AICE Psychology Questions with
Accurate Answers
Social Approach Strengths - ✔✔°We can discover how we are likely to behave in social
situations.
°It tends to be a holistic approach as it usually looks at different levels of explanation.
Social Approach Weaknesses - ✔✔°Social knowledge may become redundant as societies
change.
°It's difficult to control all variables because social behavior is very complex.
Cognitive Approach Strengths - ✔✔°Uses the experimental method, i.e. manipulation of an IV,
and so it's scientific.
°Deals with the mind which many would say is central to any understanding of human
psychology.
Cognitive Approach Weaknesses - ✔✔°It assumes all people's cognitive processes are the same.
°The analogy of information processors is too reductionist. (Doesn't account for social,
emotional, behavioral, etc. factors)
Behavioral/ Developmental Approach Strengths - ✔✔°Emphasizes growth and change and how
early life experiences can have various consequences at later stages.
°Could provide useful information on what behavior is learned and what's inherited.
Behavioral/ Developmental Approach Weaknesses - ✔✔°Studies take time, especially
longitudinal ones. Snapshot can be used, comparing kids, but the kids might be different. °We
can generalize from kids behavior and assume what they do as kids is what they'll do as adults.
, Biological Approach Strengths - ✔✔°Involves direct observation (e.g. brain activity), so it's more
scientific than a self report.
°Uses the experimental method, with scientific apparatus and controls to try to determine
cause and effect.
Biological Approach Weaknesses - ✔✔°Findings often show correlations, but we can't assume
cause and effect.
°Apparatus may provide false or misleading information- the data may be reliable but not
necessarily valid.
Individual Differences Approach Strengths - ✔✔°Interested in individual differences, not
generalizations.
°It we look at what's abnormal, we can gain a very good insight into normality.
Individual Differences Approach Weaknesses - ✔✔°Research might have limited generalizability
and therefore might not be useful for the rest of the population.
°There's an assumption that there's such thing as normality but it's difficult to define or
recognize.
Usefulness Strengths - ✔✔°If research is useful, it can be a benefit to society and improve the
world in which we live.
°It helps us to understand social behavior, our interactions with others, obedience, etc.
Problems with being useful - ✔✔°A study must be ethical but it may need to be unethical to be
truly useful. °It should be ecologically valid. Lab studies and tasks that aren't true to real life
may be less useful.
Reasons for studying Ethnocentric Bias - ✔✔°It allows us to discover that not all cultures are the
same.
°It might allow us to discover the causes of prejudice; to realize our value aren't the only ones
possible. It educates us not to make value judgements.
Accurate Answers
Social Approach Strengths - ✔✔°We can discover how we are likely to behave in social
situations.
°It tends to be a holistic approach as it usually looks at different levels of explanation.
Social Approach Weaknesses - ✔✔°Social knowledge may become redundant as societies
change.
°It's difficult to control all variables because social behavior is very complex.
Cognitive Approach Strengths - ✔✔°Uses the experimental method, i.e. manipulation of an IV,
and so it's scientific.
°Deals with the mind which many would say is central to any understanding of human
psychology.
Cognitive Approach Weaknesses - ✔✔°It assumes all people's cognitive processes are the same.
°The analogy of information processors is too reductionist. (Doesn't account for social,
emotional, behavioral, etc. factors)
Behavioral/ Developmental Approach Strengths - ✔✔°Emphasizes growth and change and how
early life experiences can have various consequences at later stages.
°Could provide useful information on what behavior is learned and what's inherited.
Behavioral/ Developmental Approach Weaknesses - ✔✔°Studies take time, especially
longitudinal ones. Snapshot can be used, comparing kids, but the kids might be different. °We
can generalize from kids behavior and assume what they do as kids is what they'll do as adults.
, Biological Approach Strengths - ✔✔°Involves direct observation (e.g. brain activity), so it's more
scientific than a self report.
°Uses the experimental method, with scientific apparatus and controls to try to determine
cause and effect.
Biological Approach Weaknesses - ✔✔°Findings often show correlations, but we can't assume
cause and effect.
°Apparatus may provide false or misleading information- the data may be reliable but not
necessarily valid.
Individual Differences Approach Strengths - ✔✔°Interested in individual differences, not
generalizations.
°It we look at what's abnormal, we can gain a very good insight into normality.
Individual Differences Approach Weaknesses - ✔✔°Research might have limited generalizability
and therefore might not be useful for the rest of the population.
°There's an assumption that there's such thing as normality but it's difficult to define or
recognize.
Usefulness Strengths - ✔✔°If research is useful, it can be a benefit to society and improve the
world in which we live.
°It helps us to understand social behavior, our interactions with others, obedience, etc.
Problems with being useful - ✔✔°A study must be ethical but it may need to be unethical to be
truly useful. °It should be ecologically valid. Lab studies and tasks that aren't true to real life
may be less useful.
Reasons for studying Ethnocentric Bias - ✔✔°It allows us to discover that not all cultures are the
same.
°It might allow us to discover the causes of prejudice; to realize our value aren't the only ones
possible. It educates us not to make value judgements.
