Final answer:
Johanna's campaign ads that focus on positive messaging likely improve her image, while negative campaigning could potentially harm her opponent's image but also carry risks for her own perception. Experiments in associative learning could be flawed if syllables themselves are inherently unpleasant; fixes include using neutral or comparable stimuli across tests.
Step-by-step explanation:
Effects of Johanna's Campaign Ads on Perceptions Based on Classical Conditioning
When Johanna's campaign runs an ad that only outlines her policy positions with positive phrases like "helps working families" without mentioning her opponent, this may indeed improve her image as it focuses solely on the positive aspects of her campaign. However, this approach will probably have no effect on her opponent’s image as he is not mentioned.
In the scenario where Johanna's campaign includes her opponent's scowling face with a red X after mentioning her positive contributions, the likely outcome based on classical conditioning is a negative effect on her opponent's image, as the opponent is being directly associated with negative visuals. This may have a variable impact on Johanna's image, potentially leading to a more negative perception of her as well due to the use of negative campaigning.
Regarding the ad focusing on the harm caused by her opponent's positions with vivid, negative descriptions, it is likely to result in a negative effect on her opponent's image, associating him with harmful consequences. The effect on perceptions of Johanna is less clear since she is not mentioned, but if the negative portrayal is strong enough, it could potentially result in a positive contrast effect for Johanna by not being the source of negative imagery.
Limitations of the Experiments in Associative Learning
Regarding the pitfalls of experiments in associative learning, the potential flaw is that the syllables themselves might affect the study results because of their inherent unpleasantness or difficulty in pronunciation. Options to fix this flaw include using distinct sounds, shapes or colors, and similar syllables across all word types to prevent biases. However, option d, pairing nonsense syllables with only positive words, would not address the experimental flaw and could indeed introduce a new bias by only associating positive words with such syllables.