Investigating Psychology Classic Studies Research Essay

Examine and assess the ways in which the classic studies discussed in Chapters 2, 4 and 8 of Investigating psychology fermentd subsequent psychological research.Certain psychological studies be termed classics as theyve become renowned for the influence or contribution that theyve made to particular areas of psychology. This essay looks in detail at such studies, carried out by Milgram, Skinner and Broadbent, with a view to assessing the value of their influences on subsequent psychological research. This essay aims to demonstrate how these studies make believe largely been influential and worthful as a result of their strengths, but will also demonstrate that a weakness within the structure of a study can also be influential. B.F. Skinner is considered to be one of the most influential psychologists of the twentieth century (Brace and Byford, 2012). His cook on behaviour make and theory of operant conditioning is still influential today. Skinner believed that behaviour could b e influenced through manipulation such as reinforcement, and controversially believed that thought processes and gratuitous will play no part in determining behaviour. 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 tuition that enabled future studies to be carried out under tight controls. Skinner argued that learning through reinforcement could be successfully elongate to charitables (Toates, 2012).Subsequent research studies catch been carried out testing the sustained influence of Skinners theory of reinforcement, and supporting its validity and value. Studies by Swinson and Harrop, 2005 (cited in Toates, 2012) support that dispute behaviour in the classroom can be reduced using positive reinforcement. E.g. a child receives praise for desired behaviours, rather than receiving worry for unenviable behaviour. in that respectfore Skinners classical study has had a positive influence in relation to behaviour in education. Furthermore there is take the stand from therapeutic settings (Flora 2004), (cited in Toates, 2012) including mental hospitals, demo that children and adults have been successfully modified for psychological issues such as self-harming, using therapies derived from Skinners studies. These techniques of reinforcement are being used today in numerous hospitals, schools and prisons. (Toates, 2012).However, aspects of Skinners theory of behaviourism, displayed weaknessesand as such is not favoured in psychology today. Most psychologists check 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 influence on subsequent research other than to refute it. Ne vertheless 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 evidence of which continues to be seen in research today. Broadbents work has contributed to our correspondence of management. He invented the modern study of attention, introducing and making popular the information-processing approach which launched the cognitive revolution. This approach was the first 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 between the laboratory and the real-world (Berry, 2002, p.403). Broadbents model displayed that we have limited capacity to how much(prenominal) information we can process at one time, and as such this affects our abilities to mul ti-task etc. (Edgar and Edgar, 2012). This has implications on everyday tasks such as driving.This proved extremely 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 look for the role of meaning in attention. Cherrys (1953) findings showed that meaning does play a role in information-processing and as a consequence Broadbents pilot light model needed to be modified 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 surmisal 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 et al. (1960), (cited in Edgar and Edgar, 2012) to cond uct studies into the effects on driving whilst using a mobile telephone set.This study is an excellent example and evidence of hypothesis testing. There were indisputableelements applied to the experiment to ensure a valid test of the hypothesis Performance or dependent variables were measured by speed/ the true the two conditions were driving without using a phone, and driving the same route 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 supported 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, research performed by Broadbent has influen ced 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 homage from authorities (1961), which was provoked by the atrocities of the Second World War. The studies investigated whether volunteers would administer capableness lethal electrical shocks to another human because they were told to by an authoritative figure. The findings were alarming in that most people were willing to administer the shocks on the control of someone in authority. It was these findings that provoked much debate and influenced attempts at repl ications of the original study. Weaknesses of the study included it being conducted in a single geographical 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 give 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 flummox (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 instruction of a telephone call from a define. The drugs were dummies and the Doctor a fake. The request 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 ethics, The Nuremberg Code, was devised in 1946 as a reception 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 broken 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 benefit of the study, and participants werent able to exercise their right to withdraw.Furthermore, she argued that Mi lgram 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 toilsome 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 Social 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 psychological research. The influence that theyve had and the h igh 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 press/Milton Keynes, The circulate 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 Key nes, 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) pay 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.