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Molly Burns
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more than 1 year ago
Edexcel A Level Psychology: Learning Theories Classic Study
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psychology - key studies / studies
learning theories
a level
Created by
Molly Burns
over 6 years ago
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13543103
mind_map
2018-05-02T18:36:21Z
Watson & Rayner (1928)
ABOUT
AIM
To find out if classical conditioning works on
humans
DESIGN
Repeated measures design
DV
The number of fearful behaviours Albert
shows when presented with the stimuli
IV
(1) Before conditioning compared to after
conditioning; (2) Being presented with the white
rat compared to being presented with other white
fluffy objects
SAMPLE
One baby boy, Albert, 9 months old.
PROCEDURE
PRE CONDITIONING TESTING
Albert was 9 months old when his responses to numerous stimuli
were recorded, such as exposure to a white rat and the noise of a
steel bar being struck by a hammer behind his head.
Albert only showed a fear response
to the loud noise, making this an
unconditioned stimulus as no
learning was required
CONDITIONING TRIALS
When Albert was 11 months old he was again given the white rat to play with but
when Albert reached for the rat the steal bar was struck behind him.
This process was repeated five times the next
week and twice more 17 days later.
FINDINGS
Before conditioning (age 9 months) Albert only
showed the fear response to the loud noise
created by striking hammer against a metal bar
behind his head. He showed no fear to all other
stimuli.
fter the 1st trial Albert showed some distress, during the 2nd trial
he seemed suspicious of the rat and by the 3rd trial Albert leaned
away from the rat and when a rat was put next to him Albert
started to cry.
7 weeks later Albert cried in response to a number
of white furry stimuli including the fur collar of his
mothers coat and a Santa Beard.
CONCLUSION
POST CONDITIONING TEST
Afterwards the
effects were tested
by showing Albert the
rat alone and
monitoring his
reaction.
Watson & Rayner concluded that they had successfully conditioned Albert to
fear the white rat and that his fear response generalised to other white, furry
things
EVALUATION
GENERALISABILITY
This was a study of one young child it lacks
population validity as the findings cannot
be generalised to others.
RELIABILITY
The study has high reliability as the use of standardised
procedures allows for high control over all extraneous
variables. This makes it easy to replicate
APPLICATION
This research has demonstrated that phobias can be learnt through the
process of classical conditioning. Therefore, if we can understand how
phobias do develop we can incorporate this into treatment of this form of
behaviour.
VALIDITY
Lacks ecological validity as it was
a lab experiment and the task is
artificial
ETHICS
The study is clearly unethical. Watson & Rayner deliberately caused
distress to an infant and continued even though he was upset
Also, they gave Albert a fear without knowledge that it could be reversed
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13543103
mind_map
2018-05-02T18:36:21Z
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