Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2017
Last exams 2026
Exam code: 7182
Which of the following best describes a reductionist approach in psychology?
Write A, B, C, or D in your answer book.
Explaining behaviour in a complicated way in terms of complex mechanisms.
Explaining behaviour in a simple way in terms of basic units.
Explaining behaviour in one way and ignoring all other explanations.
Explaining behaviour in several different ways at the same time.
Choose your answer
Was this exam question helpful?
Briefly outline what psychologists mean by ‘levels of explanation’.
How did you do?
Was this exam question helpful?
A psychology student carried out a study of excitement at a theme park. She measured the heart rate of people waiting in the queue for a roller coaster.
The student’s tutor said, ‘Using heart rate as a measure of excitement is an example of biological reductionism.’
Explain why measuring heart rate in this situation could be an example of biological reductionism.
How did you do?
Outline two non-biological ways of measuring excitement that the student could also use in this situation.
How did you do?
Was this exam question helpful?
Explain one strength and one limitation of a reductionist approach in psychology.
How did you do?
Was this exam question helpful?
‘Psychologists sometimes adopt a reductionist approach to their investigations when they want their research to be objective and empirical.’
Discuss reductionism in psychological research. Refer to the statement above in your answer.
How did you do?
Was this exam question helpful?
There are different levels of explanation in psychology, ranging from reductionism to holism.
Discuss levels of explanation in psychology. Refer to one or more topics in your answer
How did you do?
Was this exam question helpful?
Outline and evaluate reductionist explanations in psychology.
How did you do?
Was this exam question helpful?