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Study guide: Animal research

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  • Study guide: Animal research

In order to prepare for exams, it is important to prepare a "tailor-made" study guide.  A study guide should reflect your own learning and not just what someone tells you is the "best" research to use on an exam.

For the HL extension: "Animal research," you will find an attached study guide.  I recommend that you attempt to fill it in before looking at the responses below.  There is both a paper and a digital copy available.

Animal research study guide

Digital Animal research study guide

Question 1: Discuss the value of animal models in the study of the brain and

behaviour.

Terms/theories: animal models

Research: Brain and behaviour: Rogers & Kesner (2003); Rosenzweig et al (1972); Malberg (2000)  neurogenesis and depression in rats.

Potential links to human behaviour:

Critical thinking: What are the strengths and limitations of animal models?  The problem of operationalizing variables based on human behaviour; genetic and physiological similarity and differences; use human research to support animal models - e.g. Marmot's Whitehall study to support Sapolsky's baboon hierarchies.

Different command terms: Evaluate the use of

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Question 2: Discuss the value of animal models in the study of hormones and/or pheromones.

Terms/theories: animal models

Research: The role of hormones/pheromones: Meaney et al (1988); Sapolsky's research on animal hierarchies;  Shively & Day (2015) on atherosclerosis as a result of cortisol levels in macaque monkeys; Winslow (1993) on vasopressin in prairie voles. Genetics: Farooqi and Rahilly (2006) obesity in rats; Friedman (1950) the OB mouse; Cases et al (1995) aggression in rats.

Potential links to human behaviour:

  • Meaney et al (1988) links to Newcomer et al (1999) 
  • Sapolsky's research on animal hierarchies and cortisol or  Shively & Day (2015) on atherosclerosis as a result of cortisol levels in macaque monkeys links to  Marmot et al (1997) 
  • Winslow (1993) on vasopressin in prairie voles links to Walum et al (2008)
  • The study of leptin in rats and the results of the Amgen study in trying to develop a drug to treat obesity.

Critical thinking: What are the strengths and limitations of animal models?  The problem of operationalizing variables based on human behaviour; genetic and physiological similarity and differences; use human research to support animal models - e.g. Marmot's Whitehall study to support Sapolsky's baboon hierarchies.

Different command terms: Evaluate the use of

text

Question 3. Discuss the value of animal models in the study of genetics.

Terms/theories: animal models

Research: Farooqi and Rahilly (2006) obesity in rats; Friedman (1950) the OB mouse; Cases et al (1995) aggression in rats.

Potential links to human behaviour:

Critical thinking: What are the strengths and limitations of animal models?  The problem of operationalizing variables based on human behaviour; genetic and physiological similarities and differences; use human research to support animal models - e.g. Caspi's research on aggression to support the finding in Cases et al.

Different command terms: Evaluate the use of

text

Question 4: Discuss ethical considerations in animal research on the brain and

behaviour.

This question may also be asked as ethical considerations in animal research on hormones/pheromones or on genetics.

Terms/theories: reduction, refinement, replacement.

Research: Any study may be used to discuss ethical considerations as long as there is a clear link to behaviour.

Critical thinking: why are animals used? Discuss the moral dilemmas - speciesism, the benefit of research to humans. What are the alternatives to animal research?  What at the difficulties of using these alternative methods? What effect does reducing the number of animals have on the reliability of the research?

Different command terms: No other command term may be used.

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