Practise Edexcel Psychology questions applying animal-research ethics, accommodation and licensing, and evaluating generalisation from animals to humans.
Mateo is a lecturer at a university and has to carry out research as part of his job. It is the first time he has carried out research with animals. Mateo is using chimpanzees in his new research project and has to create accommodation for them when they are not taking part in the research. The chimpanzees need to be isolated from each other during the research, which involves an electric shock. Mateo needs to comply with Home Office Regulations to gain funding for his research. Discuss the ethical issues of the research that Mateo is conducting in relation to Home Office Regulations. You must refer to the context in your answer.
(4 marks), AO2 (4 marks)
AO1
•
Animals should be kept in groups if they live in groups naturally.
•
Enclosures for animals need to stimulating, and as natural as
possible.
•
In order to carry out research on animals a licence needs to be
obtained by the institution and by the person responsible for the
research.
•
To gain a licence for a piece of research the benefits of the research
must outweigh the costs to the animals.
AO2
•
As chimpanzees are social animals once they have been used for
Mateo’s research they should be carefully integrated into a group.
•
When creating an enclosure for the chimpanzees Mateo should
provide room for them to climb up and be able to play.
•
Mateo has to apply to the Home Office for a licence for himself as he
has not worked with animals before.
•
To ensure the benefits of his research outweigh the costs Mateo must
keep the pain from the electric shock felt by the chimpanzees to a
minimum.
Look for other reasonable marking points.
(8)
Level
Mark
Descriptor
AO1 (4 marks), AO2 (4 marks)
Candidates must demonstrate an equal emphasis between knowledge and
understanding vs application in their answer.
0
No rewardable material
Level 1
1–2
Marks
Demonstrates isolated elements of knowledge and understanding. (AO1)
Provides little or no reference to relevant evidence from the context
(scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures). (AO2)
Level 2
3–4
Marks
Demonstrates mostly accurate knowledge and understanding. (AO1)
Discussion is partially developed, but is imbalanced or superficial
occasionally supported through the application of relevant evidence from
the context (scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures).
(AO2)
Level 3
5–6
Marks
Demonstrates accurate knowledge and understanding. (AO1)
Arguments developed using mostly coherent chains of reasoning.
Candidates will demonstrate a grasp of competing arguments but
discussion may be imbalanced or contain superficial material supported
by applying relevant evidence from the context (scientific ideas,
processes, techniques and procedures (AO2)
Level 4
7–8
Marks
Demonstrates accurate and thorough knowledge and understanding.
(AO1)
Displays a well-developed and logical balanced discussion, containing
logical chains of reasoning. Demonstrates a thorough awareness of
competing arguments supported throughout by sustained application of
relevant evidence from the context (scientific ideas, processes,
techniques or procedures). (AO2)
Section C