Biological - Sperry

Question 1

What was the background?

Answer 1

Information about the brain being split into two hemispheres - each with different ability - called Lateralisation of Function.

Question 2

What does the left control?

Answer 2

Language + maths

Question 3

What does the right control?

Answer 3

Spacial abilities + creativity

Question 4

What is epilepsy?

Answer 4

The condition is brought on by abnormal electrical impulses discharging within the brain disrupting normal brain patterns.

Question 5

What was the aim?

Answer 5

To study the function of seperate and independent hemisphere

Question 6

What was the research method and the IV and DV of this study?

Answer 6

Quasi Experiment - IV was split brain or not and the DV was ability on tasks

Question 7

What was the sample?

Answer 7

11 patients who had undergone spit brain surgery - compared against people who had not had the surgery - obtained from a surgery in America - opportunity

Question 8

What were the controls?

Answer 8

Procedure, objects, set-up/material, possibly the man, time to see images, covered one eye, hands shielded from view, tasks, symbols displayed, fixation point

Question 9

What was the set up?

Answer 9

Tachistoscope equipment

Question 10

What would happen if objects were presented in the right visual?

Answer 10

Say what they had seen

Question 11

What would happen if objects were presents in the left visual field?

Answer 11

Point at and draw the objects with left hand

Question 12

What ethical guidelines did Sperry uphold?

Answer 12

Consent, confidentiality and deception

Question 13

What ethical guidelines did Sperry break?

Answer 13

Protection from harm

Question 14

Point for internal reliability?

Answer 14

Procedure was full standardised and easy to replicate due to amount of controls

Question 15

Point for external reliability?

Answer 15

Sample was only 11 patients and therefore was not large enough to establish a consistent effect

Question 16

Point for internal (construct) validity?

Answer 16

Perhaps the behaviour can be explained as a result of their epilepsy not the surgery

Question 17

Point for external (population) validity?

Answer 17

Sample was very specific so perhaps not generalisable

Question 18

Point for external (ecological) validity?

Answer 18

In the visual tasks, the tachistoscope procedure was not very realistic as we see things for more than 1/10th of a second
In the tactile tasks, it is quite normal for us not too see our hands.

Question 19

Is this study applicable only to the culture in which the research was carried out, or could the findings apply elsewhere?

Answer 19

Sample was only from America - however does this matter as the function of our brains are said to be universal?