Investigating Psychology Classic Studies Research Essay

Examine and assess the ways in which the classic studies discussed in Chapters 2, 4 and 8 of study Psychology deviated later(prenominal) psychological seek. plastered psychological studies argon termed classics as theyve become renowned for the watch or contribution that theyve made to particular areas of psychological science. This essay looks in detail at such studies, carried out by Milgram, skinner and Broadbent, with a view to assessing the manpowersurate of their square offs on subsequent psychological look for. This essay aims to demonstrate how these studies have largely been influential and valu able-bodied as a result of their strengths, but allow as well demonstrate that a weakness within the structure of a report card can also be influential. B.F. skinner is considered to be nonpareil of the most influential psychologists of the twentieth century (Brace and Byford, 2012). His work on doings shaping and theory of operant instruct is still influential tod ay. Skinner believed that conduct could be turnd by means of manipulation such as accompaniment, and polemically believed that thought processes and free will play no part in determining behavior. To test his theories he experimented with rats and pigeons. He created the Skinner box which meant that the animals behaviour could scientifically and objectively be measured. This was an influential and important development that enabled coming(prenominal) studies to be carried out under tight controls. Skinner argued that learning through reinforcement could be successfully widen to humans (Toates, 2012).Subsequent research studies have been carried out testing the sustained influence of Skinners theory of reinforcement, and reinforcement its validity and care for. Studies by Swinson and Harrop, 2005 (cited in Toates, 2012) support that challenging behaviour in the classroom can be reduced development positive reinforcement. E.g. a child receives praise for desired behaviours, rather than receiving attention for undesirable behaviour. thus Skinners classical withdraw has had a positive influence in relation to behaviour in education. Furthermore there is conclusion from therapeutic settings (Flora 2004), (cited in Toates, 2012) including mental hospitals, showing that children and adults have been successfully modify for psychological issues such as self-harming, using therapies derived from Skinners studies. These techniques of reinforcement are being use today in many hospitals, schools and prisons. (Toates, 2012). as yet, aspects of Skinners theory of behaviouristic psychology, displayed weaknessesand as such is not favoured in psychology today. Most psychologists retain the view that free will is instrumental to behaviour and how we learn, believing that our ability to make choices is influenced by factors other than operant conditioning alone. This was a view rejected by Skinner (Toates, 2012). This aspect of behaviourism has had little influenc e on subsequent research other than to confute it. Nevertheless Skinners work on operant conditioning remains influential, and is used by many professionals (Cherry, 2013).Furthermore, the work of David Broadbent has been greatly influential and valuable, the assure of which continues to be seen in research today. Broadbents work has contributed to our understanding of attention. He invented the recent study of attention, introducing and making popular the information-processing blast which launched the cognitive revolution. This approach was the number one testable model of attention and Broadbent was keen that others carried out experiments to test it (Edgar and Edgar 2012). He believed that psychological theory should come from considering practical problems, and with this approach he bridged the gap betwixt the laboratory and the real-world (Berry, 2002, p.403). Broadbents model displayed that we have limited capacity to how a good deal information we can process at one succession, and as such this affects our abilities to multi-task etc. (Edgar and Edgar, 2012). This has implications on e trulyday tasks such as driving.This proved super valuable information with regards to researching cognitive abilities in humans, and is still used in cognitive psychology today. Colin Cherry was a contemporary of Broadbents, whose research extended that of Broadbents to explore the role of meaning in attention. Cherrys (1953) findings showed that meaning does play a role in information-processing and as a consequence Broadbents veritable model needed to be change in a way that recognised memory, experience and expectations can influence attention. These findings generated refinements to the model, raised further specific questions and generated supposition which have been, and continue to be tested by carefully designed experiments. This process is known as the Cycle of Enquiry. Broadbents research regarding attention and multi-tasking influenced Ivan Brown e t al. (1960), (cited in Edgar and Edgar, 2012) to conduct studies into the effects on driving whilst using a mobile phone.This study is an excellent example and evidence of hypothesis testing. There were originalelements applied to the experiment to ensure a valid test of the hypothesis Performance or dependent variables were measured by speed/trueness the two conditions were driving without using a phone, and driving the same roadway whilst answering questions using a phone. The conditions arose from manipulating the independent variable the use of a phone or not. Other variables were controlled to ensure that the only influence on the result of the study was the variable being measured. The finding of the experiment support Broadbents