All Case Studies - Evaluate

Question 1

Evaluate the methodology and procedures of The Raine Study.

Answer 1

• A quasi-experiment.
• The research technique (PET scans).
• The sample.

Question 2

Evaluate the alternative evidence of The Raine Study.

Answer 2

• A meta-analysis was conducted of 43 imaging studies that consider both antisocial and violent behaviour.
• It concluded that there was significantly reduced prefrontal activity in violent individuals.
• This has been supported by genetic studies. MAOA causes high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine.
• An association was found between MAOA and an increased likelihood of committing a crime.

Question 3

Evaluate the ethical issues and social implications of The Raine Study.

Answer 3

• Valid consent.
• Socially sensitive research.

Question 4

Evaluate the methodology and procedures of The Watson & Rayner Study.

Answer 4

• Controlled study.
• The sample.

Question 5

Evaluate the alternative evidence of The Watson & Rayner Study.

Answer 5

The Two Process Theory
- CC can’t explain how phobias persist.
- When Albert didn’t experience the rat and the loud noise together, the conditioned response weakened.
- The first stage of the Two Process Theory is CC, the second is OC.
- CC explains how phobias are acquired, OC explains how they are maintained.
- An individual will avoid the phobia, the avoidance reduces fear and is therefore negatively reinforcing.

Question 6

Evaluate the ethical issues and social implications of The Watson & Rayner Study.

Answer 6

The Watson & Rayner Study is one of the most unethical studies in psychology due to psychological harm.
- Creating fear.
- Lasting effects.

Question 7

Evaluate the methodology and procedures of The Loftus & Palmer Study.

Answer 7

• Controlled experiment.
• Ecological validity.
• The sample.

Question 8

Evaluate the alternative evidence of The Loftus & Palmer Study.

Answer 8

• There was a study involving a cardboard cut out of Bugs Bunny.
• College students were asked to evaluate advertising material about Disneyland. Embedded in this was misleading information about Bugs or Ariel.
• Neither could have been seen.
• Participants were assigned to either Bugs, Ariel or control.
• Participants in the Bugs or Ariel group were more likely to report shaking hands with these characters.
• Misleading information can create a false memory.

Question 9

Evaluate the ethical issues and social implications of The Loftus & Palmer Study.

Answer 9

• Lack of valid consent.
• Psychological harm.

Question 10

Evaluate the methodology and procedures of The Bowlby Study.

Answer 10

• No causal findings.
• Biased data.

Question 11

Evaluate the alternative evidence of The Bowlby Study.

Answer 11

• Bowlbys research muddled together several different experiences.
• Separation alone may not cause long-lasting damage.
• A lack of emotional care before the age of 6 months appears to be something children can recover from.
• A lack of emotional care during key periods of development has lasting and severe consequences such as physical under development.

Question 12

Evaluate the ethical issues and social implications of The Bowlby Study.

Answer 12

• Confidentiality & Privacy.
• Valid consent.

Question 13

Evaluate the methodology and procedures of The Myers & Diener Study.

Answer 13

• Self-report.
• Correlations.
• The sample.

Question 14

Evaluate the alternative evidence of The Myers & Diener Study.

Answer 14

• One idea is that happiness stays at a fairly steady level throughout life, with occasional highs or lows.
• This is ‘your happiness set point’, it could be partly due to genetics.
• One gene linked to happiness is 5-HTT, this controls your level of serotonin.
• People who have this gene report higher life satisfaction.

Question 15

Evaluate the ethical issues and social implications of The Myers & Diener Study.

Answer 15

• Psychological harm.
• Socially sensitive research.