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Core StudiesCore Studies

Cognitive studies: LoftusCognitive studies: Loftus

IV: word in critical question: IV: word in critical question: “About how fast were the cars “About how fast were the cars going when they…..each other”going when they…..each other”

Manipulated through the use of Manipulated through the use of 5 different verbs, one given to 5 different verbs, one given to each group: smashed, collided, each group: smashed, collided, bumped, contacted, hitbumped, contacted, hit

Baron-CohenBaron-Cohen

Adults with Tourette’s syndrome. 8 Adults with Tourette’s syndrome. 8 males, 2 females, above average males, 2 females, above average intelligenceintelligence

Adults with Asperger’s syndrome Adults with Asperger’s syndrome (High Functioning Autism)13 males, (High Functioning Autism)13 males, 3 females3 females

““Normal” adults, above average Normal” adults, above average intelligence. 25 males, 25 femalesintelligence. 25 males, 25 females

N.B. You are only asked to describe N.B. You are only asked to describe 2!! So don’t waste your time!2!! So don’t waste your time!

Savage-RumbaughSavage-Rumbaugh

Pygmy chimps acquired the use Pygmy chimps acquired the use of symbols, rather than being of symbols, rather than being taught/trainedtaught/trained

They could differentiate between They could differentiate between juice and coke, rather than just juice and coke, rather than just using the symbol for drinkusing the symbol for drink

Their utterances seemed to Their utterances seemed to show the beginning of sentence show the beginning of sentence structure.structure.

Developmental: Samuel & Developmental: Samuel & BryantBryant Older children are more able to Older children are more able to

conserve than young childrenconserve than young children

The one question group was used to The one question group was used to investigate whether Piaget’s investigate whether Piaget’s methodology was flawed: were the methodology was flawed: were the children’s incorrect answers a children’s incorrect answers a response to the demand response to the demand characteristic of being asked the characteristic of being asked the same question twicesame question twice??

BanduraBandura

The children’s aggression was The children’s aggression was aroused by firstly being allowed to aroused by firstly being allowed to play with some nice toys and then play with some nice toys and then being told after 2 minutes that they being told after 2 minutes that they were reserved for some other were reserved for some other children.children.

It was necessary to get all the It was necessary to get all the children to the same level of children to the same level of aggression so that the effect of the aggression so that the effect of the models on the children could be models on the children could be clearly seen e.g. would the children clearly seen e.g. would the children who had watched the non-who had watched the non-aggressive model now inhibit their aggressive model now inhibit their aggressive feelings?aggressive feelings?

FreudFreud

Desire for mother and fear of Desire for mother and fear of father, specifically of being father, specifically of being castratedcastrated

Talcum powder incident: note Talcum powder incident: note she did NOT touch his widdlershe did NOT touch his widdler but he indicates that he would but he indicates that he would like her to!like her to!

Giraffe dream: note that this is Giraffe dream: note that this is explicitlyexplicitly interpreted by Freud as interpreted by Freud as involving a involving a sexualsexual act!! act!!

Social: MilgramSocial: Milgram

Sample: white, male Americans Sample: white, male Americans from the area of New Haven. from the area of New Haven. 20-50 years old from a range of 20-50 years old from a range of occupations. Not students.occupations. Not students.

Ethnocentric/androcentric Ethnocentric/androcentric therefore not therefore not representativerepresentative and and cannot be cannot be generalisedgeneralised to other to other cultures/females.cultures/females.

Reicher and HaslamReicher and Haslam

Self selecting or volunteer sample Self selecting or volunteer sample responding to adverts in national responding to adverts in national newspapers and leaflets.(332)newspapers and leaflets.(332)

Screened down to 27 most “normal” Screened down to 27 most “normal” using psychometric tests, using psychometric tests, assessment by clinical psychologists assessment by clinical psychologists and medical and character and medical and character references.references.

Final 15 chosen to ensure diversity Final 15 chosen to ensure diversity of age, social class, ethnic of age, social class, ethnic backgroundbackground

PiliavinPiliavin

DeceptionDeception Right to withdrawRight to withdraw ConsentConsent Protection of participantsProtection of participants DebriefingDebriefing You only need to refer to 2 of these You only need to refer to 2 of these

but you must explain them with but you must explain them with specific reference to the study for 4 specific reference to the study for 4 marks!marks!

