Learning Psychology Notes
Pavlov Study
AO1:
o The aim was to look at reflexes and work out pathways in the brain using dogs as they
have somewhat a higher order thinking.
o The procedures were to measure the difference in the volume or dops of saliva when
pairing NS and UCS for 20 times, it varied by forward conditioning (Neutral stimulus;
bell” presented before Unconditioned stimulus; food) or backward conditioning
(Unconditioned stimulus; food presented before Neutral stimulus; bell”).
o Pavlov used a metronome as a neutral stimulus which itself would not elicit response
from the dog.
o The result was that electric buzzer (NS) sounded after the meat (UCS) did not result in
salivation, but electric buzzer before the meat and paired just once did give salivation.
AO3:
Strength:
A strength is that it is reliable as there are well-controlled procedures where the amount of
saliva is measured and observed carefully nu either the volume or the number of drops in a
cannula, they also measure baseline salivation in response to neutral stimulus (buzzer) for
comparison. Therefore, these tight procedures allow other researchers to replicate the study
and can get similar results as Pavlov.
A strength is that is it applicable to society. The results show that after pairing neutral
stimulus(bell) and unconditioned stimulus (dog food), conditioned response will be shown
(salivation). Therefore, it can be used to help treat alcoholism such as pairing alcohol with
emetic drugs (make someone sick), then the alcoholic will be conditioned to feel sick with
alcoholic drink.
Weakness:
A weakness is that it is not generalisable. The study uses dogs to study their salivation reflex
towards dog food, but humans have an even high order thinking process and have more
complex emotions and brain structures. Therefore, the results may not be representative on
how human react when being conditioned, reducing the usefulness of the data to treat
alcoholism.
A weakness is that it lacks ecological validity. The study is carried out in a soundproof lab to
minimise extraneous variable such as noise and experimenter are given strict instructions to
not communicate with the dogs. Therefore, it is not replicating the environment of dogs in
real life situations, as it is unlikely for them to be in an absolute quiet environment with no
human contact, thus is not representing real life behaviours of them.
A weakness is that it is unethical. The dogs are constantly being watched and observed in a
soundproof environment with no significant sunlight. They even have a small cut near the
mouth for experimenters to collect saliva. Therefore, they might be extremely stress by the
environment and physical pain by cutting of the hole, where pain is not minimised.
, Learning Psychology Notes
Classical Conditioning
AO1:
o Neutral stimulus refers to a trigger that does not produce any target response naturally.
o Unconditioned stimulus refers to a trigger for behavior that naturally produces a response
o Unconditioned response refers to a behavior that occurs such as a reflex that naturally
occurs when a particular trigger is present
o Conditioned stimulus refers to a trigger for a behavior that produces a response only after
repeated pairing with another stimulus
o Conditioned response refers to a behavior that occurs only when a particular trigger that is
repeatedly paired with another stimulus repeatedly is present
o Extinction is the disappearance of response when condition stimulus is presented many
times without the unconditioned stimulus.
o Spontaneous Recovery refers to the reappearance of a response when unconditioned
stimulus is shown again after the last offer conditioned response when shown conditioned
stimulus.
o Generalization refers to the same response being seen for similar objects (stimulus)
o Discrimination refers two when response is only shown to the stimulus given before but
not stimulus similar to that.
AO3:
Strength:
A strength is that it is applicable to society, the theory suggests that after pairing neutral
stimulus and unconditioned stimulus for several pairings, conditioned response will be shown
when conditioned stimulus (once NS) is shown. Therefore, it can be used to help treat
alcoholism such as pairing alcohol with emetic drugs (make someone sick), then the alcoholic
will be conditioned to feel sick with alcoholic drink.
A strength is that it is supported by Pavlov’s study. The results shows that volume of
salivation measures by cannula from the dogs decreases after repeatedly presenting bell
without the food. Therefore, supporting the idea of extinction as salivation response
disappears gradually when only conditioned stimulus is shown but without unconditioned
stimulus.
Weakness:
However, a weakness is that the Pavlov study is not generalisable. The study uses dogs to
study their salivation reflex towards dog food, but humans have an even high order thinking
process and have more complex emotions and brain structures. Therefore, the results may not
be representative on how human react when being classically conditioned, reducing the
usefulness of the data to treat alcoholism with pairing of stimulus.
A weakness is that the Watson and Rayner supporting study lacks ecological and task
validity. Little Albert is constantly being observed and scared in a lab environment. Where
researchers even conducted study in a lecture hall to observe Albert while strucking hammer
on a 4ft pole(fear). Therefore, it is not normal for a young infant to be in a lab environment
and subjected to various experiments and being scared or shown something he fears at all
, Learning Psychology Notes
times, thus is not representative of how people react to classical conditioning in real life
situations.
