Specification
One practical research exercise to gather data relevant to topics covered in biological psychology. This practical research exercise must adhere to ethical principles in both content and intention. In conducting the practical research exercise, you must:
- design and conduct a correlational study to gather quantitative data and include descriptive statistics as analysis and a nonparametric test of relationship into aggression or body rhythms
- make design decisions when planning and gathering data for a correlational analysis, including co-variables, operationalisation, ethical considerations, hypothesis construction and controls
- collect, present and comment on data gathered, including descriptive statistics and graphical representation (scatter graph)
- use inferential statistical testing (Spearman’s rank test) and explain the significance of the result and the use of levels of significance. Students must also be able to use a correlation co-efficient (strength/direction) to explain the relationship
- consider strengths and weaknesses of the correlation and possible design improvements
- write up the procedure, results and discussion section of a report.
Suitable examples
- A correlation into age/amount of time spent on social media and sleep.
- A correlation to see if there is a relationship between height and a self-rating of aggressive tendencies.
Past Paper Questions
- State one aim of your practical investigation. (1) June 2021
- State the fully operationalised hypothesis from your biological practical investigation. (2) October 2016
- Explain one ethical issue you took into consideration when planning your biological practical investigation. (2) October 2016
- Describe how you gathered the quantitative data in your biological practical investigation. (4) October 2016
- Describe the procedure of your practical investigation. (4) June 2021
- Describe the results of your practical investigation for biological psychology. (3) June 2019
- Explain one conclusion you made from your practical investigation. (3) June 2021
- Explain one strength of using a correlation for your practical investigation for biological psychology. (2) June 2019
- Justify one ethical consideration you made when conducting your practical investigation for biological psychology. (2) June 2019
- Explain one improvement you could have made to the way you gathered your data for your practical investigation. (2) June 2021
- Evaluate your practical investigation from biological psychology. (8) January 2018