Biological Influences

Question 1

What is a case study?

Answer 1

A research method that involves the collection of detailed information, usually of a highly personal nature, about an individual, family or small group.

Question 2

Techniques of a Case Study

Answer 2

Interviews
Direct observation
Examination of past records
Psychological testing

Question 3

Strengths of Case Study

Answer 3

Provides detailed (rich qualitative) information.
Useful for research - early research and further research.
Permitting investigation of otherwise impractical (or unethical) situations

Question 4

Limitations of A case study

Answer 4

Can’t generalise the results to the wider population.
Researchers own subjective feeling may influence the case study (researcher bias).
Difficult to replicate
Time consuming

Question 5

Techniques for Brain Scanning

Answer 5

External recordings - EEG
Still pictures – CAT scan, MRI
Dynamic pictures – fMRI, PET

Question 6

What happens in an EEG scan?

Answer 6

electroencephalogram is a medical test used to measure the electrical activity of the brain, via electrodes applied to your scalp. Another name for EEG is brain wave test. EEG can help diagnose a number of things;
Epilepsy
sleep disorders and
brain tumours

Question 7

What happens in a CAT scan?

Answer 7

Computer Axial Tomography. It’s a medical imaging method that employs tomography. Tomography is the process of generating a two-dimensional image of a slice or section through a 3-dimensional object (a tomogram)

Question 8

What happens in a MRI?

Answer 8

Magnetic resonance imaging. An MRI machine uses a powerful magnetic field to align the magnetisation of some atomic nuclei in the body, and radio frequency fields to systematically alter the alignment of this magnetisation. Compares soft tissues.

Question 9

What happens in a fMRI?

Answer 9

Functional MRI (fMRI) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based neuroimaging technique which allows us to detect the brain areas which are involved in a task, a process or an emotion.

Question 10

What happens in a PET scan?

Answer 10

Positron emission tomography (PET) provides information about how an organ or system in the body is working.
PET scans can detect cancer in its early stages, help to monitor cancer treatment and check if the cancer is coming back. PET scans are also used to diagnose and assess conditions of the brain and heart.