Exam specific answers

Question 1

describe the process of synaptic transmission? (3)

Answer 1

electrical impulses travel along the pre-synaptic neuron
the impulse reaches the synaptic vesicles to release a neurotransmitter
the neurotransmitter molecules diffuse across the synaptic gap and attach to receptors

Question 2

explain one strength and one weakness of PET scanning? (4)

Answer 2

strength - PET scans are a valid measurement of brain activity as they provide a detailed image of brain activity during the completion of a task
weakness - involve injecting radioactive glucose tracer into participants which is dangerous, so this limits the number of times they can be used with the same participants

Question 3

explain one strength and one weakness of the correlational research method to inform our understanding of aggression? (4)

Answer 3

strength - may show an unexpected relationship between two variables which could lead to further research into aggression and possible experimentation of aggressive responses to different stimuli
weakness - lacks cause and effect so researchers can’t be confident that one variable will leads to a direct change in another [can name variables]

Question 4

explain one strength and one weakness of the correlational research method? (4)

Answer 4

strength - allows researchers to investigate naturally occurring variables which may be unethical or impractical to test experimentally in a laboratory
weakness - can’t establish cause and effect relationship between variables because there may be a lack of control over other variables which could influence outcome of results being measured