Capafóns et al. (1998)

Only 10% of patients who had the treatment did not have a significant reduction in their fear level concerning flying.

Conclusions

It was concluded that systematic desensitisation is effective is reducing the fear of flying. It was also concluded that the simple passage of time did not help reduce phobias as there was no improvement in the control groups.

Evaluation

• 41 participants were randomly allocated into two groups. Random sampling eliminates experimenter bias which increases reliability.

• The participants were matched on sex, age and self-reported fear level. Matching participants between the two groups eliminates participant variables which could have an influence on the treatment programme other than the programme itself.

• 90% of those who underwent the desensitisation programme reduced their fear level of flying. The treatment programme for a phobia of flying was not effective for all 100% of participants and alternative programme such as CBT may have been more effective.

• Capafóns study gathered self-report data from the participants about their fear of flying. Self-report method reduces the validity as participants could have given answers they thought Capafóns wanted to hear rather than truthful ones.

• Capafóns et al. (1998) used a sample of 41 participants, 20 in the treatment group and 21 in the control group. Having a sample of only 20 in the treatment group limits the generalisability of the results due to the small sample size.

• The participants were gained through asking for volunteers in advertisements on the radio, television and in the press. Having a volunteer sample limits the generalisability as volunteers tend to be the minority, so the participants may have a strong reason for overcoming their fear of flying.

• Capafóns et al. (1998) used a number of measures to measure fear of flying, such as physiological measurements and the EPAV-A scale. Using different methods to measure the fear of flying increases reliability as the different methods can be cross referenced with each other to see if the results correlate.

• Physiological measurements were taken in the form of heart rate, muscle tension and skin temperature. The physiological methods took objective data, e.g. in the form of heart beat per minute, increasing reliability.

• The participants in the experimental group created a hierarchy of fear and were taught relaxation techniques when being treated. The treatment has validity as relaxation techniques are used in systematic desensitisation, which are familiar to those undergoing the treatment.

• Participants in the experimental group had to imagine various aspects of the flight when working through their hierarchy of fear. Imagining being on a flight is not the same as actually being on a flight, so the treatment may not be effective when the participants had to go on an aeroplane.