Research Methods

Question 1

Correlational research

What is the purpose of correlational research

Answer 1

Measures a relationship between 2 co-variables and determines the strength of that relationship

Question 2

Correlational research

What are the 2 types of correlation

Answer 2

Positive correlation = as 1 variable goes up, the other one also goes up

Negative correlation = as 1 variable goes up, the other goes down

Question 3

Correlational research

Advantage of using this method

Answer 3

Method of looking at relationships between continuous variables and determening the significance of the relationship.

Question 4

Correlational research

Weakness of this method

Answer 4

Cannot show cause and affect as there is no IV that has been altered.

Question 5

Correlational research

What graph is used in correlation to show relationship

Answer 5

Scatter diagram - the data must be have a linear order

Question 6

Brain scanning techniques

What are the 3 brain scanning techniques in the biological approach

Answer 6

CAT scan
PET scan
fMRI scan

Question 7

Brain scanning techniques: CAT scan

How does a CAT scan work

Answer 7

X-rays and a computer are used to create detailed images of the inside of the brain.

Each image is a cross section of the persons brain, all slices are put together to make the final image

Question 8

Brain scanning techniques: CAT scan

Advantages of CAT scan

Answer 8

Useful in revealing abnormal structures in the brain with high quality images.

Question 9

Brain scanning techniques: CAT scan

Disadvanatges of CAT scan

Answer 9

Only give structural information and do not provide information about the activity of the brain

Question 10

Brain scanning techniques: PET scan

How does it work

Answer 10

Measures metabolic activity in the brain using a glucose tracer that is injected in the participants which is detected by scanner.

Question 11

Brain scanning techniques: PET scan

Advantages

Answer 11

Provide evidence about which location of the brain is responsible for what function

example: parts of the brain used in solving a puzzle can be identified

Question 12

Brain scanning techniques: PET scan

Disadvantages

Answer 12

Sometimes the results are dificult to interpret as different brain activity can be shown in diffenrent people doing the same task

Question 13

Brain scanning techniques: fMRI scan

How does it work

Answer 13

Uses radio waves to measure blood oxygen levels in the brain, areas of the brain most active have the highest levels of oxygen

Question 14

Brain scanning techniques: fMRI scan

Advantages

Answer 14

fMRI scans do not use radiation and so it is completely safe method to study the brain

Question 15

Brain scanning techniques: fMRI scan

Disadvantage

Answer 15

Only works if the brain stays perfectly still, this can cause problems in some people. Limits use of fMRI to some kind of research

Question 16

Twin and Adoption studies

Describe twin studies

Answer 16

Twins are compared on a specific behaviour to see how similar they are

If behaviour is entirely genetic, concordance rates = 100%

If behaviour is more environmental than genetic, MZ twins would show higher concordance rates than DZ twins

Question 17

Twin and Adoption studies

Advantages of twin studies

Answer 17

Enables researchers to investigate the influence of genes on a behaviour because it’s assumed MZ and DZ twins share sma environment

Information for twin studies are taken from twin registries. These hold data on thousands of twins and contain information about many variables

Question 18

Twin and Adoption studies

Disadvanatges of twin studies

Answer 18

Twin studies may overestimate genetic influence. MZ twins usually have more similar environments than DZ twins as they are treated more similarly and spend more time with eachother

Question 19

Twin and Adoption studies

Describe adoption studies

Answer 19

Genetic factors are implicated if child is more like biological parent (share gene) than adoptive parent (share environment).

Environmental factors are implicated if reverse is true.

Question 20

Twin and Adoption studies

Advantages of adoption studies

Answer 20

Adoption studies have the advantage of removing the extraneous variable of the environment. If MZ twins are similar, it could be to do with the environment or genetics. In adoption studies it’s either the genetics or environment

Question 21

Twin and Adoption studies

Disadvantages of adoption studies

Answer 21

Families who adopt tend to be better educated and have lower rates of mental illness. So any conclusion drawn on the affect of genes on these factors aren’t representative

Question 22

Twin and Adoption studies

Example of twin study

Answer 22

Gottesman and Shields (1966) looked at 57 pairs of twins where atleast 1 had a diagnosis of schizophrenia

Question 23

Twin and Adoption studies

Twin study: Gottesman and Shield (1966), how did they determine Zygosity

Answer 23

Looking at blood samples from both twins, so they could identify MZ and DZ twin pars

Question 24

Twin and Adoption studies

Twin study: Gottesman and Shields (1966), sampling technique

Answer 24

Opportunity sampling

Question 25

Twin and Adoption studies

Twin study: Gottesman and Shield (1966), what did they find

Answer 25

Where atleast 1 twin in MZ twins had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, the other twin was 42x more likely to develop schizophrenia

In same sex DZ twins, the other twin was 9x more likely

Question 26

Twin and Adoption studies

Example of an adoption study

Answer 26

Tienari et al (1994) - Finnish Adoptive Family study also looking at schizophrenia

Question 27

Twin and Adoption studies

Tienari et al (1994) findings

Answer 27

Adopted children whos biological mothers had schizophrenia had 9.4% risk of developing it

Corresponding figure for adopted away children of unaffected biological parents was 1.2%

Question 28

Twin and Adoption studies

Adoption study: Tienari et al (1994), what did the findings show

Answer 28

Strongly suggests that genetic influneces have an important role in schizophrenia