Compare and contrast the behaviourist approach with the SLT approach

Section A – Application and Evaluation:
Answer ONE question:

Social Learning Theory

Sophie has made new friends at her 6th Form College and enjoys spending time with them after she has finished college for the day. She has recently passed her driving test and has the use of her parents’ car. Her parents are concerned because Sophie stays out until after midnight during the week, even though she has promised to be home by 11 pm.

Outline and evaluate the Social Learning Theory approach to psychology. Apply the approach to Sophie’s behaviour in your answer. (24 marks)

Behaviourist Approach

Sheena’s geography teacher is proud of the high levels of punctuality shown by his students. His students know that unless they arrive on time, he will phone their parents and keep them behind after school.

Outline and evaluate the Behaviourist approach to psychology. Apply the approach to Sheena’s behaviour in your answer. (24 marks)

Cognitive Approach

Ben’s parents expect him to become a doctor, like his father and grandfather, but since performing in his primary school play when he was 5 years old, he really wants to be an actor. Ben feels that he cannot speak to his parents about becoming an actor because he thinks that they will be disappointed in him, and will not support him financially. Ben is now beginning to feel sad and miserable.

Outline and evaluate the Cognitive approach to psychology. Apply the approach to Ben’s behaviour in your answer. (24 marks)

Biological Approach

Grigor and Vladimir are identical twins aged 6. However, Vladimir is 10cm shorter than Grigor after being treated in hospital for a serious infection which weakened his heart when he was 4 years old.

Outline and evaluate the biological approach. Apply the approach to Vladimir’s situation in your answer. (24 marks)

Section B – Compare and Contrast:
Answer ONE question:

Compare and contrast the behaviourist approach with the SLT approach (12 marks)

Compare and contrast the biological approach with the cognitive approach (12 marks)
Section C – Research in Focus:
Answer ONE question:

Choose ONE of the studies used to investigate the Social Learning Theory approach below
Bandura and Ross (1961): ‘Bobo doll study’
Bandura (1963): ‘Bobo doll study’

Analyse the findings of your chosen study (12 marks).
In your answer you should include:
What the actual findings were (e.g. percentages)
Identify the pattern of data (e.g. what the differences were between each group if any).
What type of data was obtained and why (e.g. qualitative or quantitative)
Which measures of central tendency should be used (e.g. mean, mode, median)
Which measures of dispersion should be used (e.g. range, standard deviation)
Draw an appropriate graph to display the data and explain why it was chosen.
A conclusion about whether the results support or contradict the social learning approach.
Reasons for your answers and decisions.

Choose ONE of the studies used to investigate the behaviourist approach below
Thorndike’s (1911) ‘cats’ study
Pavlov’s (1927) ‘Dogs’ study

Analyse the findings of your chosen study (12 marks).
In your answer you should include:

What the actual findings were (e.g. percentages)
Identify the pattern of data (e.g. what the differences were between each group if any).
What type of data was obtained and why (e.g. qualitative or quantitative)
Which measures of central tendency should be used (e.g. mean, mode, median)
Which measures of dispersion should be used (e.g. range, standard deviation)
Draw an appropriate graph to display the data and explain why it was chosen.
A conclusion about whether the results support or contradict the behaviourist approach.
Reasons for your answers and decisions.

Choose ONE of the studies used to investigate the cognitive approaches below

Shallice and Warrington’s (1970): Case study of ‘KF’
Milner’s (1957): Case study of ‘HM’

Analyse the findings of your chosen study (12 marks).
In your answer you should include:
What the actual findings were (e.g. percentages obtained on any tasks)
Identify the pattern of data (e.g. How the participant’s brain is different to the brain of patients without brain damage).
What type of data was obtained and why (e.g. qualitative or quantitative)
A conclusion about whether the results support or contradict the cognitive approach.
Reasons for your answers and decisions.

Choose ONE of the studies used to investigate the biological approaches below

Holland’s (1984) ‘Twin study’
Tierney et al’s (1985) ‘Finnish adoption study’.

Analyse the findings of your chosen study (12 marks).
In your answer you should include:
What the actual findings were (e.g. percentages)
Identify the pattern of data (e.g. the type and strength of correlation).
What type of data was obtained and why (e.g. qualitative or quantitative)
Draw an appropriate graph to display the data and explain why it was chosen.
A conclusion about whether the results support or contradict the behaviourist approach.
Reasons for your answers and decisions.

Section D – Research Methods:

Answer ONE question:

Social learning theorists often use laboratory experiments in their investigations. Discuss the use of laboratory experiments to investigate human behaviour (24 marks)

Behaviourists often use animal and laboratory experiments in their investigations. Discuss the use of laboratory experiments to investigate human behaviour (24 marks).

Cognitive theorists often use case studies in their investigations. Outline and evaluate the use of case studies as evidence for the cognitive approach to human behaviour (24 marks)

Biological theorists often use twin studies in their investigations. Outline and evaluate the use of twin studies as evidence for the biological approach to human behaviour (24 marks)

END OF QUESTIONS

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