10 Markers Flashcards
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the positive approach.
Credit will be given for:
* Shift away from psychopathology.
* Applications.
* Free will.
* Scientific methods.
* Individual and cultural differences.
* New approach.
* Issues about nature/nurture.
* Any other appropriate content.
N.B. There is no definitive list of strengths and/or weaknesses as it is subjective, and one issue can be presented as being both.
9-10
* Thorough evaluation.
* Clearly linked to the approach.
* Examples are well chosen to support the point made.
* Arguments are well-developed and balanced throughout.
* Structure is logical.
* Depth and range.
‘The methodology and procedures of Watson and Rayner’s research were flawed, and therefore it tells us little about human behaviour.’
With reference to the statement, evaluate Watson and Rayner’s (1920) ‘Conditioned emotional reactions’ research.
Credit will be given for:
* Controlled observation.
* Scientific.
* Ethics.
* Successful applications.
* Validity.
* Reliability.
* Sample.
* Any other appropriate content.
9-10
* Clear reference to the statement throughout.
* Discussion and level of accuracy is thorough.
* Exemplars used are well chosen.
* Depth and range are displayed.
* Logical structure
Describe the methodology and procedures of Bowlby’s (1944) research ‘Forty-four juvenile thieves: Their characters and home-life’.
This question is focused on demonstrating knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas.
Credit will be given for:
Methodology:
* Use of case studies.
* Use of interviews.
* Use of a control group.
* Sample of 44 ‘thieves’ who attended the London Child Guidance Clinic. 31 boys and 13 girls aged between 5 and 17 years old. Grading of ‘thieves’ (I to IV). IQ score range (50% 85-114, 15 with a higher IQ and 2 of an IQ below 85).
* Sample of 44 children who attended the clinic and were ‘emotionally disturbed’ but were not thieves.
* Sample of mothers who were interviewed to assess the case history of the children.
Procedures:
* Opportunity sampling.
* Mental tests to assess intelligence using the Binet Scale.
* Social worker interviewed the mothers.
* Both the psychologist and social worker reported to Bowlby.
* Psychiatrist interviewed the mother and child for 2 hours.
* School reports and other reports were analysed.
* Children met with the psychiatrist once a week for the following 6 months.
* Emotional issues were diagnosed by the psychiatrist.
* Any other appropriate content.
N.B. Both methodology and procedures must be included to access marks in the top bands.
9-10
* Description and level of accuracy of methodology and procedures is thorough.
* Depth and range included.
* Effective use of terminology.
* Logical structure.
Explain how a psychologist could apply the assumptions of the behaviourist approach to understanding human behaviour.
This question is focused on applying knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures in a practical context.
Credit will be given for:
* Operant conditioning e.g. the reward of compliments in a relationship.
* Classical conditioning e.g. association of pleasure with addictive stimuli.
* Blank slate/tabula rasa e.g. observation and imitation of role models in addiction.
* Animals and humans learn in the same ways e.g. phobias (research by Seligman).
* Social learning theory e.g. differential association theory of crime.
* Vicarious reinforcement e.g. seeing bullies being rewarded with others admiring/being scared of them, then imitating the bullying behaviour.
* Any other appropriate content.
N.B. Any behaviour can be considered, but it must be human behaviour.
9-10
* Application and level of accuracy is thorough.
* Exemplars used are well chosen.
* Depth and range are displayed.
* Logical structure
Outline the main components of drug therapy.
This question is focused on demonstrating knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas.
- History of the therapy.
- Link between the assumptions of the approach and drug therapy.
- Role of neurotransmitters in drug therapy.
- Different types of drugs, e.g. antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics.
- Any other appropriate content.
9-10
* Outline and level of accuracy of components of therapy is thorough.
* Depth and range included.
* Effective use of terminology.
* Logical structure.
Outline the main components of psychosurgery.
This question is focused on demonstrating knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas.
- History of the therapy.
- Link between the assumptions of the approach and psychosurgery.
- Role of the lobes of the brain in psychosurgery.
- Different forms of psychosurgery, e.g. leucotomy, stereotactics, deep brain stimulation.
- Any other appropriate content.
9-10
* Outline and level of accuracy of components of therapy is
thorough.
* Depth and range included.
* Effective use of terminology.
* Logical structure.
‘Watson and Rayner’s research is considered by many today to be unethical and to have limited social implications.’
With reference to the statement, discuss the ethical issues and social implications of Watson and Rayner’s (1920) research ‘Conditioned emotional reactions’.
This question is focused on applying knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures in a practical context.
Ethical issues:
* Use of a vulnerable participant (a baby).
* Consent from the mother of Little Albert.
* Consent was not necessarily informed.
* Right to withdraw was given (the mother removed Little Albert from the research).
* No counterconditioning took place (not necessarily the researchers’ fault because the mother removed Little Albert before counter conditioning could take place).
* Any other appropriate content.
Social implications:
* Links to education e.g. conditioned learning techniques, classroom environment of pleasant associations.
* Links to families e.g. conditioning to shape the behaviour of children.
* Links to work e.g. application to advertising, stress response through association.
* Links to health e.g. cures for phobias, medical waiting rooms to have pleasant environments for positive associations.
* Links to the law e.g. prevent smacking of children, use of aversion therapy for illegal behaviours.
* Any other appropriate content.
NB: the above points can be either strengths or weaknesses as long as they are justified.
9-10
* Clear reference to the statement.
* Discussion and level of accuracy is thorough.
* Exemplars used are well chosen.
* Depth and range are displayed.
* Logical structure.
Evaluate Raine, Buchsbaum and LaCasse’s (1997) research ‘Brain abnormalities in murderers indicated by positron emission tomography’.
This question is mainly focused on analysing, interpreting and evaluating scientific information, ideas and evidence in relation to making judgements and reaching conclusions.
Credit will be given for:
* Methodological issues; use of a quasi-experiment, matched pairs design, scanning techniques.
* Sampling issues; use of NGRI sample, use of a control group, ethnocentrism, use of male and female participants.
* Consideration of the ‘blame on biological influences’.
* Application of findings to the real world.
* Issues and debates; reductionism, biological determinism, individual differences.
* Ethics of the findings e.g. socially sensitive nature, use in court, right to withdraw.
* Evidence to support and/or refute the approach.
* Any other appropriate content.
N.B. points above can be either strengths or weaknesses as long as they are appropriately justified.
9-10
* Thorough evaluation.
* Examples are well chosen to support the points made.
* Arguments are well-developed and balanced throughout.
* Structure is logical.
* Depth and range.
* An appropriate conclusion is reached based on evidence presented.
Compare and contrast the behaviourist approach and the positive approach.
This question is mainly focused on analysing, interpreting and evaluating scientific information, ideas and evidence in relation to making judgements and reaching conclusions.
Credit will be given for:
* Scientific nature of the approaches; behaviourist approach viewed as being more scientific than the positive approach.
* Success of treatments; length of success, length of therapy, results from research on the effectiveness of treatments.
* Methods of investigation e.g. use of laboratory experiments, observations, questionnaires etc.
* Each approach’s stance on tackling symptoms and causes of behaviour.
* Issues of reductionism, free will, determinism, nomothetic and ideographic methods, nature/nurture.
* Ethical issues.
* Any other appropriate content.
N.B. Points above can be similarities or differences as long as the reason is appropriately justified.
9-10
* Thorough evaluation.
* Examples are well chosen to support the points made.
* Arguments are well-developed and balanced throughout.
* Structure is logical.
* Depth and range.
* An appropriate conclusion is reached based on evidence
presented.
