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During the course you will have learned about the classic study by Raine et al - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 8 - 2019 - Paper 1
Question 8
During the course you will have learned about the classic study by Raine et al. (1997). Evaluate the classic study by Raine et al. (1997).
Worked Solution & Example Answer:During the course you will have learned about the classic study by Raine et al - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 8 - 2019 - Paper 1
Step 1
AO1: Overview of Raine et al. (1997)
Answer
Raine et al. (1997) conducted a study examining the brains of 41 individuals who pleaded Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI). The participants were carefully matched based on age (average of 31.7 years) and sex, ensuring a controlled environment for the study. Notably, none of the participants were on medication during the PET scan, which was utilized to measure brain activity. The key finding was that those with NGRI status exhibited lowered activity in the prefrontal and parietal regions of the brain compared to control participants.
Step 2
AO3: Evaluation of Method and Findings
Answer
The uniqueness of the participant sample is a critical strength of this study, as it targets individuals with a specific psychological profile linked to violent behavior. However, this could also pose a challenge for generalizability to broader populations. The application of PET scans provided a high level of objectivity, but the study may still suffer from ecological validity concerns as participants were in a controlled setting during scans.
Moreover, the findings raise important ethical considerations, especially regarding the identification and labeling of individuals as having an inherently lower brain activity linked to violent tendencies. The research suggests a correlation between brain activity and behavior, but causation cannot be firmly established. Ultimately, while the study contributes greatly to understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of violent behavior, it necessitates caution in interpreting the results, particularly in sensitive societal contexts.