D2d1 Experiments using animals: practical issues

Question 1

Strengths of animal experiments

Answer 1

Similar to humans- share evolutionary history, have brains like ours
Simpler than humans- can help us understand why humans react the way they do, can isolate one cause or variable, behaviour easier to explain
Using controls- humans less likely to volunteer for experiment that controls/ restricts them (e.g how much food they eat, how much they can move around). With animals, controls like social companions, sexual partners, and light and dark can be used
Deprivation- people unwilling to volunteer for experiments that involve deprivation
Animals can benefit- studies on animals can be used to find out about animals

Question 2

Weaknesses of animal experiments

Answer 2

Different from humans- humans are more complex, and learn in more complex ways, such as insight, Findings from experiments or animals may not always appy to humans

Question 3

Insight

Answer 3

When there is a problem we can’t solve immediately, but after a while, the answer comes to us