review one of paper 3

Question 1

Name two types of dtetrminsim?

Answer 1

biological
soft

Question 2

Briefly outline one problem associated with alpha bias in psychological research and one problem associated with beta bias in psychological research?

Answer 2

In alpha bias there is a misrepresentation of behaviour researchers overestimate, gender differences
In the case of beta bias there is a misprensentation of behaviour because researcher underestimate gender differences

Question 3

Briefly outline what psycholgiuct mean by levels of explanation?

Answer 3

How explanations varies from those at a lower or fundamental level focusing on basic comments or units to those at a higher more holistic multivariable level

Question 4

What is meant by the nature nature debate

Answer 4

The possibility that behaviour is governed by nature for example genes and by nature for example environment therefore the debate is about the relative contribution of each of these influences.

Question 5

Why use a 0.01 level test rather than a 0.05

Answer 5

Because you need to very sure that this is a good result because it matters and it a relevance of importance.

Question 6

What is the best descirbsion of idiographic?

Answer 6

Studying individuals without intending to establish general laws of behaviour

Question 7

Jack has been digansoiserd with schizophgerina he decides his family background to his therapist.
I could never talk to mum she fussed over me all the time. I tried to do what she daiod but could never please her. One minute she seemed all affectionate and the next minute she would make nasty comments. My dad hated all the arguments and stayed out of it?

Describe the family dysfunction explanation for schripherian and explain how jacks experienced can be linked to the family dysfunction explanation

Answer 7

Schripheriginic mother - overafectionate yet overtly emostionally disturbed at the same time “ one minute she seemed all affectionate and the next m
Double bind theory - both mum and dad parents changing their view from love and hate. Verbal and non verbal contriductions

Schripophernia is due to family experience of conflict culmination problems, criticism and control

Question 8

Discuss two limitation log the family dysfunction explanation for sxhipoheria

Answer 8

Family dysfunction may be the result of the Childs disturbing behaviour rather than the cause - impossible to show cause and effect
Unrealiblituy of recall leading to data that may lack validity - patients report childhood expericneds retrospectively. Recall may be inaccurate and distorted by the need to explain prospective evidence is rare

Question 9

Cultural relativism, ethnocentrism, holism and universality are four concepts relevant to issues and debates in psychology.
Table 1 Definition
A Appreciating that behaviour varies between cultures 

B Believing that some behaviours are the same for all cultures 

C Considering all aspects of experience, including culture 

D Emphasising the importance of the behaviour of one’s own culture 

E Understanding that whole cultures have the same experience 

Look at Table 1 above.
Which definition (A-E) best describes cultural relativism? 

Which definition (A-E) best describes ethnocentrism? 

Which definition (A-E) best describes holism? 

Which definition (A-E) best describes universality? 


Answer 9

A
D
C
B

Question 10

What is a ‘nomothetic approach’? Suggest one limitation of a nomothetic approach

Answer 10

a nomothetic approach involves studying a sample in order toformulate general laws/principles of behaviour (or similar).
one limitation is
cannot find out rich/in-depth information about single cases

Question 11

Explain why measuring heart rate in this situation could be an example of biological reductionism.

Answer 11

excitement is a broad construct/complex behaviour/has many aspects
heart rate is a narrow, biological/physical component/unit/element/factor in overall excitement.

Question 12

Explain one strength of a reductionist approach in psychology

Answer 12

 studying basic units of behaviour underpins the scientific approach/adds weight to scientific research
 more objective to consider basic components of behaviour
 leads to greater clarity of understanding, eg at the chemical, cellular level
 better able to isolate cause when studying basic units of behaviour, eg can see which chemicals are
implicated in certain behavioural disorders, then may be able to effect treatment.
 parsimonious – the simplest explanation is often the best

Question 13

Explain one limitation of a reductionist approach in psychology

Answer 13

simplistic and ignores the complex interaction of many factors
 leads to us losing sight of behaviour in context
 less able to understand the behaviour because we do not understand its meaning - loss of
validity
 ignores emergent properties/distracts from a more appropriate level of explanation

Question 14

Briefly outline what is meant by ‘gender schema’.

Answer 14

organised group of related concepts/cognitive structures/mental representation
 about each sex and sex appropriate behaviour

Question 15

Explain one strength of social learning theory as an explanation for gender development.

Answer 15

 use of evidence to support social learning explanations for gender, eg evidence that young children do copy same-sex models
 SLT is consistent with findings that gender-related behaviours differ across cultures
 consistent with findings that suggest media influence in gender behaviour.

Question 16

Suggest two additional points that could be added to the debriefing statement to better ensure ethical treatment of the students.

Answer 16

confidentiality: advise students that their data is to be kept confidential so their individual responses will not be identifiable and will not be accessible to anyone other than the researchers/their agents
 withdrawal of data: ensure students are told they have the right to withdraw their data after the event even if they consented to the survey and were aware of the aim at the start
 protection from harm: ensure that no one has been upset or offended by questions on the survey, eg if they were felt to be intrusive or offensive, or upset by feelings aroused during the survey. If so, then discuss that these feelings are normal etc
 debrief: explain the full purpose/aim of the survey, check again that they are willing to allow their data to be used.

Question 17

Discuss Bem’s research into androgyny. Refer to the likely findings of the study above in your answer.
A01

Answer 17

 Bem devised the Sex Role Inventory as a measure of androgyny
 BSRI consists of 60 characteristics or traits on which respondents rate themselves on a 7-point
scale
 scores translate to two dimensions – masculinity-femininity, androgynous-unclassified
 Bem suggested people who are highly androgynous are more psychologically healthy/have
greater mental wellbeing than people who are strongly masculine, strongly feminine or

Question 18

Discuss Bem’s research into androgyny. Refer to the likely findings of the study above in your answer.
A02

Answer 18

According to Bem, students who get a higher androgyny score on the scale should report:
 more positive feelings about themselves and higher self-worth/self-esteem
 relationships with others as more positive/satisfactory.

Question 19

Possible discussion points:

Answer 19

 origins and validity of the BSRI – scientifically established relevant traits using a large sample and has test-retest reliability
 BRSI score is an oversimplification – other aspects of life need consideration, eg work role, abilities, etc
 being androgynous is not necessarily always positive – a person high in androgyny might possess negative traits, eg be excessively competitive
 modification to Bem’s original – the addition of undifferentiated type
 social changes, eg in typically male and female roles may mean that the BRSI is out-dated
 use of evidence to support/refute BEM’s theory about psychological health, eg other studies
show that a high masculinity score is more healthy

Question 20

Explain how symptom overlap might lead to problems with the diagnosis and/or classification of schizophrenia.

Answer 20

shared symptoms could lead to an unreliable/incorrect diagnosis (not valid)
 because the person may exhibit a symptom typical of schizophrenia (eg delusions) but could
instead have another condition with the same symptom (eg bipolar disorder).