Evaluate the practical investigation (8 marks)

Question 1

How does the practical investigation have low generalisability?

Answer 1

• Point: low generalisability
• Example: The sample size was only 11 participants who were within the 16 and 17 age group and were ethnocentric who completed a Bussy Perry Aggression questionnaire (they were all psychology students)
• Explain: Due to the small ethnocentric and similar ages sample size it would mean that the results may not be the same across other cultures or age groups, as well as this age group, hormones also play a part of the behaviour so therefore results could be influenced by hormones.

Question 2

How does the practical investigation have high reliability?

Answer 2

• Point: High Reliability due to an standardised procedure
• Example: All participants completed the same questionnaire which Bussy Perry aggression rated on as point likert scale. One type of questions was given enough provocation, I may hit another person.
• Evidence: Therefore can easily be reproduced for test consistency of results.

Question 3

How can the practical investigation be applied to society? - (medication)

Answer 3

• Point: Prescribing sleeping medication is pointless for aggression.
• Example: There is no significant relationship between sleep and aggression. Calculated value (-0.04) is less than the critical value (0.536)
• Explain: Therefore sleeping medication will be pointless for treating aggression

Question 4

LOW INTERNAL VALIDITY

Answer 4

• Low internal validity due to extraneous variables uncontrollable
• The use of a self-assessed aggression cannot be accepted as participants may lie due to high aggression being a socially sensitive topics which participants may not wish to share
• Therefore, if there are unreliable aggression scores that may not be accurate, a clear cause and effect relationship cannot be established.

Question 5

ECOLOGICAL VALIDITY

Answer 5

• High ecological validity
• The sleep was recorder by participants in their natural environment and aggression questionnaires were completed in their environment with no manipulation
• Therefore there is high ecological validity as it was completed in a real life in manipulated setting

Question 6

ETHICS

Answer 6

• Our practical investigation measuring the amount of sleep and the aggression levels was very ethical
• Participants were given the option of recording our sleep and were told why we did it
• Therefore, the participants and protected and can dispose of the questionnaire when the investigation was done.