Explain and Evaluate the Methodology of the Biological Approach
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- Date Submitted: 09/15/2014 10:36 AM
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Explain and Evaluate the Biological Methodology
The biological approach assumes that behaviour is the result of biological processes within the body. Therefore we use laboratory experiments to gain a detailed understanding of the workings of these physical processes. A laboratory experiment is a study conducted in an artificial environment with high control of extraneous variables.
Selye used a laboratory experiment in his research into the effect of stress on the body. He put rats into pens and controlled the type of stressor delivered to them such as cold, heat, severing the spinal cord etc. He then monitored how their bodies responded as a result.
One strength of using a laboratory experiment is that standardised procedures make the research easy to replicate. For example Selye could easily replicate his research to see if rats repeatedly responded in the same way to stress. Another strength of using a laboratory experiment is that there can be high control of extraneous variables. For example Selye was able to control extraneous variables such as the age, gender and general health of the rats used in his research therefore making his results more likely to be accurate.
One weakness of using a laboratory experiment is that they are low in ecological validity because they are conducted in an artificial setting controlled by the experiment. For example Selye used rats in his research and it is difficult to apply the findings to how humans many respond to stress in real life situations such as financial worries and relationships. In addition rats may respond differently to stress than humans due to their less developed brains.
The biological approach assumes that behaviour can also be explained in terms of brain structure. Therefore biological psychologists seek methods that allow then to observe and investigate brain structures.
Maguire et al used MRI scans to show that London taxi drivers have developed larger hippocampi compared to non-taxi drivers...
The biological approach assumes that behaviour is the result of biological processes within the body. Therefore we use laboratory experiments to gain a detailed understanding of the workings of these physical processes. A laboratory experiment is a study conducted in an artificial environment with high control of extraneous variables.
Selye used a laboratory experiment in his research into the effect of stress on the body. He put rats into pens and controlled the type of stressor delivered to them such as cold, heat, severing the spinal cord etc. He then monitored how their bodies responded as a result.
One strength of using a laboratory experiment is that standardised procedures make the research easy to replicate. For example Selye could easily replicate his research to see if rats repeatedly responded in the same way to stress. Another strength of using a laboratory experiment is that there can be high control of extraneous variables. For example Selye was able to control extraneous variables such as the age, gender and general health of the rats used in his research therefore making his results more likely to be accurate.
One weakness of using a laboratory experiment is that they are low in ecological validity because they are conducted in an artificial setting controlled by the experiment. For example Selye used rats in his research and it is difficult to apply the findings to how humans many respond to stress in real life situations such as financial worries and relationships. In addition rats may respond differently to stress than humans due to their less developed brains.
The biological approach assumes that behaviour can also be explained in terms of brain structure. Therefore biological psychologists seek methods that allow then to observe and investigate brain structures.
Maguire et al used MRI scans to show that London taxi drivers have developed larger hippocampi compared to non-taxi drivers...