Outline BLA Principles: Introduction
· State what is going in the essay
o This essay will give a brief summary of the principles that define the biological level of analysis.
· Define the biological level of analysis
o The biological level of analysis (BLA) states that all cognitions, emotions and behaviours have a physiological basis.
· State the principles of the BLA
o There are three underlying principles that define the BLA
1. Emotions and behaviours are products of the anatomy and physiology of the nervous and endocrine systems
2. Animal research may inform our understanding of human behaviour
YOU WILL CHOOSE ONLY ONE
· Purpose of the Principles
o These principles are the main ideas that have driven focused research on specific areas of behaviour and physiology
o They also allow us to understanding how behaviour can be caused or influenced by biological factors
· The BLA assumes that behaviour is a result of biological/physiological factors
o Links with the principle that there are biological correlates of behaviour.
· Bidirectional relationship between other levels of analysis
o Behaviour is not only a result of biological factors alone; other factors like cognitions and the environment interact with one another, resulting in specific behaviours
o Cognition can affect biology and biology can affect cognition
o The environment can also affect physiological processes and vice versa
· Nature vs. nurture debate
o Debate between whether human behaviour is attributed to biological or environmental factors
o Psychologists have an interactionist approach and take both into account
· Reductionist approach
o At the BLA, researchers break down complex human physiology and behaviour into its smallest components to study
· Outline Essay
o Two of the three principles will be outlined in the following essay.
Body
The first principle states that
1. Cognitions, emotions and behaviours are products of the anatomy and physiology of our nervous and endocrine systems. There are biological correlates of behaviour
Describe the principle
· Specific brain processes, neurotransmitters, and hormones can play a role in behaviour.
· These physiological processes are what forms the basis of the biological level of analysis, in relation to how it functions and therefore affects human behaviour in everyday life.
o For example, this relates to the idea of localization of function, in that each area of the brain is responsible for coordinating a certain part of our body/nervous system and thus our behaviour.
Outline the approaches that can be made towards this principle
· This can be viewed using a reductionist approach, i.e. breaking down complex behaviour into smaller parts for analysis.
· Or a deterministic approach can be used, which suggests that human behaviour is completely physiological and that we are not capable of “free will,? but by predictable bodily functions, which is also assumes a correlational approach.
Supporting Study 1: Adrian Raine (1997)
Introduce Study
· A study which supports this principle was conducted by Adrian Raine (1997), in which he aimed to determine whether criminals pleading Not Guilty under Reason of Insanity (NGRI) had any biological defects, which explained their distinct behaviour.
Connection of study to principle
· Raine showed that there was a difference in brain structure between normal subjects and NGRI’s.He found that:
o NGRIs had less activity in prefrontal cortex which is linked to self-control and emotion
o Subsequently showing how biological factors (brain structure) may thus affect behaviour
· This study supports the idea that there are biological correlates of behaviour because it was shown that there was a correlation between the behaviour of aggression and the physiology of the brain, in how when parts of the brain are damaged, the functions that are associated with it are impaired.
The next principle that will be outlined of the BLA is that
· Animal research can provide insight into human behaviour.
Describe the principle
· This principle is based on Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.
o Revolves around the idea that humans and many animals are different species now because of thousands of years of evolutionary adaptation to environmental demands.
o Natural selection - those who adapt best to environmental challenges will have characteristics better suited to the environment and are more likely to pass on these traits
· Evolution is attributed as to why humans and some animals share some similar anatomy and behaviour
o Therefore, inferences about humans can be made from animal research.
· Many animals, especially monkeys of the ape family have similar bodily systems as ours, so it can be presumed that when put in the same situation; humans would behave similarly to the animals.
· This idea is useful when testing treatments, although it does raise ethical issues in the treatment of animals, unless it is for a good cause and that it can be applied to humans and their health.
Supporting Study 2: Martinez & Kesner (1991)
Introduce Study:
· One example of how the acetylcholine can affect behaviour was seen by researchers, Martinez & Kesner, 1991.
· Aim:
o To determine role of neurotransmitter acetylcholine on memory, specifically memory formation.
· Methods:
o Rats were trained to go through maze and get to the end where they received food.
o After rats were able to do this, he injected:
§ 1st group -scopolamine, which blocks acetylcholine receptor sites.
§ 2nd group - physostigmine, blocks production of cholinesterase (does 'clean-up' of - acetylcholine from synapse and returns neuron to its 'resting state').
§ 3rd group – control (no injections).
· Results:
Results showed that:
o Scopolamine - slower at finding way round maze and made more errors than control/physostigmine group.
o Physostigmine - ran faster compared to both groups and made fewer wrong turns.
· Conclusion:
o Acetylcholine played an important role in creating a memory of the maze.
Connection of study to principle
· Martinez and Kesner’s study demonstrates the principle of the BLA because inferences were made to humans from mice about the effect of neurotransmitters on behaviour to inform our understanding of acetylcholine and its impact on memory..
· It also highlights the importance of using animals to determine human behaviour.
Conclusion
· Summarize the significance of studies in supporting the three principles (*do not restate the principles and studies mentioned as this wastes time and are repetitive).
o It can be seen that there is sufficient support for the principles of the BLA.
o It can be seen that in all three principles, other factors need to be taken into account before determining these principles as the sole influences of human behaviour.
o These principles help to guide studies from a biological perspective.
o Views from all levels of analysis need to be taken into account before reaching a determined decision on influences on human behaviour.
Discuss how and why particular research methods are used at the biological level of analysis.
Introduction
· State what you are doing in the essay
o This essay will attempt to offer a balanced review of how and why particular research methods are used at the biological level of analysis (BLA).
