issues and debates

Question 1

determinism AO1

Answer 1

all behaviour is determined and predictable.

Question 2

environmental (ext) determinism AO1

Answer 2

behaviour is caused by some sort of outside influence
skinner argued that free will / freedom is an illusion, we may think we do but the probability of any behaviour is determined by our previous experiences

Question 3

biological (int) determinism AO1

Answer 3

behaviour is determined by our biological system (eg nervous system)

Question 4

psychic (int) determinism AO1

Answer 4

freud believed childhood experiences and unconscious motivations determine us
freud thought that free will was an illusion because he felt that the causes of our behaviour is unconscious and predictable

Question 5

hard determinism AO1

Answer 5

sees free will as an illusion, believing that every event and action has a cause

Question 6

soft determinism AO1

Answer 6

middle ground
we have choices but our choices is constrained by external factors eg being poor doesn’t make you steal, but it may make you more likely to take that route through desperation.

Question 7

determinism strengths AO3

Answer 7

its scientific and allows cause and effect relationships to be established

it gives plausible explanations for behaviour backed up by evidence

Question 8

determinism limitations AO3

Answer 8

doesn’t account for individual differences - by creating general laws of behaviour, determinism underestimates the uniqueness of humans and their freedom

hard determinism suggest that hard criminals can’t be held accountable for their actions; it reduces the individuals responsibility. they could say it was due to their upbringing, environment or genetics therefore displacing responsibility and detaching themselves from the crimes

Question 9

nomothetic AO1

Answer 9

• study human behaviour through the development of general principles and universal laws
• produce general laws of human behaviour
• studying large numbers of people to establish ways in which people are similar
• quantitative data

Question 10

examples of nomothetic approach

Answer 10

• reductionist, determinist, employ scientific methods of investigation
• Much of the research conducted by behaviourist, cognitive and biological psychologists would meet the criteria of the nomothetic approach.
• Skinner as it is environmentally reductionist and determinist.

Question 11

idiographic AO1

Answer 11

• focuses more on the individual case rather than aiming to formulate general laws of behaviour
• studied as unique entities
• qualitative data
• describing the richness of human experience and gain insight into the persons unique way of viewing the world.

Question 12

examples of idiographic approach

Answer 12

• humanistic psych; investigates unique experience ‘on its own merits’
• psychodynamic approach; Freuds use of case study methods

Question 13

nomothetic as scientific AO3

Answer 13

The nomothetic approach is seen as far more scientific than the idiographic approach; takes an evidence based, objective approach to formulate laws.

This enables us to make predictions about how people are likely to react in certain circumstances e.g. Zimbardo’s findings about how prisoners and guards react in a prison environment.

Question 14

nomothetic limitation AO3

Answer 14

Predictions can be made about groups but these may not apply to individuals.

Approach has been accused of losing sight of the ‘whole person’.

Question 15

idiographic focuses on the individual AO3

Answer 15

A major strength of the idiographic approach is its focus on the individual. Gordon Allport argues that it is only by knowing the person as a person that we can predict what the person will do in any given situation.

Question 16

idiographic as time consuming AO3

Answer 16

The idiographic approach is time consuming. It takes a lot of time / money to study individuals in depth. If a researcher is using the nomothetic approach once a questionnaire, psychometric test or experiment has been designed data can be collected relatively quickly.

Question 17

ethical implications AO1

Answer 17

impact psych research have in terms of other people.
Ethical guidelines help protect those involved in research. However, it’s more difficult to guard against the social impact of psychological research.
Researchers may have little to say in how their findings are represented in the media

Question 18

social sensitivity AO1

Answer 18

Siebel & Stanley 'studies that have potential consequences or implications, either directly for the ppts in the research or for the class of individuals represented by research'
they tackle taboo subjects eg sexuality racism

Question 19

ethical issues in socially sensitive research (3)

Answer 19

implications
uses/public policy
the validity of the research

Question 20

ethical issues in social sensitivity: implications

Answer 20

wider effect of research needs to be considered, however implications of research may be difficult to predict from outset

Question 21

ethical issues in social sensitivity: uses/ public policy

Answer 21

used for?
if wrong purposes?
gov purposes / shape public policy

Question 22

ethical issues in social sensitivity: the validity of the research

Answer 22

some findings presented as objective in the past have turned out to be highly suspiciousHowever, many modern social constructionist researchers are much more up front about their own biases and preconceptions

Question 23

social sensitivity AO3

Answer 23

studies of underrepresented groups and issues may promote a greater sensitivity understanding of these
This can help reduce prejudice encourage and acceptance.
research into eyewitness testimony has reduced the risk of miscarriages of justice within the legal system.
This suggests that socially sensitive research may play a valuable role in society.

Question 24

ethical implications AO3

preparation

Answer 24

questions phrasing and investigating may influence which findings are interpreted cross-cultural research may be blighted by cultural superiority and ethnocentrism on the part of the researchers.
this suggests that investigators must approach their research with an ‘open mind’ and be prepared to have their preconceptions challenged if they are to avoid misrepresenting minority groups