Practise explaining how biological factors influence cognitive development and learning with IB Psychology HL questions and mark schemes.
To what extent is development as a learner influenced by biological factors?
Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks.
The command term "to what extent" requires candidates to consider the contribution of biological factors on development as a learner.
In order to respond to the command term "to what extent", it is appropriate and useful for candidates to address how cognitive development is the result of complex interactions between biological and sociocultural factors. There appears to be an interaction between biological factors and the experience gained by sociocultural factors, which influences our development.
Candidates may address biological factors in relation to specific aspects of cognitive development (for example memory, intelligence, language or attention) or address biological factors in relation to cognitive development in general. Both approaches are equally acceptable.
Responses may refer to biological factors including but not limited to:
- the effects of maturation of the nervous system on cognitive development (eg Waber, 2007;
Giedd, 2004;
Chugani et al., 2001)
- the biological maturational component of language acquisition (eg Newport, 1990;
Pinker, 1989;
Chomsky, 1981)
- genetic inheritance in intelligence (eg Deary et al., 2006;
Bouchard et al., 1990)
- brain damage and memory deficits (eg Cowell et al., 2006;
Corky, 1997)
- cortisol and memory deficits (eg Wolf et al., 2001)
- biological basis of attention (eg Ray and Sreedaran, 2015).
Candidates may address one or a small number of biological factors in order to demonstrate depth of knowledge or may address a larger number of biological factors in order to demonstrate breadth of knowledge. Both approaches are equally acceptable.