Little Albert Study

Table of Contents

• Table of Contents
• Intro
• Issues
  • Methodological
  • Ethical

Intro

The Little Albert study, conducted in 1920 by John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayne.

Issues

Methodological

• Lack of Scientific Rigor: Sample Size is too small and No Control Group => unclear of causation.
• Questionable Validity: The response from Albert might be inconsistencies in Albert’s behavior.
• No neurological and psychology test was done before and after the experiment => unsure of Little Albert's status before and after the experiment.
• Theoretical Criticism: the first experiment was done on a dog, so the human implications is much more complex (cognitive and social).

Ethical

• Lack of Informed Consent / Debrief / Deception: Little Albert's mother are not fully informed of the experiment
• Lack of Protection of participants from Psychological Harm: Little Albert was exposed to loud and frightening noise in order to create conditioned fear response, which leads to trauma
• Right to withdraw: Albert was an infant, without the ability to give consent or withdraw by himself.
• No Desensitization or Follow-Up Care: Although there was suggestion of reversing the fear response, no attempt was made.