Classical Study: Watson and Rayner
AO1:
o The aim was to see if they could condition a phobic response to a white rat in an infant.
o They also wanted to use to principles of classical conditioning to learn if a human child
could learn to be afraid of a previously neutral stimulus which initially caused no fear
response, and whether this reaction would be generalised to other similar objects.
o The procedures test neutral stimulus.
o The result was that Albert’s fear lasted for 31 days after the emotional tests were carried
out, where reaction(fear) did become weakness towards the end. Such as generalisation of
rate and other similar animals of fear, crawling away.
AO3:
Strength:
A strength is that it’s reliable as a baseline measure it carried out to test the neutral stimulus
such as a dog, a monkey, a mask and a white rat in which he did not show any
emotions/response/ struck hammer, first time just startled, pout, crying fit.. Therefore, these
tight procedures can be replicated by another research and similar results regarding classical
conditioning can be seen.
A strength is that it is applicable to society. The results shows that little Albert was
conditioned to show fear when presented with conditioned stimulus, such as white rats where
he uses to have no response but when paired several times with hammer struck with pole, he
started to crawl away at the sight of white rate. Therefore, this info can be used to help
alcoholic such as pairing alcohol with emetic drugs (to make someone sick), then the
alcoholic will be conditioned to feel sick with alcoholic drink.
Weakness:
A weakness is that it is not generalisable. The pp chosen was a boy name Albert who is a 9-
month-old male infant, he was chosen due to his robust and unemotional character.
Therefore, the results of him conditioned to be afraid of conditioned stimulus cannot
represented how other people of different age, sex and culture might react with classical
conditioning.
A weakness is that it lacks tasks and ecological validity. The study involves in constantly
conditioning Albert with the use of strucking a hammer on a 4 ft pole hanging from the
ceiling trying to make him develop fear for once neutral stimulus and is carried out in a lab
experiment with various researchers observing him, where the location then moves to a
lecture room to prevent Albert getting familiar with environment. Therefore, it is uncommon
for a child to undergo such high amount of fear and stress at a young age as well as being
watched in a lab environment, thus his behaviour is not representative of real-life situations.
Pavlov Study
AO1:
o The aim was to look at reflexes and work out pathways in the brain using dogs as they
have somewhat a higher order thinking.
o The procedures were to measure the difference in the volume or dops of saliva when
pairing NS and UCS for 20 times, it varied by forward conditioning (Neutral stimulus;
bell” presented before Unconditioned stimulus; food) or backward conditioning
(Unconditioned stimulus; food presented before Neutral stimulus; bell”).
o Pavlov used a metronome as a neutral stimulus which itself would not elicit response
from the dog.
o The result was that electric buzzer (NS) sounded after the meat (UCS) did not result in
salivation, but electric buzzer before the meat and paired just once did give salivation.
AO3:
Strength:
A strength is that it is reliable as there are well-controlled procedures where the amount of
saliva is measured and observed carefully nu either the volume or the number of drops in a
cannula, they also measure baseline salivation in response to neutral stimulus (buzzer) for
comparison. Therefore, these tight procedures allow other researchers to replicate the study
and can get similar results as Pavlov.
A strength is that is it applicable to society. The results show that after pairing neutral
stimulus(bell) and unconditioned stimulus (dog food), conditioned response will be shown
(salivation). Therefore, it can be used to help treat alcoholism such as pairing alcohol with
emetic drugs (make someone sick), then the alcoholic will be conditioned to feel sick with
alcoholic drink.
Weakness:
A weakness is that it is not generalisable. The study uses dogs to study their salivation reflex
towards dog food, but humans have an even high order thinking process and have more
complex emotions and brain structures. Therefore, the results may not be representative on
how human react when being conditioned, reducing the usefulness of the data to treat
alcoholism.
A weakness is that it lacks ecological validity. The study is carried out in a soundproof lab to
minimise extraneous variable such as noise and experimenter are given strict instructions to
not communicate with the dogs. Therefore, it is not replicating the environment of dogs in
real life situations, as it is unlikely for them to be in an absolute quiet environment with no
human contact, thus is not representing real life behaviours of them.
A weakness is that it is unethical. The dogs are constantly being watched and observed in a
soundproof environment with no significant sunlight. They even have a small cut near the
mouth for experimenters to collect saliva. Therefore, they might be extremely stress by the
environment and physical pain by cutting of the hole, where pain is not minimised.
