School / IB / PSYCH SL / Biological and cognitive approaches Exam-style + marking analysis
Biological and cognitive approaches Core approaches to understanding behaviour, examined on Paper 1.
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Psychology SL Biological and cognitive approaches
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1 A researcher studies the role of the amygdala in processing fear by comparing brain activity, using fMRI, in participants shown fearful faces versus neutral faces. (a) Identify the research method used. (b) State one strength of using fMRI in this type of study. (c) State one limitation of using fMRI in this type of study. ✓ Reviewed Paper 1 style Medium 4 marks No calculator + 2 Marking analysis: A learner attempts the following task: “A researcher studies the role of the amygdala in processing fear by comparing brain activity, using fMRI, in participants shown fearful faces versus neutral faces. (a) Identify the research method used. (b) State one strength of using fMRI in this type of study. (c) State one limitation of using fMRI in this type of study.” Their response addresses only this point: “Identifies the method as a (quasi-)experiment using brain imaging to compare conditions.” Evaluate the response against the complete 4-mark task. Identify what earns credit and state every additional requirement needed for full marks. ✓ Reviewed Marking analysis Medium 4 marks No calculator + 3 A study on memory shows participants a list of 15 words and later asks them to recall as many as possible. Researchers find that words at the beginning and end of the list are recalled more often than words in the middle. (a) Name the two effects being demonstrated. (b) Using the multi-store model of memory, explain why words at the start of the list are remembered well. (c) Using the same model, explain why words at the end of the list are remembered well. ✓ Reviewed Paper 1 style Medium 5 marks No calculator + 4 Marking analysis: A learner attempts the following task: “A study on memory shows participants a list of 15 words and later asks them to recall as many as possible. Researchers find that words at the beginning and end of the list are recalled more often than words in the middle. (a) Name the two effects being demonstrated. (b) Using the multi-store model of memory, explain why words at the start of the list are remembered well. (c) Using the same model, explain why words at the end of the list are remembered well.” Their response addresses only this point: “Names the primacy effect for the beginning of the list.” Evaluate the response against the complete 5-mark task. Identify what earns credit and state every additional requirement needed for full marks. ✓ Reviewed Marking analysis Medium 5 marks No calculator + 7 Research finds that patients with clinical depression often show lower levels of serotonin activity than non-depressed individuals, and that drugs increasing serotonin availability (SSRIs) relieve symptoms for many patients. (a) State the principle of the biological approach that this research illustrates. (b) Explain why this evidence alone cannot prove that low serotonin causes depression. ✓ Reviewed Paper 1 style Medium 4 marks No calculator + 8 Marking analysis: A learner attempts the following task: “Research finds that patients with clinical depression often show lower levels of serotonin activity than non-depressed individuals, and that drugs increasing serotonin availability (SSRIs) relieve symptoms for many patients. (a) State the principle of the biological approach that this research illustrates. (b) Explain why this evidence alone cannot prove that low serotonin causes depression.” Their response addresses only this point: “States the principle that there are biological correlates (physiological/chemical bases) of behaviour, here specifically a neurotransmitter correlate of a mood disorder.” Evaluate the response against the complete 4-mark task. Identify what earns credit and state every additional requirement needed for full marks. ✓ Reviewed Marking analysis Medium 4 marks No calculator + 21 According to the dual process model, System 1 thinking is fast, automatic, and intuitive, while System 2 thinking is slow, effortful, and deliberate. (a) Identify which system is more likely being used when a person instantly recognises an angry facial expression. (b) Identify which system is more likely being used when a person carefully works through a complex maths problem step by step. (c) Explain one reason System 1 thinking, despite being fast and often useful, can lead to systematic errors in judgement. ✓ Reviewed Paper 1 style Medium 4 marks No calculator + 22 Marking analysis: A learner attempts the following task: “According to the dual process model, System 1 thinking is fast, automatic, and intuitive, while System 2 thinking is slow, effortful, and deliberate. (a) Identify which system is more likely being used when a person instantly recognises an angry facial expression. (b) Identify which system is more likely being used when a person carefully works through a complex maths problem step by step. (c) Explain one reason System 1 thinking, despite being fast and often useful, can lead to systematic errors in judgement.” Their response addresses only this point: “Identifies System 1 for the instant recognition of the angry facial expression.” Evaluate the response against the complete 4-mark task. Identify what earns credit and state every additional requirement needed for full marks. ✓ Reviewed Marking analysis Medium 4 marks No calculator + Self-assessed 0 / 0
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