Explain how principles that define the biological level of analysis may be demonstrated in research

Explain how principles that define the biological level of analysis may be demonstrated in research. (8)

Explain (8) – Detailed account including reasons or causes.

Evolution theory

Evolution – the passing of genes by those who best adapts to their environment.
Survival of the fittest.
Natural selection – the process where organism best adapts to their environment survive and produces offspring.
The selection of traits which are beneficial to survival and reproduction.
Suggests that behaviour develops over time genetically due to natural selection.
Selfish gene – we are all inherently “selfish” because we have an innate need to increase the chance that our genes be propagated.

Money – Sex Change Case Study (Genetics)
[A]	Prove that nurture determined gender identity, not nature.
[P]	Longitudinal study on David Reimer. David Reimer was a boy who lost his penis while a circumcision accident. Money suggested David’s parents to give him a sex change. He did not reveal his true motive was to prove that nurture determines gender identity, not nature.
[F]	When David grew up, he displayed masculine behaviour. Causing problems in school with his peers.
[C]	Proves the psychosexual development is determined by chromosomes and hormones.
[E]	Ethical guidelines: Unethical A lot of deception and uninformed consent. No protection from physical and mental harm. No rights of withdrawal. Milton Diamond was not convinced, he examined the role of hormones on the developing fetus. Suggesting that psychosexual development is not determined by genitalia or upbringing, but rather chromosomes and hormones.

Animal research are sometimes the only feasible method of executing a research study.
Animal research can be generalised to humans, to some extent, because we are similar.

Seligman – Learned Helplessness Dog Study (Depression)
[A]	Prove that Learned Helplessness can lead to depression.
[P]	A dog was trapped in an enclosed area where the floor was lined with electrodes. The experimenter would activate the electrode once in a while. The dog would jump over a low wall to the other side of the enclosed area where no electrodes were on the floor. The experimenter raised the wall slowly until it was too high for the dog to jump over. Then after a few trials, the experimenter lowered the wall again.
[F]	The dog gave the high wall a few attempts. But after knowing that it is impossible to jump across, the dog gave up and let itself get electrocuted. When the walls were lowered again, the dog did not attempt to jump across.
[C]	The dog learnt that he is incapable of jumping across. Learn that its are helpless therefore lowering its self esteem.
[E]	Low in ecological validity, lab experiment. Controlled, no confounding variable. Animal experiment can provide insight into human behaviour. Unethical, participants did not have rights to withdraw. Induced fear and depression into participants.

Kasamatsu & Hirai – Monk Serotonin Study (Serotonin)
[A]	Investigate how sensory deprivation affects the brain.
[P]	Studied a group of Monks on a 72 hour pilgrimage to a mountain. The Monks were not allowed to speak, eat or drink. They were exposed to cold late autumn weather. After 48 hours, the Monks started seeing hallucinations of ancestors and feeling their presence.
[F]	Researchers took blood samples before and after their pilgrimage. The found increased level of serotonin in the Monks’ brain. Especially in the Hypothalamus and Frontal Cortex. Resulting in hallucination.
[C]	Sensory deprivation triggered the release of Serotonin. Serotonin – responsible for Sleep, Arousal level, and Emotions.