· Define the biological level of analysis
o The biological level of analysis (BLA) states that all cognitions, emotions and behaviours have a physiological basis.
· Outline what is a research method? / What is the purpose of research methods in Psychology?
o Researchers need to have a method for collecting and analysing data.
o There are many different/various methods researchers and psychologists use to conduct their studies.
o Research methods are ways that researchers use and manipulate to conduct their studies.
· State the main research methods used in psychological research
o There are 6 main research methods used in psychology, which consists of the following:
§ Experiments
§ Case Studies
§ Observational Studies
§ Interviews
§ Surveys/Questionnaires
§ Correlational Studies
· Introduce the concept of triangulation
o Sometimes in research, researchers incorporate the use of 2 or more research methods of investigation to explore the same aspect, as using 2 or more may be more suitable and effective in finding out the necessary aims of the researcher.
o It also increases credibility.
o There are 4 main types of triangulation:
§ Data
§ Researcher
§ Theoretical
§ Methodological
· State, make the examiner aware of the biases involved in psychological research
o In psychological research, certain biases are present, which may affect or influence the findings of the experiment, sometimes in a positive way, but mostly in a negative light/nature.
o There are two major types of biases, which are:
§ Researcher bias- The researcher/s sees what they are looking for, in which the expectations of the researcher consciously or unconsciously affect the findings of the study.
§ Observer bias- The participant/s act differently or accordingly due to the consciousness of being observed by people (researchers), which may influence the nature of the study.
· State (introduce) the research methods used at the BLA
o In biological psychology/in terms of a biological basis, symptoms and disorders arise from physiological processes, such as hormones, neurotransmitters and the brain, which cannot be directly observed.
o These theories are tested using research methods such as experiments and case studies.
o At the BLA the main research methods used are experiments and case studies.
· State what you are doing in the essay
o These will be further analysed in the body of the essay, looking at studies and how and why these research methods are used
Body
EXPERIMENTS
· Define what an experiment is?
o What is the purpose of an experiment?
§ Experiments are used to determine the cause and effect relationship between two variables (independent (IV) and dependent (DV) variables).
· Outline how experiments are used
o Researchers manipulate the independent variable (IV) and measure the dependent variable (DV)
o Attempt to control as many extraneous variables as possible to provide controlled conditions (laboratory experiments)
o Experiments are considered a quantitative research method, however qualitative data may be collected as well
· Types of experimental settings
o There are three different types of experiments, which include a laboratory experiment, a natural (QUASI) experiment and a field experiment.
Designs / Strengths / Limitations /Laboratory - laboratory setting / 1. -Strict control over variables
2. -Easy to replicate
3. -High reliability and validity
4. -Permits elimination of irrelevant factors. / Because of the artificial environment, it lacks ecological validity due to the artificial environment and nature of it.When the situation is created, it is unlikely to occur in a real life situation, so one has to wonder if there is any validity in the findings.
1. -Hawthorne effect: participants try to perform in a way they think meets researcher's expectations
2. -Screw-you effect: participants act in a way that might sabotage researcher's aims
3. -Demand characteristics: Effects that occur from participants guessing the aims of the research and acting accordingly
Field - real-life setting / - High ecological validity, because of the very natural setting – certain measures may be more representative of reality. / 1. -Not all extraneous variables can be controlledpoor control as a result of placing it in a natural or real-life setting (where large amounts of variables need to be taken into account).
2. -Not easily replicable.
Natural/QUASI - IV is naturally occurring / 1. -Extremely ecologically valid
2. -Used when the IV cannot be produced in a laboratory setting (e.g. financial or ethical restrictions) / 1. -No control over variables as they occur naturally.
2. -Cannot be replicated, as it occurs rarely.
3. -Low reliability
4. -Researcher may have to wait for a long period of time to measure the desired behaviour when trying to replicate it or look for similar phenomenon.
· Outline why experiments are used
o It is considered/perceived to be the most scientific research method
o Determines cause-effect relationship between two variables (IV & DV)
· Outline experiments used in the BLA
o Raine (1997)
o Rosenzweig and Bennett (1972)
Study 1: Raine et al (1997)
· How does it reflect an experiment?
o IV: Whether participants were controls or prisoners who pleaded not guilty for reasons of insanity (NGRI’s)
o DV: Brain activity
o Experimental Type: QUASI/natural because the IV was naturally occurring
· Why was an experiment used?
o Allowed a cause and effect relationship to be developed and recognised
§ Cause: Brain abnormality
§ Effect: Aggressive behaviour
o Cause effect relationship would not be able to be found using other research methods (e.g. survey/questionnaire, observation)
Study 2: Rosenzweig and Bennett (1972)
· How does it reflect an experiment?
o IV: Whether rats were placed in an enriched or deprived environment
o DV: Weight of the rats? brains, showing the amount of brain plasticity that occurred in the rats.
o Experimental Type: Laboratory experiment because the study was conducted in a laboratory setting and the IV was manipulated
· Why was an experiment used
o Allowed a cause and effect relationship to be developed and recognised
§ Cause: Environment (enriched or deprived)
§ Effect: Amount of brain plasticity
o Cause effect relationship would not be able to be found using other research methods (e.g. survey/questionnaire, observation)
CASE STUDIES
· Introduce the next research method (case studies) and relate it within the context
o Like experiments, another key research method used frequently in the BLA is a case study.
· Outline how case studies are used
o In-depth study of an individual or small group
§ Because of this, case studies obtain information that may not be identifiable by using other research methods
o Case studies are considered a qualitative research method, however quantitative data may be collected as well
o They involve the use of a combination of several research methods such as interviews and observations
§ The conclusions are more valid than what may be gained from any of these research methods individually