Mnemonics

You'll remember I give out a few mnemonics for the research methods topic. For example, CROC - control, replication, operationalising, cause&effect - for the features of the experimental method. Maybe you could picture and experimenter wearing crocs, or perhaps a crocodile wearing a lab coat?



Anyway, use these and the other ones if you like...in terms of what you really need to know for Research Methods, let's simplify it as much as possible. Two or three 'features' of each method, plus one strength and one weakness for each should do it for questions such as 'Describe and evaluate the ___ method' - the longest type of question in this section.

The other common things which come up include:

- Design (e.g. Repeated Measures/Independent Measures)
- Sampling (Random v's Opportunity)
- Features of a good sample (large, unbiased, representative, random...)
- Hypotheses (be able to write an experimental/null hypothesis)
- Defining measures of central tendency (mean, mode, median) and distribution (range & SD).
- Graphs and charts - be able to identify pie chart, histogram etc and know their uses.

As mentioned in the previous post, past paper questions will be very useful preparation.

Looking ahead to the 2nd Prelim

As you are hopefully well aware, the 2nd Prelim for Psychology will take place next Friday (8th May). A provisional time and place - room A24, 10.30 to 1.00. Sorry about going into lunchtime, but it's either that or morning break! You are welcome to bring snacks with you - I don't want people leaving early beacause they get hungry.
This exam is very important, great preparation for the final exam, and doing well in it will mean we have a very strong case for an appeal if necessary.

You will be doing a lot of your revision by yourselves, due to the Monday holiday, plus I am away at a meeting on Thursday the 7th. From a revision point of view, focus on past papers...SQA advice is to use past paper questions in prelims. Some of these questions might be slightly modified, for example I could change a question on obedience into a question on conformity or whatever. So keep this in mind as you revise.

Make sure you know the format of the exam - any questions then check with me. As a basic quideline, it is more or less the same format as the 2008 exam, but the essay questions could be on Conf&Obed instead of Intelligence.

One last point - remember the importance of A&E marks. They add up to 40% overall, and each correct point you make gets you two marks. Extra A&E marks can also be carried over into K&U, so for example if you put in 50% A&E you can still get credited with all of these marks. (Note that although the paper as a whole has a 60-40 split between K&U and A&E, each individual question has its own mark allocation which you must take note of).

2nd Prelim

As you should know by now, we will be having a second prelim on 8th May. The reason for this exam is mainly to meet SQA requirements for appeals - it is no longer possible to be upgraded to an A or B grade on the basis of a 2-unit prelim. So like a lot of subjects, we now have to do a prelim which covers the whole course.

Although it is not ideal to have to fit in an extra assessment, there are many positives. It provides a good starting point for revision, with the possibility to sort out misunderstandings ahead of the final exam. It is the first time you will have done a complete practice exam, so will be very useful experience. It is also a chance for people who underachieved in January to redeem themselves!

Good luck.

Transactional Model

Introduction

One of the most important theories in stress research today, the 'transactional model' (or 'approach') is important because it takes account of cognitive factors in stress. It is primarily the work of Lazarus and Folkman (1984).

General points

The GAS can be described as a a physiological model of stress, as it focusses on what happens inside the body - the outcomes of stress. The approach of Holmes and Rahe (1967) focusses on the stressors themselves - how they add up to make an individual stressed and ill. The transactional model is different because it focusses on the thought processes of individuals, such as how they view a stressor, and how they view themselves.

The details

The model proposes that a two part mental evaluation of a stressor occurs. This involves:

- Primary appraisal: assessing the stressor to judge how much of a threat it is.

- Secondary appraisal: assessing one's own ability to cope with the stressor. For example, does the person feel up for the challenge, or do they feel tired and overwhelmed?

Once these processes are complete, the person proceeds to tackle the stressor, and the outcome (good or bad) follows.

Evaluation

The transactional model is more realistic that some older models, in that it allows for different people to react to the same stressor in different ways. It can explain why some people find exams stressful, and others don't. Unlike the GAS, the research has been done on humans. It us a current theory which is proving very useful for research.

A negative side of the theory is that it assumes that people are rational in their thought processes, which may not always be true.

The 'GAS'

Introduction

One of the main theories in the area of stress, the 'General Adaptation Syndrome' or 'GAS' is based on the work of Hans Selye and colleagues. It presents the idea that a person proceeds through a series of stages as they fight stress.

Key Ideas

The GAS suggests that all animals including humans react to all stressors in a similar way. The response to stressors is presented as a 'syndrome', a medical term for a group of symptoms that appear together.

The details

The reaction to stress is presented as adaptation or resistance, for Selye believed that this is an important part of how the body fights stressors, including illness. Not all stressors will cause the full range of stages to be experienced, but if they are, then the person progresses throught three main stages:

- Alarm: the body's reactions and heightened and a 'fight or flight' reaction is experienced. The body releases adrenalin and glucose enters the bloodstream. Symptoms include sweating, a raised heart rate. Internally, the adrenal glands enlarge, and stomach ulcers may be present. The immune system is damaged, with a shrinking of the lymph (white blood cell) system.
- Resistance: if the stressor persists, the body adapts to find some way of coping. Stress hormones such as cortisol are released, and the body obtains energy by burning fats. Even though the stressor is still present, symptoms from the alarm stage disappear.
- Exhaustion: if the stress is prolonged for weeks without being overcome, the body may become
exhausted. Symptoms from the first stage reappear. Ultimately this results in 'diseases of adaptation' such as heart disease, and psychological problems such as depression are also likely.

Evaluation

The GAS is a thorough biological theory of stress, based on a large body of experimental evidence. However, a lot of the research has been done on animals (especially rats and birds), making it harder to apply to humans. The theory is based on sound knowledge of biological systems. However, it does not always take account of psychological factors. The idea that all organisms react to all stressors in the same way is certainly an oversimplification.