Edexcel A-Level Psychology AS Topic C Biological Psychology Questions

Practise Edexcel IAL Psychology questions on brain structure, biological explanations and hormones, applying evidence to behaviour and evaluating research.

Exam points

apply biological explanations, brain structures or hormones to behaviour
evaluate biological evidence using study findings, methods and alternative explanations

Covered syllabus points

3.1.1 - CNS, neurotransmitters and behaviour 3.1.2 - Brain structure and aggression 3.1.3 - Hormones, genes and aggression 3.1.4 - Internal pacemakers and external zeitgebers 3.1.5 - Infradian rhythms 3.1.6 - Sleep-wake and infradian rhythm research 3.2.1 - Correlational research method 3.2.2 - Types of correlation 3.2.3 - Correlation issues 3.2.4 - List B inferential statistics 3.2.5 - Brain-scanning techniques 3.2.6 - Twin studies 3.2.7 - List A quantitative and qualitative data 3.3.1 - Raine et al. (1997) brain abnormalities 3.3.2 - Brendgen et al. (2005) social aggression twins 3.3.3 - McDermott (2008) MAOA and aggression 3.3.4 - Hoefelmann et al. (2006) sleep behaviours 3.4.1 - Biological psychology practical investigation

[Maximum number: 6]

(a)

Identify two areas of the brain that are thought to influence aggression in humans.
1
2

[ 2 ]

(b)

Explain one strength and one weakness of brain functioning as an explanation of aggression in humans.

Strength

Weakness

[ 4 ]

[Maximum number: 8]

Assess the role of hormones as an explanation of aggression.
12

Learning Theories and Development

AO1 (4 marks), AO3 (4 marks)
AO1
- Exposure to excess testosterone whilst in the womb can affect the
developing brain which may lead to an increase in aggression.
- After birth testosterone sensitises some neural circuits, stimulating
cell growth, including in the amygdala which can lead to aggression.
- Low levels of cortisol can lead to an under aroused autonomic nervous
system so people may be aggressive to increase arousal.
- Adrenaline when released activates the flight or fight response, if the
person chooses to fight this will lead to aggression.
AO3
- Chang et al. (2012) found that pre-experience levels of testosterone
and cortisol positively correlated with displays to a mirror image,
suggesting aggressive behaviours, therefore hormones can explain
aggression in animals.
- A lot of studies on the effect of hormones on aggression are done on
animals, so they may not be a good explanation of aggression in
humans as animals such as fish do not have the same social
behaviour as humans.
- The study of hormones and aggression is more scientific than other
theories such as Freud's as it is more empirical, as levels of hormones
and aggressive acts can be directly observed, making it a more
credible explanation of aggression.
- Dabbs and Morris (1990) found that socio-economic status was also a
factor in aggression, with testosterone having less of an effect on
aggression in those from higher social classes, so hormones are not a
complete explanation of aggression.
Look for other reasonable marking points.

(8)

\begin{tabular}[t]{|l|l|l|}
\hline Level

Mark

Descriptor

AO1 (4 marks), AO3 (4 marks)
Candidates must demonstrate an equal emphasis between knowledge and
understanding vs assessment/conclusion in their answer.

0

No rewardable material.

Level 1

1-2
Marks

Demonstrates isolated elements of knowledge and understanding.
(AO1)
Generic assertions may be presented. Limited attempt to address
the question. (AO3)

Level 2

3-4
Marks

Demonstrates mostly accurate knowledge and understanding.
(AO1)
Candidates will produce statements with some development in the
form of mostly accurate and relevant factual material, leading to a
generic or superficial assessment being presented. (AO3)

Level 3

5-6
Marks

Demonstrates accurate knowledge and understanding. (AO1)
Arguments developed using mostly coherent chains of reasoning
leading to an assessment being presented which considers a range
of factors. Candidates will demonstrate understanding of
competing arguments/factors but unlikely to grasp their
significance. The assessment leads to a judgement but this may be
imbalanced. (AO3)

Level 4

7-8
Marks

Demonstrates accurate and thorough knowledge and
understanding. (AO1)
Displays a well-developed and logical assessment, containing
logical chains of reasoning throughout. Demonstrates an
awareness of the significance of competing arguments/factors
leading to a balanced judgement being presented. (AO3)

[Maximum number: 7]

(a)

Describe the role of internal pacemakers on Samadhi's sleep-wake cycle.

