Irene Lawrie
Perth College UHI
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Greater emphasis on the approaches.
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Fundamental to psychology.
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They are the different explanations of why
people behave the way they do.
Understanding of psychology is gained
though the application of approaches to
topics.
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Relevant research is identified to illustrate the
application of approaches to topics.
A critique of the research is required in order to
evaluate not just the research itself but evaluate
how the approach explains the topic.
Results in better understanding of how
psychology relates to the topic.
Demands and develops analytical and evaluative
skills.
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What do we do with information?
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What use is this information?
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Why are we learning this?
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It has relevance to real life!
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We can apply it!
Topic
Application
Evaluation
Approach
Research
Biological Approach
Cognitive Approach
Restoration Theory
Information Consolidation theory
Research
Research
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Sassin et al. (1969) suggests growth
hormone(GH) is controlled by slow wave
sleep(SWS).
Van Cauter and Platt (1996) GH released
correlates with SWS.
Kreugar et al. (1985) identified that lack of SWS
reduces functioning of immune system.
Siegel & Rogawaski (1988) REM sleep halts
neurotransmitter release allowing neurons to
regain sensitivity allowing the body to function
effectively.
Savard et al. (2003) insomnia positively correlates
with fewer immune cells.
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Walker et al. (2005) sleep post-training improved
speed and accuracy in a finger tapping exercise.
Huber et al. (2004) SWS increased by up to 25%
after some forms of learning.
Zammit et al (1999) Insomnia sufferers
demonstrated impairment in cognitive tasks
involving concentration, memory and problem
solving.
Arendt et al (2001) showed that keeping people
awake for a few hours leads to driving
impairments comparable to those who with
modest levels of alcohol.
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Healthcare: Sleep important for boosting
immunity, recovering from illness and surgery.
Child development and parenting skills: Sleep
required for babies to grow and develop. Young
children require Slow Wave Sleep(SWS) for the
release of growth hormone.
Sporting Domain: Athletes require adequate
sleep to recover from strenuous training and for
growth and repair.
Youth support: Adolescents require
understanding as they endure Circadian Rhythm
disruptions due to hormone upheaval resulting in
them sleeping later.
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Education, Education Education!
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Job performance.
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Memory recovery and dementia.
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Cognitive Approach
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Theory : Schema and the Reconstruction of Memory
(Bartlett,1932)
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Research: Serial reproduction and The War of the Ghosts (Hunter,
1964)
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Allport & Postman (1947)
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Loftus (1974)
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Application: Eye Witness Testimony
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Cognitive Approach:
Models of memory: multi-store model (Atkinson
and Shiffrin, 1968).
Research: Research which supports the different
dynamics of the short term(STM) and long term
memory (LTM) in terms of encoding, capacity and
duration.
Application: Education. Rehearsal essential for
the transference of information from STM to LTM
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Working Memory Model (Baddeley and Hitch,
1974). Explains the different cognitive
functions of the STM in terms of the central
executive, the phonological loop and the
visuospatial sketchpad.
Research: Dual task method (Baddeley et al.,
1975).
Application: More relevant to everyday tasks.
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Biological Approach
Theory: Multi-store model of memory (Atkinson and
Shiffrin, 1968).
Research: Milner et al. (1968) Research which
supports the idea of different biological locations for
the STM and LTM. The STM of participant H.M. was
intact but he was unable to create new LTM following
surgery for epilepsy.
Tulving (1972) challenged the unitary store aspect of
the MSM by identifying activity in different areas of
the brain for different LTM tasks(procedural and
semantic).
Application: Treating people who have been injured
through accidents. Surgery. Advancing medicine
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Approach : Psychodynamic.
Theory: Motivated Forgetting (Freud’s Theory
of repression).
Research: Levinger and Clark(1961).
Application: Underpins psychoanalytical
therapy today.
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Research Cycle
Experimental method
Non Experimental method
Sampling
Data Analysis
Evaluate, Evaluate, Evaluate!
Ethics!
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Topic: Conformity
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Theory: Normative Social influence
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Asch(1951) Mori and Arai (2010)
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Application: Provided understanding of why
people behave the way they do social
situations.
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Theory: Adorno’s Authoritarian Personality
(1950).
Research : Milgrim (1963) tested ‘The
Germans are Different’ hypothesis
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Situational factors V Dispositional.
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Ethics
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Theory
Adorno’s Authoritarian Personality (1950) –
the origins of prejudice.
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Realistic Conflict theory (Sherif et al.,1961)
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Social Identity Theory (Tajfel, 1978)
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Research
The blue-eyes-brown eyes experiment (Elliot,
Aronson & Osherow, 1980).
Robbers Cave (Sherif et al., 1961).
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Education. Only through learning about the
effects of prejudice and subsequent
discrimination will it be eradicated.
Approaches: Though not mandatory in Unit 3
Social Behaviour ,the psychodynamic
approach can be applied to Adorno’s
Authoritarian Personality and also Dollard’s
(1939)Frustration- aggression hypothesis.
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Comprehensive understanding. 10/20 won’t
do!
Opportunity for personalised writing in terms
of choice in topic, theory and research.
Development of evaluative and analytical
writing skills
Appreciation of the practical application of
psychology today
Thank you for listening.
Irene.lawrie.perth@uhi.ac.uk