classic study raine et al evaluation

Question 1

state one strength of Raine et al’s study hint: PET

Answer 1

PET scans is objective and the results can be interpreted by more than one researcher; it is a scientific method and likely to give reliable findings

Question 2

state another strength of Raine et al’s study hint: baseline

Answer 2

the groups were well matched e.g for gender and schizophrenia so comparisons between experimental group vs control group could be drawn fairly.

Question 3

state a strength of Raine et al’s study

Answer 3

the study has high replicability because it uses well controlled procedures eg. the pp’s we all given the same 32 minute task so it is replicable

Question 4

state a weakness of Raine et al’s study hint: cause and effect

Answer 4

the findings describe the differences in murderer’s brains but doesn’t explain them. The differences could have been present at birth, however the environment could have still caused this brain difference. There is no cause and affect as Raine did not take into account social factors.

Question 5

state a weakness of Raine et al’s study hint: PET scans

Answer 5

PET scanning images were not particularly clear and therefore there were limitations with measurement.

Question 6

what is the conclusion of Raine et al’s study?

Answer 6

• the brains of murderers had lower glucose metabolism activity in the amygdala
• the areas that had abnormal activity were associated with lower self control and increased aggression. The biological deficits of the murderers translate into violence which supports the idea that violence has a biological basis.