Classical conditioning (Pavlov)
Classical conditioning is learning through association, Pavlov observed how dogs would salivate when a
lab assistant entered the room with a bowl of food before actually eating the food
In classical conditioning, a new association is made, the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) is paired with a
new stimulus which doesn't normally cause a response; this is called a neutral stimulus (NS), if an
association is made between the UCS and the NS, then the NS will eventually cause the same response
as the UCS, the NS then because the conditioned stimulus (CS) and the unconditioned response (UCR)
becomesstudy
Pavlov's the conditioned response (CR)
Aim – To find out if a reflexive behaviour can be produced in new situations through learning
IV – The dogs natural reflexive behaviour
DV – To count how many drops of saliva was produced by the dogs
Sample – 35 dogs raised in kennels in the lab
Procedure – The dogs were placed in a room that didn't allow the dog to see, smell or hear anything
outside, the dog was strapped into a harness and its mouth was linked to a tube that drained saliva
away into a measuring bottle, in the controlled condition, the dog would be presented with dog food,
as an experimental control, the dog was presented with a neutral stimulus sound, to condition the dog
Pavlov paired the sound with food, he did this 20 times, after it was conditioned, the dog was
presented with the sound but no food
Results – Pavlov found that the conditioned dog started to salivate 9 seconds after hearing the sound,
and by 45 seconds, had produced 11 drops of saliva.
Conclusions – Pavlov had been able to discover classical conditioning, he was able to produce a
conditioned response in dogs.
, Evaluating Pavlov
Generalisability – It is hard to generalise from dogs to humans as humans have different brains and
much more complicated thoughts and motives although, the theory of evolution supports the idea that
humans will learn through association in the same way that other animals do
Reliability – The study has strong reliability as it has a standardised procedure and it was carefully
documented, Pavlov repeated the study multiple times over 25 years, with different dogs and different
NS', he also got different researchers to observe the dog and measure the saliva
Application – John Watson conditioned Little Albert to show a fear response, and was influenced by
Pavlov, Watson and Skinner later went onto promote the school of behaviourism, it can also be applied
to aversion therapy
Validity – Pavlov made his research objective and scientifically credibly, there doesn't seem to be any
other stimuli which made the dogs salivate, although the study could have low ecological validity due to
the fact that the dogs were kept in unusual conditions and they were presented with odd stimuli
Ethics – If the research was carried out today, it would be incredibly unethical, research animals should
be treated humanely, although there were no ethical guidelines for psychologists when Pavlov carried
out his research moreover, Pavlov's main reason for the research was for how digestion worked, and so
his research has had medical benefits for millions of dogs and humans.
Classical conditioning is learning through association, Pavlov observed how dogs would salivate when a
lab assistant entered the room with a bowl of food before actually eating the food
In classical conditioning, a new association is made, the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) is paired with a
new stimulus which doesn't normally cause a response; this is called a neutral stimulus (NS), if an
association is made between the UCS and the NS, then the NS will eventually cause the same response
as the UCS, the NS then because the conditioned stimulus (CS) and the unconditioned response (UCR)
becomesstudy
Pavlov's the conditioned response (CR)
Aim – To find out if a reflexive behaviour can be produced in new situations through learning
IV – The dogs natural reflexive behaviour
DV – To count how many drops of saliva was produced by the dogs
Sample – 35 dogs raised in kennels in the lab
Procedure – The dogs were placed in a room that didn't allow the dog to see, smell or hear anything
outside, the dog was strapped into a harness and its mouth was linked to a tube that drained saliva
away into a measuring bottle, in the controlled condition, the dog would be presented with dog food,
as an experimental control, the dog was presented with a neutral stimulus sound, to condition the dog
Pavlov paired the sound with food, he did this 20 times, after it was conditioned, the dog was
presented with the sound but no food
Results – Pavlov found that the conditioned dog started to salivate 9 seconds after hearing the sound,
and by 45 seconds, had produced 11 drops of saliva.
Conclusions – Pavlov had been able to discover classical conditioning, he was able to produce a
conditioned response in dogs.
, Evaluating Pavlov
Generalisability – It is hard to generalise from dogs to humans as humans have different brains and
much more complicated thoughts and motives although, the theory of evolution supports the idea that
humans will learn through association in the same way that other animals do
Reliability – The study has strong reliability as it has a standardised procedure and it was carefully
documented, Pavlov repeated the study multiple times over 25 years, with different dogs and different
NS', he also got different researchers to observe the dog and measure the saliva
Application – John Watson conditioned Little Albert to show a fear response, and was influenced by
Pavlov, Watson and Skinner later went onto promote the school of behaviourism, it can also be applied
to aversion therapy
Validity – Pavlov made his research objective and scientifically credibly, there doesn't seem to be any
other stimuli which made the dogs salivate, although the study could have low ecological validity due to
the fact that the dogs were kept in unusual conditions and they were presented with odd stimuli
Ethics – If the research was carried out today, it would be incredibly unethical, research animals should
be treated humanely, although there were no ethical guidelines for psychologists when Pavlov carried
out his research moreover, Pavlov's main reason for the research was for how digestion worked, and so
his research has had medical benefits for millions of dogs and humans.
