Tips for answering the revision questions:
Chapter 2,
Biological Rhythms and Sleep (A2 Level
Psychology page 71)
Question 1
The most important word in this essay title is “role”—it means you need to think about what the
pacemakers and zeitgebers actually do, i.e. the pacemakers set and control the rhythm, and the zeitgebers
can affect and vary the rhythm. It would then be advisable to decide which other biological rhythm you
know enough about, such as the menstrual cycle.
AO1: For the sleep–wake cycle, you would describe the SCN and pineal gland, how information on light
levels is provided by a branch of the optic nerve, and how this controls the cycle. You could then describe
the brain and hormonal mechanism that is the pacemaker for the menstrual cycle, and explain how this
works. The more accurate, detailed, organised, and structured your answer is, and the more breadth and
depth of information you include, the higher the mark.
AO2 and AO3 marks depend on how you develop your answer, how you elaborate—discussion rather than
plain description. You could comment on various studies of pacemakers and zeitgebers; interpreting their
findings and assessing their methodology. You could apply your knowledge to the possible influence of
electric light in the last 100 years; comment on the validity of extrapolating research using non-human
animals to ourselves, and the ethics of using human participants in research on biological rhythms. You
could also include comments on the reductionist or determinist approach of researchers; how humans
manage to live successfully in regions without sun during winter, and/or how we evolved in equatorial
regions, where there is such a clear demarcation between day and night. To do well in these mark areas,
you will need to make relevant comments based on issues, debates, and approaches
Question 2
“Discuss” is not the same as “describe”, so here you need to think about where you can elaborate with
regard to two theories of sleep and, if you have time, what else you could include about the nature of sleep,
such as the stages of sleep.
AO1: For the theories, you would name one, describe it; then do the same for the other. The more accurate,
detailed, organised, and structured your answer is, and the more breadth and depth of information you
include, the higher the mark.
AO2 and AO3 marks depend on how you develop your answer, how you elaborate—discussion rather than
plain description. You could comment on various studies or facts which support or challenge each theory,
and point out where they agree or differ. You could identify which approach each theory belongs to, and
discuss the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches in context. You could also include comments on
the reductionist or determinist approach of sleep researchers; you might include detail on how we know
that sleep is essential for humans. To do well in these mark areas you will need to make relevant comments
based on issues, debates, and approaches
Question 3
a) “Outline” means “briefly describe”, and with a parted question such as this, you must be aware of how
the time you spend on each part should relate to how many marks it is worth. So, here you need to spend
less than half of your time explaining each of the three given rhythms.
b) It would be advisable to decide which disruptions of biological rhythms you know enough about, such as
shift work, jet lag, or SAD, remembering that the key word here is “consequences”.
AO1: For the biological rhythms you would describe each in terms of its periodicity, and give at least one
example of each. You could include some detail of control of such rhythms, such as pacemakers and
zeitgebers. Then you would describe the disruptions you have chosen, and describe the consequences of
these disruptions. The more accurate, detailed, organised, and structured your answer is, and the more
breadth and depth of information you include, the higher the mark.
AO2 and AO3 marks depend on how you develop your answer, how you elaborate—discussion rather than
plain description. You could comment on the various studies of each type of disruption, and on the
strengths and weaknesses of the explanations or studies. You could also include comments on the
reductionist or determinist approach of researchers, and consider if there are ethical issues in researching
any of the disruptions. To do well in these mark areas you will need to make relevant comments based on
issues, debates, and approaches
Question 4
Insomnia needs explaining; you need to be sure how you are going to deal with this, for example as
primary and secondary insomnia. It would then be advisable to decide which type(s) of insomnia you know
most about.
AO1: Start by identifying the types of insomnia that you have chosen, and describe the features of each.
How common is each? How permanent? The more accurate, detailed, organised, and structured your
answer is, and the more breadth and depth of information you include, the higher the mark.
AO2 and AO3 marks depend on how you develop your answer, how you elaborate—discussion rather than
plain description. You could comment on research studies, their strengths and weaknesses, and on the
ethics of using human participants in research in this area, perhaps focusing on the development of
treatments for insomnia. You could also include comments on the reductionist or determinist approach of
researchers. To do well in these mark areas, you will need to make relevant comments based on issues,
debates, and approaches.