Debates

Question 1

(Ethical Considerations) Define the term ‘ethics’.

Answer 1

The guidelines that must be kept by researcher in order to protect the wellbeing of participants involved in their research.

Question 2

(Ethical Considerations) Explain the ethical consideration of ‘informed consent’.

Answer 2

Participants must agree to take part and know what the research involves.

Question 3

(Ethical Considerations) Explain the ethical consideration of ‘confidentiality’.

Answer 3

The personal details of participants must be kept confidential.

Question 4

(Ethical Considerations) Explain the ethical consideration of ‘deception’.

Answer 4

Participants must not be tricked in any way during their involvement in the study.

Question 5

(Ethical Considerations) Explain the ethical consideration of ‘debrief’.

Answer 5

Participants must be informed of study details at the end of their participation.

Question 6

(Ethical Considerations) Explain the ethical consideration of ‘right to withdraw’.

Answer 6

Participants are able to leave at any time. They do not need to say why they wish to leave.

Question 7

(Ethical Considerations) Explain the ethical consideration of ‘protection from harm’.

Answer 7

Participants should not experience mental or physical harm as a result of their involvement.

Question 8

(Ethical Considerations) State the 4 ethical principles.

Answer 8

Respect, competence, responsibility and integrity.

Question 9

(Ethical Considerations) What categories fall under the ethical principle of ‘respect’?

Answer 9

Informed consent, right to withdraw and confidentiality.

Question 10

(Ethical Considerations) What categories fall under the ethical principle of ‘responsibility’?

Answer 10

Protection from harm and debrief.

Question 11

(Ethical Considerations) What category falls under the ethical principle of ‘integrity’?

Answer 11

Deception.

Question 12

(Ethical Considerations) Explain the ethical principle of ‘competence’.

Answer 12

Researchers shouldn’t give advice beyond that which they are competent to give.

Question 13

(Nature vs Nurture) State the definition of ‘nature’ regarding this debate.

Answer 13

We are the product of our genetic inheritance, such that how we behave is due to factors innate within us.

Question 14

(Nature vs Nurture) State the definition of ‘nurture’ regarding this debate.

Answer 14

We are the products of our upbringings, such that how we behave is due to our personal encounters and experiences.

Question 15

(Nature vs Nurture) Does Bandura sway to the nature or nurture side of the debate?

Answer 15

Nurture, as the children were behaving in response to their experience of watching an adult model.

Question 16

(Individual-Situational) Explain what is meant by ‘individual explanations’ of behaviour?

Answer 16

Someone’s behaviour is a result of their personality.

Question 17

(Individual-Situational) Explain what is meant by ‘situational explanations’ of behaviour?

Answer 17

Someone’s behaviour is a result of the circumstances they’re in.

Question 18

(Individual-Situational) Why might Milgram’s study be seen as individual regarding this debate?

Answer 18

• Not everyone obeyed (35% didn’t administer shocks until 450V).
• If someone was particularly extraverted they’d disobey.

Question 19

(Individual-Situational) Why might Milgram’s study be seen as situational regarding this debate?

Answer 19

• They responded to the demands of the experimenter.
• They were paid, it was Yale, the volunteered, they thought it was a 50/50 chance etc.

Question 20

(Individual-Situational) Why might Piliavin’s study be seen as individual regarding this debate?

Answer 20

• No diffusion of responsibility found.
• Sex: 90% of first helpers were male.

Question 21

(Individual-Situational) Why might Piliavin’s study be seen as situational regarding this debate?

Answer 21

• The type of victim (ill or drunk) made a difference in % helped.
• They helped because they were trapped.

Question 22

(Psychology as a Science) What are the 3 features of a science?

Answer 22

Objectivity, falsifiability and replicability.

Question 23

(Psychology as a Science) What is meant by the term ‘objectivity’?

Answer 23

The findings are a matter of fact, rather than opinion.

Question 24

(Psychology as a Science) What is meant by the term ‘falsifiability’?

Answer 24

In principle, it would be possible to prove the findings false.

Question 25

(Psychology as a Science) What is meant by the term ‘replicability’?

Answer 25

If the study is repeated and the same results are obtained.

Question 26

(Psychology as a Science) What 2 core studies are scientific?

Answer 26

Bandura and Loftus & Palmer.

Question 27

(Psychology as a Science) Why is Loftus & Palmer considered scientific?

Answer 27

• Gained objective data (mean speed estimated and number of people who reported to of having seen broken glass).
• Was falsifiable as the standardised procedure could be replicated again to prove false.

Question 28

(Psychology as a Science) Why is Bandura considered scientific?

Answer 28

• Gained objective data (number of aggressive acts shown by the children within stage 3)
• Was falsifiable as the standardised procedure could be replication again to prove false.

Question 29

(Psychology as a Science) What 2 core studies are not scientific?

Answer 29

Freud and Kohlberg.

Question 30

(Psychology as a Science) Why is Freud not considered scientific?

Answer 30

• The procedure wasn’t very replicable due to the lack of control and specific sample.
• It is impossible to prove Freud’s results false as he is finding reasoning from the unconscious mind.
• The data collected was very subjective and can be interpreted in many different ways.

Question 31

(Psychology as a Science) Why is Kohlberg not considered scientific?

Answer 31

The verbal responses from the boys were very subjective and can be interpreted in many ways.

Question 32

(Reductionism vs Holism) What does reductionism investigate?

Answer 32

The most basic underlying reasons behind human behaviour (e.g. a study focusing on how age affects behaviour).

Question 33

(Reductionism vs Holism) What does holism investigate?

