IB Psychology HL 3.1.1 Biological Explanations Questions

Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks.
The command term "to what extent" requires candidates to consider the influence of biological factors on health problems.

It is appropriate and useful for candidates to address sociocultural and/or cognitive factors in order to respond to the command term "to what extent".

Candidates are likely to write about health problems in relation to health topics in the psychology guide, namely stress, obesity, addiction, chronic pain, and/or sexual health.

Biological factors influencing health problems may include, but are not limited to:
- genetics
- hormones
- physiological responses
- brain chemistry.

Relevant studies may include, but are not limited to:
- DiFranza et al.'s (2005) research on biological factors in adolescents' smoking history and addiction
- Powel and Chaloupka's (2003) study on the role of parental influences on the probability of youth smoking
- Unger et al.'s (2001) cross-cultural survey on adolescent smoking considering the peer factor as well as individualistic and collectivistic cultures
- Volkow et al.'s (2002) fMRI study of obese individuals indicating one possible explanation of overweight (support of the theory of compulsive overeating)
- Prentice and Jebb's (1995) correlational study on increase in obesity and car ownership and television viewing
- Teevale et al.'s (2010) mixed-method study on the role of sociocultural factors in obesity in Pacific adolescents and their parents
- Gibson and Helme's (2000) study on cognitive factors and the experience of pain and suffering in older persons
- Speisman et al.'s (1964) study on the role of cognition in mediating stress caused by watching circumcision.

When responding to the command term "to what extent", considerations may include, but are not limited to:
- degree of empirical support
- methodological and/or ethical considerations of research addressed within the context of the question (e.g. generalizability of findings)
- cultural, age and/or gender considerations
- possible theoretical assumptions and/or biases
- issues of validity and reliability
- alternative explanations or findings
- comparison of explanations/factors
- relevant approaches and issues and debates
- practical applications and real world implications.

Candidates may discuss one biological factor in order to demonstrate depth of knowledge, or may discuss a greater number of factors in order to demonstrate breadth of knowledge. Both approaches are equally acceptable.