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Ian carries out animal laboratory experiments to study drugs - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 18 - 2018 - Paper 2
Question 18
Ian carries out animal laboratory experiments to study drugs. He gave drugs to 35 monkeys and kept the monkeys in isolation during the experiment. After the experime... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Ian carries out animal laboratory experiments to study drugs - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 18 - 2018 - Paper 2
Step 1
AO1: Describe laboratory experiments
Answer
Laboratory experiments are highly controlled studies that often have clear hypotheses outlining what the researchers intend to investigate. In the context of Ian's study:
- A laboratory setting allows for manipulation of the independent variable (IV), which, in this case, is the drug administered to the monkeys. This manipulation helps in isolating the effects of the drug on the dependent variable (DV), such as behavioral changes in the monkeys.
- Laboratory experiments can observe both short-term and long-term effects of the drug on the monkeys' brains and behaviors.
- By using an independent measures design, the researcher can use different monkeys for each condition to avoid order effects, although a repeated measures design could also be applicable by using the same monkeys in all conditions.
Step 2
AO2: Evaluate the appropriateness of the method
Answer
While laboratory experiments can provide useful data, Ian's method has significant limitations:
- Ian can control other variables by ensuring that the monkeys have not taken other drugs before the experiment, allowing for a clearer understanding of the specific drug's effects.
- However, keeping the monkeys in isolation could distort results since social behaviors play a crucial role in their overall well-being. The stress from isolation might interfere with the drug's impact, making results less generalizable.
- Furthermore, the initial sample of 35 monkeys may not represent a wide genetic variability, so results applicable to these monkeys might not reflect those of the broader population.
Step 3
AO3: Discuss the implications of the findings
Answer
The use of controlled conditions establishes a clear cause and effect relationship, which can be critical for understanding the impact of drugs. However, there are additional concerns to consider:
- Animal research often raises ethical questions, particularly when involving social animals such as monkeys, who should not be kept in isolation unnecessarily.
- If the drug's effects are indeed influenced by social interaction, then Ian's findings could be limited in relevance. It is important to weigh the benefits of the research against the potential harm to the subjects involved.
- Lastly, considering the complexities of drug effects and the behavioral responses, further studies observing groups of monkeys in more natural settings may yield more generalizable results.