A-LevelPsychologyResearch methods9990/23 · Oct/Nov 2018 · Q88 Marks

Dr Gopal is planning a study about learning and wants it to follow ethical guidelines for the use of animals. He is testing rats in a maze.

(a)Describe how Dr Gopal should follow the ethical guideline of 'housing' in his study.[2]
(b)Dr Gopal is deciding how to train the rats to learn. He could reward them when they make a correct turn in the maze or he could punish them when they make an incorrect turn. Explain which one of these training methods is the most ethical choice for Dr Gopal to make.[2]
(c)Dr Gopal plans to count the number of correct or incorrect turns each rat makes. Explain two advantages of collecting data in this way. 1 2....[4]

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2018). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[2] 2 marks EITHER for a point with detail / an example OR for two simple points.
social company or not
space
food
water
warmth
exercise
security (somewhere to hide)
balance cleanliness and need for own smell
Give them enough food and water = 2 marks
He should not overcrowd them = 1 mark
As they might fight and get distressed / hurt = 2nd mark
He should house them in appropriate conditions in terms of isolation or company; as rats are social animals, this would be in a social group = 2 marks
[2] 1 mark for reason why choice is more ethical
2nd mark for explanation
He should use food because it is nice (= 1 mark identification)
because noise is distressing / painful (and this is unethical) (= 2nd mark explanation linked to guideline = do not distress)
He should not use the noise (= 1 mark identification)
Because food is pleasant but noise is not (= 2nd mark explanation linked to guideline = no aversive stimuli)
Using food is less distressing / harmful that the noise = 1 mark
It is more ethical because this procedure improves the animal's experience rather than worsening it = 2nd mark
He should not use the noise because animals find it frightening (= 1 mark); whereas food is pleasant (= 2nd mark explanation)
[4] 1 mark for identifying an advantage
2nd mark for detail (may be linked to study but does not have to be) × 2
it is numerical / quantitative so is objective
so does not need to be interpreted (detail: explanation)
it is numerical / quantitative so is easy to analyse
e.g. he could calculate means (detail: example)
it is easy / accurate to record (so is valid)
you would be unlikely to make a mistake about whether the rat turned or not (link to study)