IB Psychology
BLOA Empirical Studies Grid
Name:
Teacher:
Study
Type of
Research
Aim
Participants
Procedure
Conclusions
Strengths
Limitations
Ethical considerations
Rosenzweig
and Bennett
1972
Experimental
Study
To
investigate
the effect of
either a
deprived or
enriched
environment
on the
development
of neurons
in the
cerebral
cortex.
Laboratory rats
Rats were put into
one of two
environments. One
was a stimulating
environment with
toys whereas the
other was deprived
with no toys. The
rats spent 30-60
days in their
respective
environment before
being sacrificed.
The post-mortem
studies showed that the
rats that had been in the
enriched environment
had an increased
thickness in the cortex
and the frontal lobe
used for thinking,
planning and decision
making was heavier. So
an enriched
environment can
increase development
of neurons in the brain.
Establishes a cause
and effect
relationship
between
stimulation of
environment and
development of
neurons
It is hard to know
whether the results
can be applied to
human beings.
This was a laboratory
experiment so
question arise about
its ecologically
validity.
Was the use of animals justified?
Did the investigators take
responsibility for the welfare of
the animals? Was the minimum
number of animals used in the
study?
Suggested File Name: <Your name> BLOA Empirical Studies Grid
Suggested File Name: <Your name> BLOA Empirical Studies Grid
Study
Rosenzweig
and
Bennett
1972
Outline
principles that
define the
BLOA
Explain how
principles are
demonstrated
in research
Discuss how
and why
particular
research
methods are
used
Discuss ethical
considerations
related to
research
studies at the
BLOA
This study
would be
excellent to
show that
animal
research can
provide
insights into
human
behaviour. It
can be argued
that
stimulating
environments
for humans
enhancing
learning.
This study
could be
used to
demonstrate
the principle
that animal
research can
provide
insights into
human
behaviour.
An
experimental
was used
because a
cause and
effect
relationships
could be
determined
between the
nature of an
environment
(enriched or
deprived)
dendritic
branching
under tightly
controlled
conditions. It
would not be
ethical to
carry this
experiment
out on
humans.
The ethics of
animal
research
could be
discussed.
Was the
study
justified?
Were the
animals
treated
well?
Were the
minimum
number of
animals
used?
Explain
one study
related to
brain
localization
Suggested File Name: <Your name> BLOA Empirical Studies Grid
Explain using
examples. the
effects of
neurotransmitters
on human
behaviour
Explain,
using
example,
functions
of two
hormones
in human
behavior.
Discuss two
effects of the
environment
on
physiological
process
This study
found that
richer more
stimulating
environments
produced
dendritic
branching.
However it is
a animal
study and
this is a
limitation
when it
comes to
generalizing
to human.
Examine
one
interaction
between
cognition
and
physiology
Discuss
brain
imaging
technologies
To what
extent
does
genetic
inheritance
influence
behavior
Examine
one
evolutionary
explanation
of behavior
Discuss
ethical
consideration
in relation to
research into
genetic
influences on
behaviour
Suggested File Name: <Your name> BLOA Empirical Studies Grid