objective 1.3. offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors or...

Objective 1.3

Discuss how and why particular

research methods are used at

the biological level of analysis.

Discuss how and why

particular research

methods are used at

the biological level of analysis.

Objective 1.3B

iolo

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*Discuss:

Objective 1.3D

iscu

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ow a

nd w

hy

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rese

arc

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eth

ods

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use

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t th

e

bio

logic

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is•offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors or hypotheses; opinions or conclusions should be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence

*Essay

Important note:

Objective 1.3D

iscu

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ow

and w

hy

part

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t th

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bio

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al l

eve

l of

analy

sis•The aim of research at the biological level of analysis is significantly different from research at the cognitive and socio-cultural level.

•You will need to have a clear understanding of how and why two research methods can be used specifically at the biological level of analysis with specific research study examples.

Research methods are categories of terminologies, strategies, and techniques that are used to conduct research.

Specific research methods are used at the specific levels of analyses in distinct ways.

It is important to note that the same research method can be used differently at each levels of analysis.

Research Methods

A variety of scientific methods are used within the biological level of analysis.

Each method has its strengths and limitations and the researchers will choose the method which is considered to be most suitable for their particular research project.

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Objective 1.3

Factors which determine which research methods are most suitable include:

• Purpose of the research (for example, are the researchers interested in establishing cause-effect relationships; or are they studying a unique case because it can give them extraordinary insight into a phenomenon).

• Ethical considerations (should animals or humans be used?)

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Objective 1.3

Four research methods at the Biological Level of analysis:

• Animal Research (Experiments)

• Post-Mortem studies

• Case studies

• Neuroimaging technologies

Objective 1.3

Experimental method:

The experimental method is used at the biological level of analysis because this method allows researchers to establish a cause-effect relationship between biological factors and behavior, for example how a specific brain region or a specific hormone relates to a specific behavior.

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Objective 1.3

Invasive experimentsResearch studies that involve invasive techniques (such as creating lesions in the brain to isolate a specific behavior)or drug testing are usually done using animal models in order to adhere to ethical standards.

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Objective 1.3

Why use animals in research?

• To understand the effects of drugs and other physiological treatments.

• To isolate genes that are responsible for specific behaviors

• To isolate brain regions that are responsible for specific behaviors

Objective 1.3

Source:American Psychological Association

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Extent of Animal Research

• Most animals used in psychological research are rodents, or monkeys

• APA estimates 7-8% of research uses animals

• APA has a Committee on Animal Research and Ethics (CARE)

Animal research

Source:American Psychological Association

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Objective 1.3

Animal research is often an area that is debated yet the effects of using animal research in medicine, science, and psychology cannot be denied.

An example of a theory that has derived from animal research is Martinez and Kesner’s (1991) research on acetylcholine’s role in memory formation.

Animal research

Source:American Psychological Association

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Objective 1.3

Acetylcholine is a small, organic molecule that is a derivative of choline and acetic acid and serves as an important neurotransmitter.

Neurotransmitters are chemical compounds that relay information across the gap (synapse) between one neuron (nerve cell) and an adjacent cell (neuron, muscle cell, gland cell).

Acetylcholine

Source:American Psychological Association

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Objective 1.3

Psychologists Martinez and Kesner (1991) aimed to investigate the role acetylcholine in memory function.

Procedure: Experimental study using rats. They were trained to run a maze. They were divided into 3 groups.

Acetylcholine

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Objective 1.3

Group 1: received injection with scopolamine (blocks acetylcholine receptor sites so available acetylcholine is reduced).

Group 2: received injection with physostigmine (blocks production of cholinesterase (enzyme) which cleans up acetylcholine from the synapses) leading to more available acetylcholine.

Group 3: *Control group.

*Control groups give researchers a basis to compare treatment groups to non-treatment groups.

Martinez and Kesner

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Objective 1.3

Results:

Group 1 (Group with lower levels of acetylcholine) had problems finding their way through the maze and made more mistakes.

Group 2 (Group with higher levels of acetylcholine) ran quickly through the maze and did few mistakes. The group was quicker than the control group.

Martinez and Kesner

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Objective 1.3

The study shows that acetylcholine is important in memory since the rats showed different memory capacity as a result of the level of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

Since the work was a controlled lab experiment, it can be concluded that levels of acetylcholine is one factor that affects memory (but the neurobiology of memory is very complex).

Martinez and Kesner

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Objective 1.3

Experiments are the only means at the cognitive level of analysis by which cause and effect can be established.

It allows for precise control of variables. In the case of the rats, the researchers were able to control the amount of acetylcholine that was released into the nervous system.

Evaluation of animal experiments

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Objective 1.3

Experiments can be replicated.  We cannot generalize from the results of a single experiment. 

The more often an experiment is repeated, with the same results obtained, the more confident we can be that the theory being tested is valid. 

Many biological experiments are consistently replicated for validity.

Evaluation of animal experiments

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Objective 1.3

The high degree of control that is possible with animal subjects makes it easier to draw cause and effect conclusions, we can be more sure that no other variable is responsible for the observed changes in the independent variable because we control all aspects of their lives.

Evaluation of animal experiments

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Objective 1.3

It is possible (within the ethical guidelines) to do things to animals that would not be possible to do to with humans (such as the case with Martinez and Kesner’s research)

Evaluation of animal experiments

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Objective 1.3

Limitations: Problems with generalizability (if studies on animals). Animal experiments are difficult to generalize accurately to humans because of the controlled/isolated nature of this method.

Evaluation of animal experiments

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Objective 1.3

Other research methods used at the Biological Level of Analysis: Case Studies:

Principle 1

Post-mortem studies:

Principle 1

Twin studies (correlational studies):

Principle 4

Neuroimaging Technology:

Principles 1,2,3

*A general statement about each method can be used to begin your essay.

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Objective 1.3

Tom

orro

w… Objective 1.4:Discuss ethic considerations

related to research methods

at the Biological Level of Analysis