Answer 33

Multiple factors at lots of different levels that all interact (e.g. a study looking at not jus how age influences helping behaviour but also culture and gender).

Question 34

(Reductionism vs Holism) Is Loftus & Palmers’ study reductionist or holistic?

Answer 34

Reductionist.

Question 35

(Reductionism vs Holism) How is Loftus & Palmers’ study reductionist?

Answer 35

Critical Question 1: They were focused on the speed estimate made by the participant (based on the verb used in the critical question).
Critical Question 2: They were focused on the false memories given by the participant (based on the verb used in the critical question).

Question 36

(Reductionism vs Holism) What are the benefits of Loftus & Palmers’ study being reductionist?

Answer 36

• You can identify the effect of the critical question on the DV (establish cause and effect).
• You can use this as a starting point for further research on other factors into eyewitness testimony.

Question 37

(Reductionism vs Holism) What are the drawbacks of Loftus & Palmers’ study being reductionist?

Answer 37

• The procedure lacked ecological validity as in a lab environment to test the effect of the IV.
• It is hard to reduce memory down to a single-factor explanation.

Question 38

(Reductionism vs Holism) Is Piliavin’s study reductionist or holistic?

Answer 38

Holistic.

Question 39

(Reductionism vs Holism) How is Piliavin’s study holistic?

Answer 39

Social Influence: Presence of other, state of victim, presence of model.
Cognition: Arousal cost-reward, analysis.
Biology: Gender, race.

Question 40

(Socially Sensitive Research) What is socially sensitive research?

Answer 40

When the research has wider negative implications for the individuals the sample represents.

Question 41

(Socially Sensitive Research) What 4 core studies can this debate be linked to?

Answer 41

Yerkes, Moray, Bandura, Loftus & Palmer.

Question 42

(Socially Sensitive Research) How can Yerkes’ study be linked to this debate?

Answer 42

The conclusion that some ethnic groups are more intelligent than others can/did have negative consequences.
The Immigration Restriction Act came into action in 1924 an this meant many people were not allowed entry to the USA because of their race.

Question 43

(Socially Sensitive Research) How can Bandura’s study be linked to this debate?

Answer 43

Parents of aggressive children may receive discrimination, because people may blame them for their child’s aggressions (as the findings suggest they must have learnt it from an adult role model).

Question 44

(Socially Sensitive Research) How can Moray’s study be linked to this debate?

Answer 44

Moray’s study wasn’t especially socially sensitive as the findings were supposedly generalisable to everyone. this means we cannot discriminate against people who have an inattentional barrier as this is everyone.

Question 45

(Socially Sensitive Research) How can Kohlberg’s study be linked to this debate?

Answer 45

Not especially socially sensitive as his findings suggest an invariant developmental sequences that is universal. Therefore it is not targeting one group of individuals, it is suggesting everyone develops morals in the same way.

Question 46

(Socially Sensitive Research) How can Loftus & Palmers’ study be linked to this debate?

Answer 46

Not especially socially sensitive as many people are already aware that their memories can be flawed.
Those with ‘false memories; are not being blamed for this within the conclusion as this flaw is result of external influences (such as police questioning). Therefore, this will not leas to any negative consequences.

Question 47

(Usefulness) How is Milgram’s study useful in a positive way?

Answer 47

Can be used by legitimate authority figures, such as police, teachers etc to try and encourage following rules.

Question 48

(Usefulness) How is Piliavin’s study useful in a positive way?

Answer 48

Can be used to highlight to medical staff possible biases there may be (e.g. not prioritise drunk patients) to try and prevent this.

Question 49

(Usefulness) How is Bandura’s study useful in a positive way?

Answer 49

Can be used by teachers and parents to ensure they are only displayed behaviours they wish children will imitate.

Question 50

(Usefulness) How is Kohlberg’s study useful in a positive way?

Answer 50

Can be used by teachers to identify what stage their students are in and change their teaching tactics accordingly.

Question 51

(Usefulness) What is important to bare in mind when discussing usefulness?

Answer 51

Do not just say the research is useful as it tells us something. Focus on who could use the research and how they would do this.

Question 52

(Usefulness) How is Milgram’s study useful in a negative way?

Answer 52

Can be used by illegitimate authority figures (such as dictators) to encourage obedience to their rules.

Question 53

(Usefulness) How is Piliavin’s study useful in a negative way?

Answer 53

Can be used as a mechanism for scams (e.g. criminals can appear to need help to get people in before stealing from them).

Question 54

(Usefulness) How is Bandura’s study useful in a negative way?

Answer 54

Can be used to encourage children to display bad behaviours (perhaps to join an extremist group).

Question 55

(Usefulness) How is Kohlberg’s study useful in a negative way?

Answer 55

Can be used by extremist group leader to make their ideas fit with the morals of the person they wish to join.

Question 56

(Free will vs determinism) Define the term ‘free will’ regarding this debate.

Answer 56

We are able to choose how we behave in a given situation.

Question 57

(Free will vs determinism) Define the term ‘determinism’ regarding this debate.

Answer 57

Our behaviour is caused by factors outside of our control. This could be as a result of genetics, or other biological factors such as brain functioning, it could be a result of our past experiences and upbringing, or it could be due to the situation we are in and our environment.

Question 58

(Free will vs determinism) How does this debate link to Bandura’s study?

Answer 58

It suggests that behaviour is determined by our environment and by learning from adult role models. The children’s aggression was determined by the aggression they had witnessed.

Question 59

(Free will vs determinism) How does this debate link to Loftus & Palmers’ study?

Answer 59

Suggests that even our memory can be determined by outside factors. The study showed that people’s memory was affected by the words used to question them.