, Learning Psychology Notes
Classical Conditioning
AO1:
o Neutral stimulus refers to a trigger that does not produce any target response naturally.
o Unconditioned stimulus refers to a trigger for behavior that naturally produces a response
o Unconditioned response refers to a behavior that occurs such as a reflex that naturally
occurs when a particular trigger is present
o Conditioned stimulus refers to a trigger for a behavior that produces a response only after
repeated pairing with another stimulus
o Conditioned response refers to a behavior that occurs only when a particular trigger that is
repeatedly paired with another stimulus repeatedly is present
o Extinction is the disappearance of response when condition stimulus is presented many
times without the unconditioned stimulus.
o Spontaneous Recovery refers to the reappearance of a response when unconditioned
stimulus is shown again after the last offer conditioned response when shown conditioned
stimulus.
o Generalization refers to the same response being seen for similar objects (stimulus)
o Discrimination refers two when response is only shown to the stimulus given before but
not stimulus similar to that.
AO3:
Strength:
A strength is that it is applicable to society, the theory suggests that after pairing neutral
stimulus and unconditioned stimulus for several pairings, conditioned response will be shown
when conditioned stimulus (once NS) is shown. Therefore, it can be used to help treat
alcoholism such as pairing alcohol with emetic drugs (make someone sick), then the alcoholic
will be conditioned to feel sick with alcoholic drink.
A strength is that it is supported by Pavlov’s study. The results shows that volume of
salivation measures by cannula from the dogs decreases after repeatedly presenting bell
without the food. Therefore, supporting the idea of extinction as salivation response
disappears gradually when only conditioned stimulus is shown but without unconditioned
stimulus.
Weakness:
However, a weakness is that the Pavlov study is not generalisable. The study uses dogs to
study their salivation reflex towards dog food, but humans have an even high order thinking
process and have more complex emotions and brain structures. Therefore, the results may not
be representative on how human react when being classically conditioned, reducing the
usefulness of the data to treat alcoholism with pairing of stimulus.
A weakness is that the Watson and Rayner supporting study lacks ecological and task
validity. Little Albert is constantly being observed and scared in a lab environment. Where
researchers even conducted study in a lecture hall to observe Albert while strucking hammer
on a 4ft pole(fear). Therefore, it is not normal for a young infant to be in a lab environment
and subjected to various experiments and being scared or shown something he fears at all
, Learning Psychology Notes
times, thus is not representative of how people react to classical conditioning in real life
situations.
Classical Study: Watson and Rayner
AO1:
o The aim was to see if they could condition a phobic response to a white rat in an infant.
o They also wanted to use to principles of classical conditioning to learn if a human child
could learn to be afraid of a previously neutral stimulus which initially caused no fear
response, and whether this reaction would be generalised to other similar objects.
o The procedures test neutral stimulus.
o The result was that Albert’s fear lasted for 31 days after the emotional tests were carried
out, where reaction(fear) did become weakness towards the end. Such as generalisation of
rate and other similar animals of fear, crawling away.
AO3:
Strength:
A strength is that it’s reliable as a baseline measure it carried out to test the neutral stimulus
such as a dog, a monkey, a mask and a white rat in which he did not show any
emotions/response/ struck hammer, first time just startled, pout, crying fit.. Therefore, these
tight procedures can be replicated by another research and similar results regarding classical
conditioning can be seen.
A strength is that it is applicable to society. The results shows that little Albert was
conditioned to show fear when presented with conditioned stimulus, such as white rats where
he uses to have no response but when paired several times with hammer struck with pole, he
started to crawl away at the sight of white rate. Therefore, this info can be used to help
alcoholic such as pairing alcohol with emetic drugs (to make someone sick), then the
alcoholic will be conditioned to feel sick with alcoholic drink.
Weakness:
A weakness is that it is not generalisable. The pp chosen was a boy name Albert who is a 9-
month-old male infant, he was chosen due to his robust and unemotional character.
Therefore, the results of him conditioned to be afraid of conditioned stimulus cannot
represented how other people of different age, sex and culture might react with classical
conditioning.
A weakness is that it lacks tasks and ecological validity. The study involves in constantly
conditioning Albert with the use of strucking a hammer on a 4 ft pole hanging from the
ceiling trying to make him develop fear for once neutral stimulus and is carried out in a lab
experiment with various researchers observing him, where the location then moves to a
lecture room to prevent Albert getting familiar with environment. Therefore, it is uncommon
for a child to undergo such high amount of fear and stress at a young age as well as being
watched in a lab environment, thus his behaviour is not representative of real-life situations.
