A03

• * scientific?

  • focuses on observable behaviour that can be physically seen & measured
  • eg when dog salivates can be measured in ml
  • internal
  • uses empirical methods so can establish a cause & effect relationship between behaviour & way we have learnt it
  • as methods are more objective thus more accurate
• * practical applications?

  • has helped us in real world
  • eg schools use positive reinforcement in school by giving a reward through stickers
  • also used in prisons as token economy system - rewarding patients for good behaviour through exchanging tokens for something they want eg visiting time
  • ecological
  • shows these principles can be reinforced in real life to help explain real world behaviour & improve society
• X using animals?

  • pro - allows us to research behaviour without using humans as subjects which could break the bps guidelines of protection of p from harm
  • con - if it is too unethical for humans, then should not be used on animals either
  • credibility
  • there are more ethical ways to study behaviour opposed to use of animal studies implemented by behavioural pyschologists
• X not generalisable to humans?

  • both operant & classical use animals in their research
  • humans are much more complex than animals
  • our behaviour will not be the same as animals due to our increased intellectual ability & social interactions
  • population
  • cannot be certain that behaviour is always learnt through reinforcement & that this will be same for all species
• X deterministic?

  • behaviour is pre determined & not in our control
  • pro - allows us predict & determine future behaviour
  • eg we develop phobia after frightening experience & therefore not in our control
  • con - neglects individual differences & will respond differently to reinforcement
  • neglects free will & suggests that everyone responds to reinforcement in the same way
  • will be unhelpful when trying to treat disordered behaviour