biological practical

Question 1

aim

Answer 1

• to investigate whether there is a negative correlation between hours of sleep and aggressive traits

Question 2

Co - variable 1 - sleep

Answer 2

• number of hours of sleep

Question 3

how is hours of sleep collected

Answer 3

• count hours of sleep you had each night for 3 consecutive nights
• 3 scores
• mean

Question 4

co-variable 2 - aggression

Answer 4

• Aggression score
• questionnaire

Question 5

how to we get the aggression score

Answer 5

• for each response in questionnaire answer :
• 1 = extremely uncharacteristic
• 2 = somewhat uncharacteristic
• 3 = neither
• 4 = somewhat characteristic
• 5 = extremely characteristic
• reverse scoring for questions 9 & 16
• add up scores for overall aggression score
• do this for all 3 questionnaires
• mean

Question 6

Aggression scores - boundaries

Answer 6

• 35 or less = low aggression
• 70 = moderate aggression
• 120 or more = extremely aggressive

Question 7

alternative hypothesis

Answer 7

• there will be a negative correlation
• the fewer hours of sleep the individuals have (hrs/mins)
• the higher aggression score out of 145

Question 8

Null hypothesis

Answer 8

• there will be no correlation between hours of sleep an individual has had and the score they received on the questionnaire out of 145
• any observed relationship will be due to chance

Question 9

partiicpants

Answer 9

• 20 psychology students
• college
• Stourbridge

Question 10

stats test used

Answer 10

Spearman’s Rho

Question 11

Conclusion

Answer 11

• the fewer hours of sleep you get, the more aggressive you are

Question 12

Strengths

Answer 12

• Correlations = relationships spotted between co-variables
• More ethical and practical way of researching
• Helps to find relationships at the start of an investigation and once 2 sets of data have been gathered from the same participants stats tests can be used
• data gathered is secured as there are no participant variables
• quick and easy / can use pre-existing data
• correlation coefficient shows the strength of the relationship

Question 13

weaknesses

Answer 13

• no cause and effect explained, there may be other unknown variables present causing co-variables to change together
• correlations can be misused = they only tell us about a relationship
• self - report data may not be accurate due to bias