You will have learnt about a key question from health psychology that is relevant to today’s society - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 18 - 2017 - Paper 2

In health psychology, one key question revolves around the effectiveness of different treatment programs and interventions. A significant focus is on how laboratory experiments can help determine the causal relationships between specific drugs and their effects on health outcomes.

AO1: Understanding the Laboratory Method

Laboratory experiments in health psychology are designed to test hypotheses under controlled conditions. Here’s how these experiments contribute:

• Hypothesis-Driven: These experiments have a clear hypothesis that defines what the researcher aims to discover.
• Controlled Variables: By manipulating an independent variable (IV), such as a specific drug, researchers can observe how it affects the dependent variable (DV), like health improvements or side effects. This allows for an examination of both short-term and long-term effects.
• Design Types: Different experimental designs can be employed, such as independent measures, where different participants are tested under varying conditions, or repeated measures, where the same participants are assessed across different tests with the same treatment.

AO2: Application and Limitations

In application, one key aspect involves the control of variables:

• Effect of Other Drugs: Participants, such as monkeys in experiments, might have taken other drugs previously, complicating the assessment of the specific drug's effects. This introduces variability that can affect results.
• Isolation Considerations: When animals are kept in isolation, their responses may not mirror those in social contexts, raising questions about the generalizability of the experiment's findings. For example, if a specific drug affects social behavior, isolation can alter the results.
• Sampling Issues: The choice of using animals that may not be identical to humans in physiological responses can limit the conclusions that can be drawn.

AO3: Establishing Causality

Finally, understanding the implications of controlled conditions is crucial:

• Causality: The use of controlled conditions serves to establish causality, as researchers can eliminate potential confounding variables. For instance, if monkeys receive a specific drug in a controlled setting, the observed effects can be confidently attributed to that drug.
• Appropriateness of Models: While animals are used in many studies, researchers must consider lifespan differences and long-term implications on their health, which may not apply similarly to humans. The ethical considerations of using animals for such experimentation must also be balanced with the potential benefits of healthcare advancements.

In summary, assessing the key question from health psychology involves a critical analysis of how controlled experiments enhance our understanding of health interventions while also recognizing their limitations and ethical implications.