AICE Psychology Methodology Exam
Questions and Accurate Answers
Strengths of Social Approach - ✔✔1. It tends to be a holistic approach, as it usually looks at
different level of explanation.
2. We can discover how we are likely to behave in social situations. We follow a script we have
learned from society about society.
Weaknesses of Social Approach - ✔✔1. Societal knowledge may become redundant as societies
change.
2. Social behavior is necessarily culture bound. Therefore, a study conducted in one culture may
say little or nothing about any other culture.
Strengths of Cognitive Approach - ✔✔1. Uses the experimental method (i.e., manipulation of
and IV), so it's more scientific.
2. Deals with the mind, which many psychologists would say is central to any understanding of
human psychology.
Weaknesses of Cognitive Approach - ✔✔1. Assumes all people's cognitive processes are the
same. Thus, not accounting for individual differences.
2. Analogy to information processors is too reductionistic. It doesn't account for other factors
or levels of explanation (e.g., social, emotional, or behavioral).
Strengths of Developmental Approach - ✔✔1. It could provide useful information on what
behavior is learned and what behavior is inherited (nature vs. nurture).
2. It emphasizes growth and change and how an early life experience can have various
consequences at later stages.
Weaknesses of Developmental Approach - ✔✔1. Because of the time needed, attrition can
occur, meaning that participants might drop out of the study.
,2. Children are children and not adults - we cannot generalize from their behavior and assume
that what they do as children will be what they do as an adult.
Strengths of Physiological Approach - ✔✔1. Involves direct observation (such as brain activity),
so it's more scientific than a self-report, which is open to bias, from the participant.
2. The use of recording devices provides consistent and reliable measurements.
Weaknesses of Physiological Approach - ✔✔1. Often reductionistic - can we reduce complex
intentions and emotions to a part of the brain/physiological processes?
2. Findings often show associations, or correlation, but we cannot assume cause and effect.
Strengths of Individual Differences Approach - ✔✔1. Underlines the differences between us,
and arguably takes a more idiographic approach to psychology, rather than a nomothetic
approach.
2. Interested in individual differences, not generalizations.
Weaknesses of Individual Differences Approach - ✔✔1. May have limited generalizability and
therefore might not be useful for much of the population.
2. There is an assumption that there's such a thing as normality. However, this is difficult to
define or recognize.
Strengths of Usefulness - ✔✔1. It can be of benefit to society. It can improve the world in which
we live in.
2. It enhances the value and status of psychology as a subject.
Weaknesses of Usefulness - ✔✔1. A study must be ethical, however, a study may need to be
unethical in order to be truly useful.
2. A study should use a representative sample and be generalizable. Useful research should
apply worldwide so there is no ethnocentrism.
,Strengths of Ethnocentric Bias - ✔✔1. Allows us to discover that not all cultures are the same;
to discover the diversity of behavior and experience that people all over the world have.
2. Might allow us to discover the causes of prejudice; to realize that our values aren't the only
ones possible. It educates us not to make value judgements.
Weaknesses of Ethnocentric Bias - ✔✔1. The sample in a study may be very small or
representative of just one culture, and so findings cannot be generalized to all
countries/cultures.
2. Many cultures have difference philosophies and so cannot be compared.
Strengths of Generalizations - ✔✔1. If research is true of a large number of people, in a large
number of situations, then it can be useful to a large number of people.
2. It means we can predict how people are likely to behave in a particular situation.
Weaknesses of Generalizations - ✔✔1. Usually assumes a nomothetic approach, and so
disregards important individual differences.
2. The findings of studies performed in one country cannot automatically be generalized to all
countries. This would be ethnocentric.
Strengths of Psychometrics - ✔✔1. The use of standardized measures is objective/scientific. 2.
Standardized tests are said to be reliable and valid.
Weaknesses of Psychometrics - ✔✔1. Not all people will be familiar with the tests or test items.
2. Often tests assume that people do not change, but people do.
Strengths of Using Children - ✔✔1. Children represent the most important and formative
period of human development.
2. By understanding children's thoughts and behavior, it might help us to understand adult
thoughts and behaviors.
, Weaknesses of Using Children - ✔✔1. Children might not understand the task or the complex
language of an experimenter.
2. Children under 16 cannot give informed consent and, if debriefed, they might be too young
to understand, leaving them more prone to harm or long-term effects.
Strengths of Using Animals - ✔✔1. In some ways, animals are better participants, as they are
naive and don't respond to demand characteristics.
2. Animal research gives us an understanding of basic learning and motivational systems.
Weaknesses of Using Animals - ✔✔1. We can only observe the way animals behave. We cannot
question them.
2. The behavior of animals is more biologically determines; humans are more influenced by
culture and society (or so we think).
Strengths of Determinism vs. Freewill Debate - ✔✔1. If we can establish cause and effect it
makes the world more understandable and predictable. This suggests that is might be
worthwhile trying to change certain things because it could benefit everyone.
2. Determinism is the purpose and goal of science: to explain causes of things. This makes
psychology more acceptable to society, with its explanations, scientific basis and objectivity.
Weaknesses of Determinism vs. Freewill Debate - ✔✔1. It doesn't allow for free will. A hard
determinist would say that we think we have a choice, but freewill is just an illusion.
2. It's often reductionistic. It can never fully explain behavior because behavior might be far too
complex.
Strengths of Individual vs. Situational Debate - ✔✔1. If we can discover which behaviors are
individually determined and which are situationally determined, such findings may be useful for
society.
2. Reminding ourselves of the power of the situation can help prevent us from blaming people
for their behavior.
