|
Advantages
- The case of Little Albert was carefully documented.
- Witnesses helped record the data and there were strict controls.
- Only one variable was changed at a time.
- If it was ethical to be repeated, replicability and reliability could have been shown.
- It is evidence that classical conditioning can occur in humans.
- Although Pavlov showed it occurred in dogs, it may have been unreliable to generalise the findings to humans.
- Useful to understand how to acquire phobias.
|
Disadvantages
- The study was unethical. He was cl;early distressed, and although they let him rest between tests, they continued even though he was clearly unhappy and frightened.
- They did not extinguish the fears so it is possible they remained.
- The setting and tasks were artificial so it lacks ecological validity.
- The pure existence of a lab setting may have made Little Albert initially anxious and distressed.
|
Comments
No comments have yet been made