[ 3 ]

(b)

Explain one strength and one weakness of the role of internal pacemakers on the sleep-wake cycle.

Strength
Weakness

[ 4 ]

[Maximum number: 8]

In your studies of biological psychology, you will have learned about the infradian rhythm of the menstrual cycle.

(a)

Describe the infradian rhythm of the menstrual cycle.

[ 4 ]

(b)

Explain two strengths of infradian rhythms as an explanation of human behaviour.
(4)

1
2

[ 4 ]

[Maximum number: 12]

To what extent has research been effective in explaining the circadian sleep-wake cycle?

AO1 (6 marks), AO3 (6 marks)
AO1
- Siffre (1975) spent six months in a cave with no external cues to see
if this affected his circadian rhythms and found that they changed to
a 25-hour cycle on average.
- Czeisler et al. (1986) compared a woman's sleep patterns before and
after they had been exposed to bright light for four hours for seven
evenings in a row.
- Experiments may be carried out on animals, such as mice, where the
levels of daylight are controlled to see if this has any effect on the
animals' sleep-wake cycles.
- Aledavood et al. (2022) found a correlation between 400 students'
high use of mobile phone in the morning or night and the times they
woke up or went to sleep.
- Experiments using animals to research the sleep-wake cycle try to
control all other variables such as living conditions and food intake so
the only variable that is changed is the amount of darkness the
animals experience.
- Case studies can be carried out where a small group of people are put
into a dark environment and detailed data is collected, including data
about the effect on their sleep patterns.
AO3
- Siffre was just one person so the results about the effects of external
cues on his circadian rhythm may not be true for everyone, so his
research is not an effective way to study circadian rhythms.
- Czeisler et al's. (1986) study was empirical as they measured the
level of bright light and how much her circadian rhythm changed;
therefore it is a scientific and effective method of researching
circadian rhythms.
- The use of animals such as mice is an effective way to research the
sleep-wake cycle as they have similar genes regulating their
biological clock so the result may also be true for humans.
- The use of the correlational research method by Aledavood et al.
(2022) may not be an effective method to research the sleep-wake
cycle as it does not tell us if the use of mobile phones affects the
sleep-wake cycle or the sleep-wake cycle affects the use of mobile
phones.
- The use of animals in a controlled environment may not be an
effective way to research natural sleep-wake cycles in humans as
there are not such controls in everyday life, so the results may not be
valid.
- Case studies gather a lot of rich and detailed data about the sleep-
wake cycle that can be both quantitative and qualitative, so they may
be more valid than experiments and a more effective method to
research circadian rhythms.
Look for other reasonable marking points.

(12)

\begin{tabular}[t]{|l|l|l|}
\hline Level

Mark

Descriptor

AO1 (6 marks), AO3 (6 marks)
Candidates must demonstrate an equal emphasis between knowledge and
understanding vs judgement/conclusion in their answer.

0

No rewardable material.