Questions and Accurate Answers
Strengths of Social Approach - ✔✔1. It tends to be a holistic approach, as it usually looks at
different level of explanation.
2. We can discover how we are likely to behave in social situations. We follow a script we have
learned from society about society.
Weaknesses of Social Approach - ✔✔1. Societal knowledge may become redundant as societies
change.
2. Social behavior is necessarily culture bound. Therefore, a study conducted in one culture may
say little or nothing about any other culture.
Strengths of Cognitive Approach - ✔✔1. Uses the experimental method (i.e., manipulation of
and IV), so it's more scientific.
2. Deals with the mind, which many psychologists would say is central to any understanding of
human psychology.
Weaknesses of Cognitive Approach - ✔✔1. Assumes all people's cognitive processes are the
same. Thus, not accounting for individual differences.
2. Analogy to information processors is too reductionistic. It doesn't account for other factors
or levels of explanation (e.g., social, emotional, or behavioral).
Strengths of Developmental Approach - ✔✔1. It could provide useful information on what
behavior is learned and what behavior is inherited (nature vs. nurture).
2. It emphasizes growth and change and how an early life experience can have various
consequences at later stages.
Weaknesses of Developmental Approach - ✔✔1. Because of the time needed, attrition can
occur, meaning that participants might drop out of the study.
,2. Children are children and not adults - we cannot generalize from their behavior and assume
that what they do as children will be what they do as an adult.
Strengths of Physiological Approach - ✔✔1. Involves direct observation (such as brain activity),
so it's more scientific than a self-report, which is open to bias, from the participant.
2. The use of recording devices provides consistent and reliable measurements.
Weaknesses of Physiological Approach - ✔✔1. Often reductionistic - can we reduce complex
intentions and emotions to a part of the brain/physiological processes?
2. Findings often show associations, or correlation, but we cannot assume cause and effect.
Strengths of Individual Differences Approach - ✔✔1. Underlines the differences between us,
and arguably takes a more idiographic approach to psychology, rather than a nomothetic
approach.
2. Interested in individual differences, not generalizations.
Weaknesses of Individual Differences Approach - ✔✔1. May have limited generalizability and
therefore might not be useful for much of the population.
2. There is an assumption that there's such a thing as normality. However, this is difficult to
define or recognize.
Strengths of Usefulness - ✔✔1. It can be of benefit to society. It can improve the world in which
we live in.
2. It enhances the value and status of psychology as a subject.
Weaknesses of Usefulness - ✔✔1. A study must be ethical, however, a study may need to be
unethical in order to be truly useful.
2. A study should use a representative sample and be generalizable. Useful research should
apply worldwide so there is no ethnocentrism.
,Strengths of Ethnocentric Bias - ✔✔1. Allows us to discover that not all cultures are the same;
to discover the diversity of behavior and experience that people all over the world have.
2. Might allow us to discover the causes of prejudice; to realize that our values aren't the only
ones possible. It educates us not to make value judgements.
Weaknesses of Ethnocentric Bias - ✔✔1. The sample in a study may be very small or
representative of just one culture, and so findings cannot be generalized to all
countries/cultures.
2. Many cultures have difference philosophies and so cannot be compared.
Strengths of Generalizations - ✔✔1. If research is true of a large number of people, in a large
number of situations, then it can be useful to a large number of people.
2. It means we can predict how people are likely to behave in a particular situation.
Weaknesses of Generalizations - ✔✔1. Usually assumes a nomothetic approach, and so
disregards important individual differences.
2. The findings of studies performed in one country cannot automatically be generalized to all
countries. This would be ethnocentric.
Strengths of Psychometrics - ✔✔1. The use of standardized measures is objective/scientific. 2.
Standardized tests are said to be reliable and valid.
Weaknesses of Psychometrics - ✔✔1. Not all people will be familiar with the tests or test items.
2. Often tests assume that people do not change, but people do.
Strengths of Using Children - ✔✔1. Children represent the most important and formative
period of human development.
2. By understanding children's thoughts and behavior, it might help us to understand adult
thoughts and behaviors.
, Weaknesses of Using Children - ✔✔1. Children might not understand the task or the complex
language of an experimenter.
2. Children under 16 cannot give informed consent and, if debriefed, they might be too young
to understand, leaving them more prone to harm or long-term effects.
Strengths of Using Animals - ✔✔1. In some ways, animals are better participants, as they are
naive and don't respond to demand characteristics.
2. Animal research gives us an understanding of basic learning and motivational systems.
Weaknesses of Using Animals - ✔✔1. We can only observe the way animals behave. We cannot
question them.
2. The behavior of animals is more biologically determines; humans are more influenced by
culture and society (or so we think).
Strengths of Determinism vs. Freewill Debate - ✔✔1. If we can establish cause and effect it
makes the world more understandable and predictable. This suggests that is might be
worthwhile trying to change certain things because it could benefit everyone.
2. Determinism is the purpose and goal of science: to explain causes of things. This makes
psychology more acceptable to society, with its explanations, scientific basis and objectivity.
Weaknesses of Determinism vs. Freewill Debate - ✔✔1. It doesn't allow for free will. A hard
determinist would say that we think we have a choice, but freewill is just an illusion.
2. It's often reductionistic. It can never fully explain behavior because behavior might be far too
complex.
Strengths of Individual vs. Situational Debate - ✔✔1. If we can discover which behaviors are
individually determined and which are situationally determined, such findings may be useful for
society.
2. Reminding ourselves of the power of the situation can help prevent us from blaming people
for their behavior.