RosenhanRosenhan

Pseudopatients were diagnosed Pseudopatients were diagnosed as having schizophrenia(11) and as having schizophrenia(11) and manic depression(1)manic depression(1)

Because of the Because of the “stickiness of “stickiness of diagnostic labelling”.diagnostic labelling”. It is It is virtually impossible to shake off virtually impossible to shake off the label of being diagnosed as the label of being diagnosed as mentally ill and your behaviour mentally ill and your behaviour will be interpreted accordingly. will be interpreted accordingly. Note the discharge label of Note the discharge label of “schizophrenia in remission”.“schizophrenia in remission”.

Thigpen and CleckleyThigpen and Cleckley

We cannot We cannot generalisegeneralise the the findings, as there was only a findings, as there was only a sample of one and Eve’s may sample of one and Eve’s may be a unique case.be a unique case.

The findings may be accused of The findings may be accused of being highly being highly subjectivesubjective i.e. i.e. biased towards the biased towards the interpretation of the psychiatristsinterpretation of the psychiatrists

N.B. N.B. What do you notice about What do you notice about these 2 points?these 2 points?

Section BSection B

a) Note the word “briefly”: only 2 a) Note the word “briefly”: only 2 marks given!marks given!

b) First part is abut the b) First part is abut the sampling sampling techniquetechnique, second part could be , second part could be about either the technique or the about either the technique or the sample itself. Here you should use sample itself. Here you should use PEC technique when referring to the PEC technique when referring to the advantage. You MUST refer to the advantage. You MUST refer to the study in your study in your example (E)example (E)!!

Section B: c)Section B: c)

Refer to IV/DVRefer to IV/DV Levels of controlLevels of control Standardised procedure and Standardised procedure and

replicabilityreplicability Lack of ecological validity due to Lack of ecological validity due to

artificialityartificiality Presence of demand characteristicsPresence of demand characteristics Necessity for deception (in Necessity for deception (in

experiments on social behaviour)experiments on social behaviour)

Section B: d)Section B: d)

PEC x 2. Most people lost marks PEC x 2. Most people lost marks here as they did not give an example here as they did not give an example from the studyfrom the study

One One disadvantagedisadvantage of experiments is of experiments is a a lack of ecological validitylack of ecological validity as as experiments tend to be artificial experiments tend to be artificial situations as they are so controlled. situations as they are so controlled. An An exampleexample is the use of pictures of is the use of pictures of eyes in the eye test, rather than eyes in the eye test, rather than using real people. using real people. As this is not As this is not ecologically valid, the results ecologically valid, the results cannot cannot be generalisedbe generalised to real life. to real life.

Section B: e) and f)Section B: e) and f)

Good example of where you needed Good example of where you needed to read on to the next question!!to read on to the next question!!

Try to think of a number of Try to think of a number of suggestions and try to ELABORATE! suggestions and try to ELABORATE! Don’t just say “an older sample” but Don’t just say “an older sample” but specify age!specify age!

The “implications” could be in terms The “implications” could be in terms of results but could also be of results but could also be evaluative comments such as “this evaluative comments such as “this would make the results more would make the results more generalisable/ecologically valid” etc.generalisable/ecologically valid” etc.

Section CSection C

a) Assumption: prepare one of these a) Assumption: prepare one of these for every area of research!for every area of research!

b) Make sure you focus on key terms b) Make sure you focus on key terms here and refer to the relevant study here and refer to the relevant study explicitly. e.g. Bandura, modelling, explicitly. e.g. Bandura, modelling, Social Learning theorySocial Learning theory

c) Think about your choice here! c) Think about your choice here! Stages of development would be a Stages of development would be a good comparison: S&B and Freud!good comparison: S&B and Freud!

Section CSection C

c) In studying developmental stages, c) In studying developmental stages, we can either trace children we can either trace children continuously in what kind of a study?continuously in what kind of a study?

A A longitudinallongitudinal one e.g. Little Hans one e.g. Little Hans Or, what can we do?Or, what can we do? To study some 5,6,7,8 year olds To study some 5,6,7,8 year olds

would be to carry out a would be to carry out a cross-cross-sectional study.sectional study. e.g. S & B e.g. S & B

What are the pros and cons of What are the pros and cons of these different approaches?these different approaches?

Section CSection C

As this is a 12mark question, you As this is a 12mark question, you really need to make time for this!really need to make time for this!

PEC x 4PEC x 4 Did you give a specific example for Did you give a specific example for

each point?each point? Did you revise for this question?Did you revise for this question? You MUST prepare for this!You MUST prepare for this! We have not yet done this for the We have not yet done this for the

psychodynamic approach or for the psychodynamic approach or for the physiological approachphysiological approach

The developmental and physiological The developmental and physiological approaches are 99% unlikely to turn approaches are 99% unlikely to turn up in May! So revise the others well!up in May! So revise the others well!