Methodology of the Behaviourist Approach

Today’s lesson

• Be able to understand what is meant by “methodology” and “research” in psychology.

• Look at the characteristics, the strengths and weaknesses of lab experiments with humans

• Look at the strengths and weaknesses of lab experiments with animals

What is research?• How we find out things about

behaviour.• Research in psychology is a way

of separating fact from opinion• Some research methods are

associated with certain approaches.

• In this topic, you need to make the link between a methodology and an approach.

What is research?

• There are many types of research method

• TASK• How many ways can you think

of to investigate human behaviour? Think about the research we have looked at so far during this topic.

Methodology 1: Laboratory experiments with humans

• Conducted in a lab – a controlled environment• Independent variable• What the experimenter has control over and

manipulates• Dependent variable• What is affected by the independent variable and

measured

• TASK• Identify the IV and DV for the lab studies

Methodology 1: Laboratory experiments with humans

• Key features• Controlled, artificial setting• Standardised procedures• Manipulation of IV, measuring of DV• Participants know they are in a study• Usually, many people are tested

• TASK• Look back to the assumptions of the

behaviourist approach. Why do you think behaviourists may like using lab experiments?

Methodology 1: Laboratory experiments with humans

• We have come across one key lab study in the behaviourist approach: Bandura (1961)

TASK Read the recap of

Bandura, and complete the information.

Methodology 1: Laboratory experiments with humans

• TASK• Read the evaluation points. Highlight the

important information

Some new terminology

• Ecological Validity• How well a study can be related to or reflects

everyday real life. • Studies with high ecological validity can be

generalised beyond the setting they were carried out in, whereas studies low in ecological validity cannot.

• TASK• How ecologically valid was Bandura’s

experiment?

Some new terminology

• Demand Characteristics• When participants know that they are in a study,

their behaviour may change. They may try to please the experimenter, or try to mess it up.

• In either case, their behaviour becomes invalid

• TASK• Could there have been demand characteristics

in Bandura’s experiment?

Some new terminology

• Experimenter Effects• The experimenter may inadvertently or

deliberately alter the behaviour of the participants in the experiment. Possibly by tone of voice or body language etc

• Again, this may lead to behaviour which is not valid

• TASK• Could there have been experimenter effects in

Bandura’s experiment?

Methodology 2: Laboratory experiments with animals

• What experiments in the behaviourist approach use animals?

Methodology 2: Laboratory experiments with animals

• One way of studying human behaviour is to carry out experiments on animals, and generalise the results to humans.

• Gives the opportunity to carry out experiments which would be too unethical or impractical to carry out on humans.

Methodology 2: Laboratory experiments with animals

• Behaviourists assume that there are few differences between animals and humans. Therefore we can generalise results.

• Also allows greater control over the environment• Remember the behaviourist assumption?

• Key features• Similar to lab studies with humans; manipulation of

IV, controlled environment etc. • However, more control than using humans.

Methodology 2: Laboratory experiments with animals

• TASK• Briefly describe Skinner and Pavlov’s research.

Briefly describe what they did, being sure to use the terms IV and DV, controlled environment and standardised procedures

Methodology 2: Laboratory experiments with animals

• TASK• With the person sat next to you,

think up as many pros and cons about using animals in psychological experiments as you can.

• Don’ t cheat by reading ahead!

• TASK• Read the evaluation and

highlight the key points

Group Task

• For one of the methodologies, create a poster which outlines the strengths and weaknesses of the method

• BUT: you can only use 4-5 words for each point. Use visual representations

Ethical Guidelines• You are the head of the psychology research

department at a university. Some of your students are about to conduct research using animals.

• What 3 rules would you insist that they follow?

Ethical Guidelines

• The Experimental Psychology Society (1986)• Minimise stress and suffering for all animals• Always consider the possibility of other options

to animal research• Be as economical as possible in the number of

animals used

Homework

• 5: Explain and evaluate the methodology used in the behaviourist approach (12)• AO3 question• Be sure to read the advice on page 6 as well as

the “how to answer exam questions” handout.

• Date Due: ___________________-