Experiment designs: Pros and cons
Pros - can make causal claims, high internal validity
Limitations - random assignment sometimes impossible, sometimes unethical, can be low external validity
Internal validity
Shows whether a study accurately measures a causal relationship
External validity
Focuses on whether the findings can be applied to a broader population
Correlational research designs
Correlation research examines the degree to which two variables are related. A correlation is when changes in one variable are accompanied by changes in another variable
Correlational design pros and cons
Pros: Help us predict behaviours/outcomes
Could suggest a potential cause and effect relationship
Can allow researchers to examine relationships among variables that cannot be investigated by experimental research.
Reveals naturally occurring relationships
Cons: Cannot infer cause and effect and why
Descriptive/observational research methods
Observing and describing subjects behaviours, beliefs, health and abilities as they naturally occur
e.g Surveys & interviews, naturalistic and laboratory observations, clinical case study, biological & neurobiological techniques
Naturalistic observations
Observe behaviour in its natural setting, attempt to avoid influencing or controlling it.
Pros and cons of naturalistic
Pros - High external validity, collect realistic picture, generate new ideas
Cons - Must wait for behaviour to occur naturally, usually small scale, may not be representative, low internal validity, cause and effect difficult to establish
Laboratory/clinic observation Pros/cons
Strengths - better control of potential confounds in environment, specialised equipment for precise measurement, can find associations
Cons - surroundings (lab clinic) may affect results, difficult to infer cause and effect
Case studies
Observe one or a very few subjects in great depth, usually over a long period of time
Case studies pros and cons
Pros - only method appropriate for very unusual case, provide insight for future research
Cons - problems with generalising the results - anecdotal, difficult to infer cause and effect
Surveys and interview Pros/cons
Pros - can collect wide range of info that researches cannot observe e.g attitudes, beliefs, behaviours
Cons - subjects may forget or lack insight, multiple informants or methods often used to combat this, essential that sample is representative of population
Longitudinal design pros and cons
Pros - can examine change over time, can examine associations between early experiences and later behaviour/development
Cons - time, expense, attrition
Cross-sectional study- Pros/cons
Pros - quick & inexpensive to carry out
Limitations - cannot detect changes within an individual, correlations hard to interpret.
Te Ara Tika components
Tika - research design - validity, centering
Whakapapa - relationships
Manaakitanga - cultural & social responsibility
Mana - Justice & Equity
Correlation research pros and cons
Pros - high external validity, often fast and cost effective, establishes direction and strength of relationship, allows for examination of relationships
Cons - low internal validity, lack of control over variable, can’t predict why an association or relationship exists
What is the function of Broca’s area?
Broca’s area is vital for the formation of speech.
What is Wernicke’s area responsible for?
Wernicke’s area interprets spoken and written language.
What is the role of the hippocampus, and how is it related to depression?
The hippocampus is involved in memory formation and spatial navigation. It tends to be smaller in individuals with depression, and more severe depression is often linked to a smaller hippocampus.
What is the amygdala’s function and its relationship with depression?
The amygdala is involved in processing emotions, particularly fear and pleasure. In depression, the amygdala shows higher activity, which may contribute to the heightened emotional responses seen in the disorder.
What role does serotonin play in relation to depression?
Serotonin regulates sleep, aggression, eating, sexual behavior, and mood. A decrease in serotonin levels is associated with depression and an increased risk of suicide.
What is the function of norepinephrine in relation to stress and anxiety?
Norepinephrine is related to the body’s stress response and is known to trigger anxiety.
What is the role of acetylcholine in the brain?
Acetylcholine is crucial for memory, learning, and recall.
How do levels of estrogen influence mood?
Estrogen levels can alter the activity of neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine, which are involved in mood regulation.