methods & proc

• this was an investigation conducted in controlled conditions involving a single ppt called Little Albert
• it is not a case study as that would require deeper analysis of various aspects of his life
• this investigation only explores emotional reactions
• Little Albert was 11 months old when the research began and was the son of a hospital employee where watson & raynor worked
• stage one = establishing a conditioned emotional response
• stage 1 =

  • Albert was presented with a white rat and showed no fear
  • the second time, Watson made a loud noise by hitting a hammer against a steel bar
  • the joint stimulation was repeated 6 times
  • the rat was then presented alone
• stage 2 = transferring a conditioned response to other stimuli
• stage 2

  • Albert was presented with a range of different stimuli including a rabbit, a dog, fur coat and cotton wool
  • The setting was then changed to see if that would have an effect
• Alberts behaviour was observed and recorded
• stage 3 = one month later involved exploring the effect of time
• stage 3:

  • one month later, Albert was presented with a range of stimuli including a rat, a rabbit , a dog