CAIE A-Level Psychology AS Biological Approach Questions

Practise biological psychology through assumptions and studies on sleep, monkey toy preferences and mindfulness brain scans.

Exam points

outline biological assumptions about brain function, hormones, genetics or evolution
explain procedures and samples from Dement and Kleitman, Hassett or Hölzel

Covered syllabus points

Biological approach - main assumptions Dement and Kleitman (sleep and dreams)Hassett et al. (monkey toy preferences)Hölzel et al. (mindfulness and brain scans)

[Maximum number: 1]

In the study by Dement and Kleitman (sleep and dreams), participants were given instructions before the study about what they should and should not do.

Outline one of these instructions.

[Maximum number: 10]

Evaluate the study by Hassett et al. (monkey toy preferences) in terms of two strengths and two weaknesses. At least one of your evaluation points must be about ethics.

Strengths include: reliability, standardisation, validity (internal), observations. Weaknesses include: validity (external), sample, ethics.

Example: in detail

The sample only had 34 rhesus monkeys as part of it. This could make generalisations difficult. This is because some of the troop were not used in the study as they were too young to be reliably identified and these may have played differently/chosen different toys/from a captivity troop. Therefore, the findings about monkey toy preferences may only apply to those in the sample/not apply to monkeys who live in the wild where toy choice is not available.

Example: brief but in context

The sample only had 34 rhesus monkeys as part of it. This could make generalisations difficult as they might not represent the whole troop.

Example: no context

The study followed a standardised procedure making it easier to replicate.

Mark

9-10

- Very good evaluation including the named issue.

- Thoroughly addresses both strengths and both weaknesses in detail.

- Selection of evidence is very thorough and effective.

- Good evaluation including the named issue.

- Addresses strengths and weaknesses but may include three or four points. The majority of the points are in depth.

- Selection of evidence is thorough and effective.

10

Ignore arguments about the ethics of not being in the wild. They were captive bred.

The list of ethical guidelines that are creditworthy are:

Minimising harm

Replacement

Species

Numbers

Pain/Distress

Housing

Reward/deprivation/aversive.

Ignore human ethical guidelines.

Main evidence includes:

Housing

- Size of enclosure ( $25 \times 25$ )

- Fed monkey chow every day/water present/fruit and veg available.

- Socially housed in troop.

Minimising harm/distress

- Use of video cameras.

- Familiarity with keepers in enclosure/lived in enclosure

- One monkey tore toy apart (broken)

10

Figure for Answer to Question 2 — CAIE A-Level Psychology AS

Mention of knowing the
monkey's gender is tick-b only.
Observer bias - needs a
specified behaviour from the
how it could be observed with
checklist to be explained as to
bias to get tick-d, otherwise tick-
b

[Maximum number: 4]

From the study by Hölzel et al. (mindfulness and brain scans):

(a)

Outline one aim of the study.

[ 2 ]

(b)

'Acting with awareness' was measured by the 'Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire'.

Outline one other factor of mindfulness measured by this questionnaire.

[ 2 ]

All question bank results loaded

Covered syllabus points

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question (a)

Question (b)