Psychology Experiment - The Monster Study (One Of The Most Unethical Study Ever Conducted)

Summary

In 1939, a notorious study known as the 'Monster Study' was conducted in Iowa involving 22 orphans to investigate stuttering. The unethical experiment aimed to induce stuttering in fluent speakers and test the effects of positive reinforcement on stutterers. It resulted in lifelong trauma for participants and was never published. Despite controversy, it provided significant insights into stuttering. The University of Iowa apologized in 2001, and in 2007, seven participants received compensation for psychological harm. The study's legacy remains a cautionary tale in psychological research ethics.

Takeaways

• 📚 In 1939, a study known as the 'Monster Study' was conducted in Iowa involving 22 orphans to induce stuttering and observe its effects.
• 🔬 The study, led by graduate student Mary Tudor under the supervision of speech expert Wendell Johnson, was intended to be therapeutic but turned out to be highly unethical.
• 🚫 The 'Monster Study' was never published in a peer-reviewed journal due to its controversial nature and was kept hidden for decades.
• 🌐 The study's methodology involved dividing the orphans into two groups, with one group receiving positive reinforcement and the other being told they were stuttering.
• 🤯 The study had severe psychological impacts on the participants, causing lifelong trauma and leading to the University of Iowa's public apology in 2001.
• 💬 Patricia Zabrowski, a professor at the University of Iowa, noted the study's collection as one of the largest scientific information sources on stuttering.
• 👥 The study's aftermath included legal compensation for some participants, with seven of the orphaned children receiving $1.2 million for emotional and psychological scars.
• 📑 Mary Tudor, who later expressed deep regret for her role, returned to the orphanage to provide follow-up care, attempting to reverse the study's effects.
• 📈 The study's findings highlighted the importance of stutterers' thoughts, attitudes, and feelings, influencing current views on stuttering.
• 🏫 The University of Iowa acknowledged the study as 'regrettable' and stated it should never be considered defensible, reflecting on the ethical standards of research.

Q & A

What was the main objective of the study conducted in Iowa Davenport in 1939?

The main objective was to induce stuttering in normal speaking children and to see if telling stutterers that their speech was fine would help them recover.

Who were the subjects of the study known as the 'Monster Study'?

The subjects were 22 orphans from the Iowa Soldiers' Orphans' Home, consisting of both stuttering and non-stuttering children.

Who conducted the 'Monster Study' and under whose supervision was it done?

The study was conducted by a graduate student named Mary Tudor under the supervision of Wendell Johnson, a distinguished speech expert from the University of Iowa.

Why was the study never published in a peer-reviewed journal?

The study was never published because it was considered one of the most unethical studies in the field of psychology and caused lifelong trauma to the participants.

What was the duration of the experimental period in the 'Monster Study'?

The experimental period lasted from January until late May in 1939.

What were the two groups that the orphans were divided into during the study?

One group was praised for their speech, while the other group was progressively shown symptoms of stuttering.

What was the aftermath of the 'Monster Study' for the participants?

The study caused lifelong psychological and emotional scars for the participants, some of whom became self-conscious and reluctant to speak.

How did Mary Tudor try to rectify the situation after the study?

Mary Tudor returned to the orphanage three times after the experiment had officially ended to voluntarily provide follow-up care, telling the branded stutterers that they did not stutter after all.

What compensation did the participants receive for their involvement in the study?

On 17th August 2007, seven of the orphaned children were awarded a total of 1.2 million dollars by the state of Iowa for the lifelong psychological and emotional scars caused by the study.

What was the University of Iowa's response to the 'Monster Study'?

In 2001, the University of Iowa publicly apologized for the study, and a spokesman called the experiment regrettable, stating it should never be considered defensible in any era.

What was Mary Tudor's final stance on her role in the 'Monster Study'?

Before her death, Mary Tudor expressed deep regret about her role in the 'Monster Study' and maintained that Wendell Johnson should have done more to reverse the negative effects on the orphaned children's speech.