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IB Psychology SL
Research in Psychology

Explore research in Psychology with summaries of studies on the cognitive, biological, and sociocultural approaches, with corresponding questions related to describing and evaluation a study. This feature is organised according to qualitative and quantitative research methods. In each study summary, you will find an overview of key study or relevant psychological research, with questions on the aim, methods, results, strengths, and limitations of the study.

How do I use this resource?

Quantitative Research

Examine systematic analysis of numerical data to understand and predict human behaviour and mental processes using psychological studies on cognitive, biological, and sociocultural topics.

Qualitative Research

Explore the depth and complexity of human phenomena through in-depth analysis of narratives, images, and behaviours, using psychological studies on cognitive, biological, and sociocultural topics.

Quantitative Research

Examine systematic analysis of numerical data to understand and predict human behaviour and mental processes using psychological studies on cognitive, biological, and sociocultural topics.

Cognitive Approaches to Human Behaviour

easy

30 mins

Disfluency & Activation of System-Two Thinking (Alter & Oppenheimer, 2007)

A study on the impact of difficult to read fonts on activation of system 2 thinking and subsequent ability to answer cognitive reflection test questions.

medium

30 mins

Impaired Decision-Making and Excessive Social Networking Use (Meshi et al., 2019)

A study on the relationship between excessive social networking (Facebook) use, and impaired decision-making (as measured by the Iowa Gambling Task).

RV Gold

easy

30 mins

Understanding Anchoring Bias Using Numerical Estimates (Tversky and Kahneman, 1974)

A study on the effect of high/low anchor on the numerical estimate given by the participants in time-bound conditions, with corresponding questions.

RV Gold

Biological Approaches to Human Behaviour

medium

30 mins

Scopolamine & Spatial Memory (Antonova et al., 2011)

A study on the impact of scopolamine on hippocampal activity & memory with corresponding questions.

RV Gold

easy

30 mins

Neuroplastic Changes in Grey Matter as a Result of Learning (Draganski et al., 2004)

A study investigating the effects of learning and practising a new skill (juggling) on the human brain with corresponding questions.

RV Gold

medium

30 mins

Decision-Making & Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex Damage (Bechara et al., 1999)

A study on the influence of emotional impairment on decision-making with corresponding questions.

RV Gold

medium

30 mins

Influence of Life Stress on Depression (Caspi et al.,2003)

An overview of the study on the role of the serotonin transporter gene 5-HTT and depression, with corresponding questions.

RV Gold

easy

30 mins

Fear and the Amygdala (Feinstein et al., 2011)

A study investigating how damage to the amygdala would impact subjective fear experiences and responses in a patient with bilateral amygdala damage.

RV Gold

Sociocultural Approaches to Human Behaviour

medium

30 mins

Modeling, Reinforcement, & Aggressive Behaviour (Bandura, 1965)

This is an overview of Bandura's Bobo doll study on observational learning & aggressive behaviour in children with corresponding questions.

RV Gold

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More IB Psychology SL Resources

Questionbank

All the questions you could need! Sorted by topic and arranged by difficulty, with mark schemes and video solutions for every question.

Research in Psychology

Explore key studies in Psychology with study summaries and corresponding questions on describing and evaluating research.

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Practice Exams

Choose your revision tool! Contains topic quizzes for focused study, Revision Village mock exams covering the whole syllabus, and the revision ladder to precisely target your learning.

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Past Papers

Full worked solutions to all past paper questions, taught by experienced IB instructors.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Research in Psychology collection is organised according to the qualitative and quantitative nature of each research study and then further organised according to the approach (e.g., biological, cognitive, or socio-cultural). This allows you to choose a study related to a topic in the curriculum to aid in your revision. Although arranged in the three main approaches, many research studies also relate to multiple subtopics. For example, you may pick a quantitative study related to the biological approach that would also be relevant to the health psychology option.

Yes, each of the Research in Psychology studies would be suitable for supporting a short answer or extended answer response related to the topic investigated in the study. Questions 4 and 5 in the Research in Psychology feature focus on the strengths and limitations of the research study. These questions are a good starting point for evaluating each study, which is an important component of extended responses.

Each question set can take around 30 minutes to complete. Within this timeframe, students are expected to read the overview of the research study and provide concise answers to questions on the aim, method, results, strengths & limitations of the study. How long in takes to complete the question set will depend on the individual student.