views regarding attention and multi-tasking. The value that the cycle of enquiry adds to subsequent psychological research is immeasurable, as it ensures research is constantly open to re-evaluation. Over time and with the advent of technology, r esearch performed by Broadbent has influenced studies using fMRI which have been able to see how attention is depicted in brain activity. Findings were consistent with Broadbents theory of limited capacity (Sabine Kastner et. al. (1998) cited in Edgar and Edgar 2012). Broadbents methodical approach to experimental research and theory development were the origins of subsequent psychological research.As such he was instrumental in the development of cognitive psychology. (Edgar and Edgar 2012). equally influential on psychological research is Milgrams studies into deference from administration (1961), which was provoked by the atrocities of the Second World War. The studies investigated whether volunteers would administer potential fatal electrical shocks to another human because they were told to by an authoritative figure. The findings were horrible in that most people were willing to administer the shocks on the focussing of someone in authority. It was these findings that pr ovoked much debate and influenced attempts at takes of the original study. Weaknesses of the study included it being conducted in a single geographic area, using same gender participants, and not being carried out in a real-world environment. In order to address the issue of gender, Milgram himself replicated his study using only females, with the results showing that women were just as likely as men to constitute the shocks (Banyard, 2012). With regards to culture and geography, Milgrams study was replicated in many countries and the results were analysed by Peter Smith and Michael Bond (1993), (cited in Banyard, 2012). The findings were that varying degrees of obedience were displayed by different cultures.To test the theory in a real-worldenvironment, a replication was carried out in a work environment by Charles Hofling et.al. (1996), (cited in Banyard, 2012) to see if nurses would give patients an overdose of a drug on the precept of a telephone call from a Doctor. The drugs were dummies and the Doctor a fake. The bay broke hospital protocol but alarmingly a very high percentage of nurses followed the Doctors instruction. However, its not just the findings regarding human behaviour that have been greatly influential, but a significant weakness of the study has been equally so. The first code of moral philosophy, The Nuremberg Code, was devised in 1946 as a result to the atrocities carried out during the Second World War. Many people disapproved of Milgrams obedience studies as they felt that it was ethically wrong. One such psychologist was Diana Baumrind who felt Milgram had small certain aspects of the code of ethics (Banyard, 2012). She believed that the participants hadnt been treated properly as their welfare had been compromised due to the extreme stress they had encountered they werent able to give informed consent the emotional cost to the participants wasnt worth the turn a profit of the study, and participants werent able to exercise the ir right to withdraw.Furthermore, she argued that Milgram had harmed the public image of psychology. The value of this to subsequent research is that the obedience study demonstrated why ethics is so important in psychology, and highlighted the need for strict guidelines in research (Banyard, 2012). These very concerns regarding ethics would make it difficult to replicate the original study today. However, the development of technology has enabled replications of the study to be carried out in a virtual environment (Mel Slater et.al 2006, cited in Banyard 2012). The findings were similar to that of the original study. However you measure Milgrams impact, whether its in terms of obedience, ethics or human behaviour, he remains one of the most influential mixer Psychologists of our time. (Banyard, 2012).To conclude, having looked in detail at the classic studies, the evidence supplied clearly demonstrates that theyve had a significant and valuable influence on subsequent psychologica l research. The influence that theyve had and the high value to research are evident throughout history. However, it is also important to note that these studies do also display weaknesses there are elements which have been challenged, offer no value, and have had no significant influence on subsequent research. This is however, overshadowed by the body of evidence presented that outline the many ways in which the classical studies have influenced subsequent psychological research and continue to do so. (1553 words).ReferencesBanyard, P. (2012) Just Following Orders? in Brace, N. and Byford, J. (eds) Investigating Psychology, Oxford, Oxford University ask/Milton Keynes, The Open University. Berry, D. (2012) The Psychologist, vol.15, no.8 22 August Online. Available at www.thepsychologist.org.uk/archive/archive_home.cfm/volumeID_15-edition_83-ArticleID_437-getfile-getPDF/thepsychologist/aug02berry.pdf) (Accessed 14 August 2013) Brace, N. and Byford, J. (eds) Investigating Psychology , Oxford, Oxford University press/Milton Keynes, The Open University. Cherry, K. (2013) http//psychology.about.com/od/profileofmajorthinkers/p/bio_skinner.htm (Accessed 14 August 2013) Edgar, H. and Edgar, G. (2012) Paying Attention in Brace, N. and Byford, J. (eds) Investigating Psychology, Oxford, Oxford University press/Milton Keynes, The Open University. Toates, F. (2012. Changing Behaviour in Brace, N. and Byford, J. (eds) Investigating Psychology, Oxford, Oxford University press/Milton Keynes, The Open University.