Level 1

1-3
Marks

Demonstrates isolated elements of knowledge and understanding.
(AO1)
A judgement/decision may be presented, but will be generic and
the supporting evidence will be limited. Limited attempt to
address the question. (AO3)

Level 2

4-6
Marks

Demonstrates mostly accurate knowledge and understanding.
(AO1)
Candidates will produce statements with some development in the
form of mostly accurate and relevant factual material leading to a
judgement/decision being presented. Candidates will demonstrate
a grasp of competing arguments but response may be
imbalanced. (AO3)

Level 3

7-9
Marks

Demonstrates accurate knowledge and understanding. (AO1)
Displays a mostly developed and logical argument, containing
mostly coherent chains of reasoning. Demonstrates an awareness
of competing arguments, presenting a judgement/decision which
may be imbalanced. (AO3)

Level 4

10-12
Marks

Demonstrates accurate and thorough knowledge and
understanding. (AO1)
Displays a well-developed and logical argument, containing logical
chains of reasoning throughout. Demonstrates an awareness of
competing arguments and presents a balanced response, leading
to a balanced judgement/decision. (AO3)

\begin{tabular}[t]{|l|l|l|}
\hline

[Maximum number: 2]

Serenity has carried out a correlation to determine whether there is a relationship between how old her participants are in years and the number of hours they slept on average per night.

State the two fully operationalised co-variables in Serenity's correlation. (2)

1
2

Serenity's results are shown in Table 1.

Table 1

Title

[Maximum number: 3]

Serenity has carried out a correlation to determine whether there is a relationship between how old her participants are in years and the number of hours they slept on average per night.

Draw a scatter diagram to represent the data shown in Table 1.

[Maximum number: 2]

Sacha carried out correlational research. He investigated whether there was a relationship between the number of hours sleep a person had per week and the number of hours they spent doing homework per week.
He found a negative correlation.
Sacha's results are shown in Table 1.

Table 1

Explain one reason why cause and effect is an issue in correlational research.

[Maximum number: 2]

Serenity has carried out a correlation to determine whether there is a relationship between how old her participants are in years and the number of hours they slept on average per night.

Serenity used the Spearman's rank test to see if her results were significant.
Give two reasons why Serenity used the Spearman's rank test for her data.

1

2
2

[Maximum number: 6]

(a)

Describe how a CAT scan is used in biological psychology.
(2)

[ 2 ]

(b)

Explain one strength and one weakness of the use of CAT scans in biological psychology.
(4)

Strength
Weakness
( )

[ 4 ]

[Maximum number: 8]

Twin studies are often used by psychologists when researching aggression.

(a)

Describe how a twin study research method could be used in biological psychology, such as when researching aggression.

[ 4 ]

(b)

Explain one strength and one weakness of using a twin study research method in biological psychology.
(4)
Strength
Weakness
( )

[ 4 ]

[Maximum number: 7]

In your studies of biological psychology you will have learned about the following classic study in detail:

- Raine et al. (1997).

(a)

Describe the results of the classic study by Raine et al. (1997).

[ 3 ]

(b)

Explain one strength and one weakness of the classic study by Raine et al. (1997).
(4)

Strength
Weakness

[ 4 ]

[Maximum number: 6]

In your studies of biological psychology, you will have learned about the following contemporary study in detail:

- Brendgen et al. (2005) Examining genetic and environmental influences on social aggression: A study of 6-year-old twins.

(a)

Describe the results of the contemporary study by Brendgen et al. (2005).

(2)

[ 2 ]

(b)

Explain one strength and one weakness of the contemporary study carried out by Brendgen et al. (2005).

Strength
Weakness

[ 4 ]

[Maximum number: 2]

In your studies on biological psychology, you will have learned about one of the following contemporary studies:

- McDermott (2008)
- Hoefelmann et al. (2006).

Chosen study

State two conclusions of your chosen contemporary study. (2)

1
2

[Maximum number: 2]

In your studies on biological psychology, you will have learned about one of the following contemporary studies:

- McDermott (2008)
- Hoefelmann et al. (2006).

Chosen study

Explain one improvement that could be made to the sample used in your chosen contemporary study. (2)

[Maximum number: 5]

During your studies you will have conducted a practical investigation for biological psychology.

(a)

Describe the results of your practical investigation for biological psychology.

[ 3 ]

(b)

Justify one ethical consideration you made when conducting your practical investigation for biological psychology.

[ 2 ]

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Covered syllabus points

Question 1

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Question 12

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Question 16

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