The case study of little Albert An experimenter made a loud noise behind little Albert who jumped, gasped and raised his arms. The second time the experimenter did this, Albert trembled and almost cried. The third time, Albert cried suddenly. So the experimenter had shown that an emotional situation in the laboratory could produce fear and crying in a child.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited):
2. Syllabus: explanations of phobias: behavioural (classical conditioning, Watson, 1920)
3. Outline of the behavioural approach and the basics of classical conditioning, perhaps writing about the UCS > CR, etc.
4. Marks: 1 mark for basic answer e.g. identification. 1 mark for elaboration/example.
5. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited):
6. Psychological harm (1 mark): Albert was taught to be afraid; it made the boy cry (2 marks).
7. Informed consent: Albert could not give consent (but his nurse could).
8. No right to withdraw and no debrief.
9. Marks: 1 mark for basic answer. 1 mark for elaboration/example.
10. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited):
11. The explanation of learning, i.e. classical conditioning (1 mark)
12. Albert's phobia of associating animals with loud noises could be the way in which many people develop a fear of animals.
13. The process of association; how phobias can be learned.
14. Generalisations from one animal to others.
15. Marks: 1 mark for basic answer. 1 mark for elaboration/example related to this study.
16. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited):
17. Albert was the only participant and so generalising from one child is problematic
18. Albert was claimed to have mental impairment
19. The study explains one phobia but might not explain all phobias
20. Marks: 1 mark for basic answer. 1 mark for elaboration/example x2
21. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited):
22. Advantages:
23. A laboratory experiment has an IV, DV and controls.
24. Laboratory experiments are reductionist so one variable can be isolated and studied.
25. Participants know they are taking part in a study (so give consent but not informed consent).
26. IV can be studied precisely using scientific equipment.
27. Extraneous situational variables can be controlled.
28. Disadvantages:
29. Phobias usually apply to events in the real world and so studies should be conducted in the real world (rather than in a laboratory).
30. It might be reductionist to isolate variables to study when many other variables that are controlled in a laboratory might contribute to the phobia.
31. Participants might respond to demand characteristics.
32. Conclusion: any appropriate conclusion drawn from the discussion that has been presented. 1 mark if appropriate. A conclusion is a 'decision reached by reasoning' and so a summary of points already made scores 0 marks.
33. Marks: Question requires discussion; always plural of each argument, and always requires conclusion. 1 mark for each advantage/disadvantage (however detailed) and related to the question up to 4 max. 2 marks max for two strengths/weaknesses unrelated to the question. 1 mark for conclusion.