ISSUES AND DEBATES

Question 1

DESRIBE FREE WILL

Answer 1

• the notion that we have choice over our own behaviour
• most of us consider that our behaviour and thoughts are of our own volition and that we are free to make decisions we make and have control over our actions

Question 2

DESCRIBE DETERMINISM

Answer 2

• that our behaviour and actions, even some of our thoughts can be determined by other internal or external factors

Question 3

DESCRIBE SOFT DETERMINISM

Answer 3

• Aknowledges that some form of free will is present (partly but not fully controlled internally)
• recognises that there are often factors such as role models that have influence

Question 4

DESCRIBE HARD DETERMINISM

Answer 4

• proposes that free will is an illusion, this suggests humans are governed by forces over which we have have no influence

Question 5

DEFINE ENVIORONMENTAL DETERMINISM

Answer 5

• says all our behaviour is determined by the environment and external influences such as our parents

Question 6

DEFINE BIOLOGICAL DETERMINISM

Answer 6

• suggests human behaviour is determined by our biology in particular our genes and chemicals in our brain

Question 7

DEFINE PSYCIC DETERMINISM

Answer 7

• believes behaviour is controlled by unconscious fears and desires from traumatic past experiences and events

Question 8

WHAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC EMPHASIS ON CAUSUAL EXPLANATIONS

Answer 8

• Psycology as a science uses methods from natural sciences to explain causes of human behaviour and thought. in order to do this psychologists must

1. generate a theory or hypothesis where cause and effect can be established
2. use empirical methods such as laboratory experiments to test the hypothesis
3. apply statistical analysis to see if their prediction is statistically significant

Question 9

WHAT ARE 2 POSITIVES OF THE FREE WILL OR DETERMINISM DEBATE

Answer 9

• FREE WILL emphasises the individual as resposible for behaviour
• the deterministic approach tries to predict behaviour under scientific conditions

Question 10

WHAT ARE 2 NEGATIVES OF THE FREE WILL OR DETERMINISM DEBATE

Answer 10

• free will means that behaviour cannot be be predicted or objectively measured
• determinism leaves us with no responsibility for our own actions

Question 11

DESRCIBE THE IDIOGRAPHIC APPROACH

Answer 11

• studying a particular individual
• data generated is detailed and extensive
• uses methods such as the case study to investigate the individual
• useful in making new areas of research
• uses qualitative methods, such as thematic analysis

Question 12

DESCRIBE THE NOMATHETIC APPROACH

Answer 12

• testing a large sample
• would generate a large amount of data
• sample should be representative of the larger poulation such as through random sampling
• tends to use the experimental method or correlation process
• analysis of data uses quantative methods such as statistical
• general laws can be generated

Question 13

WHATS A POSITIVE OF THE IDIOGRAPHIC APPROACH

Answer 13

• detail is rich and often prompts ideas for further research

Question 14

WHATS A NEGATIVE OF THE IDIOGRAPHIC APPROACH

Answer 14

• research findings that are carried out on a single person lack population validity because of their uniqueness and cannot be generalised

Question 15

WHATS A POSITIVE OF THE NOMATHETIC APPROACH

Answer 15

• detail gathered from a nomathetic approach is vast and enables researchers to generalise fidnings to the poulation

Question 16

WHATS A NEGATIVE OF THE NOMATHETIC APPROACH

Answer 16

• because one size does not fit all, some explanations are not appropriate because of the individual differences

Question 16

IG

Answer 16

IG

Question 17

WHAT IS SOCIALLY SENSATIVE RESEARCH

Answer 17

• research that could have costs for the participants- directly or indirectly or for the people or group they represent

Question 18

WHY CAN RESEARCH BE SOCIALLY SENSETIVE

Answer 18

• the research questions
• treatments of participants
• the institutional context
• interpretation and use of findings

Question 19

WHATS AN EXAMPLE OF SOCIALLY SENSETIVE RESEARCH

Answer 19

• research carried out to explain mental illness and their potential cause may have a huge impact on the people affected by these disorders
  e. g Raine (1996) - study on the killer brain is considered socially sensetive as it is suggested children could be indentified as having a predisposition to violent behaviour

Question 20

WHATS 2 NEGATIVES OF ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS

Answer 20

• Its not always possible to anticipate effects of research on a group, difficult to judge weather or not research can be carried out
• guidelines are not always objectively decided as ultimately decisions makers interpret them in respect of each piece of research presented for consideration, therefor subjective interpretation may be present

Question 21

WHATS 2 POSITIVES OF ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS

Answer 21

• SCARR (1988) suggested that regardless of outcome there was duty for psycologists to carry out ssr as it could be important in raising awareness
• ARONSON (1992) said that stopping research because of its sensitivity is taking a backwards step, he suggested its better for people to get educated about senetive topics rather than shy away from them