Psychology 304:
Brain and Behaviour
Lecture 1
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Introductory Concepts and Research Methods
1. What is biological psychology?
2. What is the relation between biological psychology and
other disciplines of neuroscience?
3. What types of research methods do biological
psychologists use?
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By the end of today’s class, you should be able to:
1. define the term “biological psychology.”
2. describe neuroscientific disciplines related to biological
psychology.
3. describe the scientific method.
4. distinguish between the distinct types of studies used
in biopsychological research.
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What is biological psychology?
• A branch of neuroscience.
• The scientific study of the biological bases of
psychological processes and behaviour.
• Also referred to as biopsychology, behavioural
neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, psychobiology,
and behavioural biology.
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What is the relation between biological psychology
and other disciplines of neuroscience?
• Biological psychology draws upon research findings
from many other disciplines of neuroscience. Among
these are:
Neuroanatomy
Neuroendocrinology
Neurophysiology
Neuropathology
Neurochemistry
Neuropharmacology
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What types of research methods do biological
psychologists use?
• Biological psychology relies upon the scientific method—
that is, systematic and objective observation.
• Several steps are involved in conducting research using
the scientific method:
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Theory
Hypothesis
Operationalization
Interactive
Relationship
Research
Data
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• Biopsychological research involves four types of
studies.
1. Experimental studies
Designed to examine cause and effect relationships
between variables.
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In conducting an experiment, a researcher:
(a) randomly assigns subjects to groups that will
receive different levels of the hypothesized “causal”
or independent variable (IV).
(b) administers a distinct treatment (i.e., level of the
IV) to each group.
(c) measures the hypothesized “effect” or dependent
variable (DV) for each group.
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A Simple Experiment
Group A
Subjects
Treatment A
Posttest
Random Assignment
Group B
Treatment B
Posttest
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Example: Lester and Gorzalka (1988).
Randomly assigned female rats to one of two
treatment groups:
Treatment Group A: Copulated with one male, then
with a second male, and then with the original male
again (i.e., 1, 2, 1).
Treatment Group B: Copulated with one male, then
with a second male, and then with a third male (i.e.,
1, 2, 3).
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Results:
Treatment Group A
Mean Lordosis
Duration (Minutes)
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Treatment Group B
35
30
30
25
25
20
20
15
15
10
10
5
5
0
0
1st Qtr
Male 1
Male 2
1st Qtr
Male 1
Male 1
Male 2
Male 3
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Conclusion: Females who lose sexual interest in
males that they have previously copulated with will
display renewed sexual interest when presented with
a novel male.
This effect is referred to as the “Coolidge effect.”
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2. Quasi-experimental studies
Designed to contrast two or more existing groups on
a variable of interest.
Used when an experiment cannot be conducted due
to ethical or practical limitations.
Subjects are not randomly assigned to groups. As a
result, causal conclusions cannot be drawn.
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Example: Acker, Ron, Lishman, & Shaw (1984).
Contrasted detoxified male alcoholics to non-drinking
males.
Found that the alcoholic sample: (a) performed
relatively poorly on measures of perceptual, motor,
and cognitive ability, and (b) had brain damage, as
revealed by brain scans.
Possible confounds: Education level, number of
head injuries, drug use, diet.
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3. Correlational studies
Designed to examine the extent to which 2 naturallyoccurring variables covary.
Correlations are typically measured by the Pearson
product-moment correlation coefficient (r):
Magnitude of r: strength of linear relationship
between variables.
Sign of r (+ vs. -): direction of linear relationship
between variables.
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Example: Morris, Udry, Khan-Dawood, and Dawood
(1997).
Examined the correlation between testosterone levels
among midcycle women and frequency of sexual
intercourse.
Found a correlation of .62 (p<.01), indicating that
higher midcycle testosterone levels are associated
with greater frequency of sexual intercourse.
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Introductory Concepts and Research Methods
1. What is biological psychology?
2. What is the relation between biological psychology and
other disciplines of neuroscience?
3. What types of research methods do biological
psychologists use?
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