Dr. Wendell Johnson's Stuttering Study

Description of study In 1939 Mary Tudor a graduate student at the University of Iowa conducted a study directed by Dr. Wendell Johnson focusing on stuttering and possible relation to student’s self-perception of altered speech and the impact this could have. The study itself has multiple ethical concerns associated with it as well as resulting in speech disabilities for several children who had normal speech prior to the study. The original study was not published and did not surface until 62 years after the original study (George-Walker & Danaher, 2009). Background information regarding the concept of this study was due to Dr. Johnson himself stuttered and had attempted many treatments himself including electric shock therapy. At one point into his research into stuttering he developed the phrase “‘Stuttering often begins, not in the child’s mouth, but in the parent’s ear’”(Erard, 2001, p. 42). To test his theory, he developed a study which would include evaluating the effects of
Caregivers were not aware of the study as it was done in the guise of speech therapy. The study did not have any review of the practices prior to the study being preformed. (George-Walker & Danaher, 2009). After it was conducted peers of Dr. Johnson recommended to not publish the work as it could ruin his career (Erard, 2001). At the time of this study it was common to perform these studies without severe review. However, this does not eliminate the ethical concerns with this study. In addition to the mechanics of how it was performed considering the original questions posed by Mary Tudor in and of itself is unethical as causing or worsening a disability in a child is unethical and would suffered lifelong. This is demonstrated from the response from the children who did speak to the journalist as they describe how their life has overall been impacted (Dryer,