Biological Research Methods

IB Exam Secrets e-book is out!

• Lab Experiments
  
  • Vontrolled studies that attempt to find cause and effect relationships between independent and dependent variables
• Neuroimaging allow you to find brain regions (biological correlates) of behavior
• PET
• fMRI
• Correlational studies allow you to test the role of genetics vs. environment on behavior
• Twin studies - twins reared apart to test the effect of genetic vs. environment on their behavior
• Any differences found between twins reared apart are considered environmental
• Family studies
• Lesion studies allow you to find biological correlates of behavior, we assume the missing behavior and damaged brain area are related
• Phineas Gage's personality changed because of damage to his frontal lobe area
• HM
• Clive Wearing

Biological Principles

• Behavior is biologically determined by physiological processes such as the nervous system neurotransmitters (e.g. serotonin) and the endocrine system (hormones e.g. adrenalin increases heart rate and fight or flight response)
• "All that is psychological is first physiological" (Sperry)
• Patterns of behavior can be inherited through genetics
• Some patterns of behavior may be a result of natural selection
• The study of animals can inform our understanding of human behavior
• Psychologists use rats and monkeys for a lot of research but the results cannot always be generalized to humans

Updates This Summer

I will be adding bullet pointed summaries of studies for each syllabus question. This should make it more straightforward and informative. The links to original papers will still be provided where possible for anyone who wants more information.

Good Luck

I am very busy with my last semester with coursework and my dissertation. I just wanted to wish all the visitors good luck on their exams. I hope this blog helped you in some way. I wish you all the best :).

Beer Goggles - Perception of Beauty

Researchers recently went into bars to test the popular theory of beer goggles - where drunk people will find unattractive people attractive. Armed with a laptop and some images they tested drunk participants to see which mate they would choose.
Facial symmetry is a sign of gene quality in humans, the ability to distinguish poor facial symmetry from good is important if you want to reproduce quality offspring. The researchers think that being drunk impairs our ability to distinguish poor facial symmetry and this is part of the reason that drunk people can find unattractive people attractive. Click here for the video

Girls and Facebook: Building Self-worth?

For all students out there you may wonder why females post more pictures on facebook than men. A recent study suggests it's all about self-worth. Basically Western culture puts a lot of emphasis on female physical appearance, posting pictures allows people to comment on how good they look which boosts their self-esteem.

How Evil are You? Deindividuation in the Real World

Derren Brown is a mentalist who recently began a new mini-series entitled 'The Experiments.' This experiment is on deindividuation made famous by Zimbardo's prison experiment. The audience gets to choose what happens to an innocent person on a Friday night. They always have a choice between something negative and positive. Guess what the majority always chooses? Watch till the end, it is a very powerful way to show the effects of deindividuation.