Gardner&Gardner

571 Words3 Pages
Discuss the findings of the Gardner and Gardner study in relation to prior and later research The Gardner and Gardner study was a longitudinal case study on a chimpanzee. It was claimed that the Gardner’s’ chimpanzee Washoe, was the first chimpanzee to have learnt to use the human language. During her lifetime, the researchers claimed that washoe had acquired 250 signs and they have provided many reports of conversations that they had with wahoe in American Sign Language. There is much alternative evidence to prove the findings of the Gardner’s studies on washoe. After washoe died, the Gardner’s went on to cross-foster other chimpanzees that were then brought up in the same ways that washoe was. However, this time the Gardner’s could make some improvements to the method because they had already trailed it with washoe. Firstly, unlike washoe, the new chimpanzees were all newborns when they arrived. When washoe arrived she was 8-14 months old. This change to the method meant the chimpanzees were with the Gardner’s right from when they were born, and they were in the human environment right from birth, so that environment was natural to them because they don’t know any different. This will help the study because they will be interacting in ASL with human companion’s right from when they are born. Secondly, their arrival was staggered so that they grew up together like siblings. They were company and role models for each-other which made the environment much more naturalistic. Unlike washoe who had no company of any other chimpanzees, only the company and role models of her companions (humans), which meant that her environment was not as natural. When washoe was being studied, she had to adapt herself to the new environment that she was put in with humans being her only companions. Lastly, the researchers recognised that operant conditioning (using

More about Gardner&Gardner

Open Document