The key concepts on which this syllabus is built are set out below. 

• Nature versus nurture 
-The nature-nurture debate is a crucial discussion running through all aspects of psychology in order
to explain behaviour.
• Ethics in psychological research 
- The need for ethical research constrains the investigation of some topics, or the use of some research techniques.

•      Choice of psychological research methods 
- Psychologists have to carefully choose the research method they use in terms of the information they wish to gather. 


•      No one view in psychology is definitive -
Psychological theories are developed by posing hypotheses which are then tested through research.

•      Psychology is now used to underpin many aspects of our lives – it is used in organising businesses, in planning our shops and homes, in treating medical conditions and to improve how we learn. 

Research Methods

1.1 Experiments, 1.2 Self-reports, 1.3 Case studies, 1.4 Observations, 1.5 Correlations, 1.6 Research processes, 1.7 Variables, 1.8 Sampling of participants manipulation, measurement, and control of variables, 1.9 Data and data analysis. 1.10 Ethical considerations, 1.11 Evaluating research: methodological issues.

The approaches considered at AS Level are listed below. Each of these approaches is supported by three core studies. However, some core studies could be considered in the context of a number of approaches.

Biological:

• Dement and Kleitman (1957) – which is a study using a range of methods to investigate the relationship between dream content and eye movements.
• Hassett et al. (2008) – examines sex differences in rhesus monkey toy preferences and whether the results compare to those of children.
• Hölzel et al. (2011) – uses brain scans and questionnaires to investigate how training in mindfulness changes brain structure.

Cognitive:

• Andrade (2010) – which suggests that doodling can improve concentration and memory of a conversation
• Baron-Cohen et al. (2001) – which investigates how a lack of a ‘theory of mind’ in adults with Asperger’s Syndrome or autism can result in problems recognising emotions.
• Pozzolu et al. (2011) – explores child witnesses ability to identify the perpetrator of a crime and factors that affect their accuracy.

Learning:

• Bandura et al. (1961) – which is based on social learning theory and looks at the effect on children’s behaviour of seeing an adult behaving aggressively.
• Fagen et al. (2014) – investigated the use of positive reinforcement training for trunk washing in a group of elephants to improve captive management and welfare.
• Saavedra and Silverman (2002) – is a case study of a young boy with a phobia for buttons and the use of classical conditioning to help reduce his fear and disgust

Social:

• Milgram (1963) – which based on the conflict between individual conscience and obedience to authority and considers how far a person would obey instructions which involved hurting another person.
• Perry et al. (2015) – tested how empathy and oxytocin affected the perception of personal space using a placebo to compare to oxytocin.
• Piliavin et al. (1969) – looks at how bystanders behave in real-life situations and factors that affect their desire to help, including diffusion of responsibility.