Discuss how and why particular research methods are used at the bloa. (22)
Three main research methods in BLOA:
Laboratory experiments
- Full information known by human participants -> potential demand characteristics
Rosenzweig and Bennett (1972)
Aim: To investigate the effect of enrichment or deprivation on the development of neurons in rats' cerebral cortex
Procedure:
Rats were placed in either a stimulating environment with toys or a deprived environment with no toys. The rats spent 30 or 60 days in their environment and then dissected
Findings:
Post-mortem studies of the rats’ brains showed that those that had been in a stimulating environment had an increased thickness in the cortex
Hetherington and Ranson (1942)
Aim: To investigate the function of hypothalamus in rats
Procedure:
Researchers lesioned ventromedial hypothalamus in rats. Rats’ behavior changes were then observed.
Findings:
Rats increased food intake greatly and doubled their weights.
Conclusion of Laboratory experiments:
Evaluation for Laboratory Experiments:
Findings on animals may not be able to inform understanding of human behavior as behavior patterns may differ between species (principles of BLOA)
- Laboratory experiments
- Case studies
- Correlational studies
Laboratory experiments
- Used to establish cause-effect relationship between variables
- Use of animal experiments
- Full information known by human participants -> potential demand characteristics
- Well-controlled variables by researchers
Rosenzweig and Bennett (1972)
Aim: To investigate the effect of enrichment or deprivation on the development of neurons in rats' cerebral cortex
Procedure:
Rats were placed in either a stimulating environment with toys or a deprived environment with no toys. The rats spent 30 or 60 days in their environment and then dissected
Findings:
Post-mortem studies of the rats’ brains showed that those that had been in a stimulating environment had an increased thickness in the cortex
Hetherington and Ranson (1942)
Aim: To investigate the function of hypothalamus in rats
Procedure:
Researchers lesioned ventromedial hypothalamus in rats. Rats’ behavior changes were then observed.
Findings:
Rats increased food intake greatly and doubled their weights.
Conclusion of Laboratory experiments:
- Animal experiments are widely used when investigating BLOA
- By controlling variables, experimenters establish casual effects to gain understanding
Evaluation for Laboratory Experiments:
Findings on animals may not be able to inform understanding of human behavior as behavior patterns may differ between species (principles of BLOA)