tube was attached to the dog to measure how much saliva it produced
• A metronome was paired with the food a couple times, and this caused the dog to salivate when it heard the metronome beat, without the presence of food
• The metronome and food were paired 20 times

Question 3

Findings of Pavlov Study

Answer 3

• The NS of the bell didn’t initially cause a salivation response however the food immediately caused a salivation response
• In one trial, 9 seconds after the bells sound, 45 drops of saliva was collecting
• Salivation reflex with the NS was only if the dog was alert and undistracted

Question 4

Conclusion of Pavlov Study

Answer 4

• A neutral stimulus when paired with an unconditioned stimulus would turn conditioned and produce a conditioned response like the production of saliva

Question 5

Strength of Pavlov Study

Answer 5

• A strength of the study is that it had high levels of internal validity
• The study utilised a soundproof chamber to reduce the possibility of external sounds distracting the dogs or providing additional stimulus that could be cause salivation other than the neutral stimulus
• The collection of the dog’s saliva in the cannula helped prevent the loss of saliva and provide an objective measurement of salivation
• These control make it clear that the salivation was in response to the bell, demonstrating a cause effect relationship between conditioning and the acquisition of a new behaviour

Question 6

Weakness of Pavlov Study

Answer 6

• A weakness of Pavlov study is that it was conducted on only dogs, therefore there are issues with generalising the finding from animal studies onto humans
• Humans and animals are different species and have structurally different brains, humans have a larger cerebral cortex than most species which permits more complex cognitive processes and conscious choice whereas animals are driven by instinct
• Pavlov suggested his finding of learning can be generalised to humans but this may not be entirely true due to the differences between the brains of animals and humans and thought processes