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IB Psychology Syllabus

IB Psychology examines the interaction of the biological, cognitive, and socio-cultural influence on human behaviorNo prior learning of psychology is expected.

AIMS OF IB PSYCHOLOGY

Develop an awareness of how psychology research can be applied for the benefit of human beings.

Ensure that ethical practices are upheld in psychological inquiry.

Develop an understanding of the biological, cognitive, and socio-cultural influences on behavior.

Develop an understanding of alternative explanations of behavior.

Understand and use diverse methods of psychological inquiry.

ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES

1. Knowledge and Comprehension of Specified Content

Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of key terms and concepts in psychology.

Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of psychological research methods.

Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of a range of appropriately identified psychologicaltheories and research studies.

Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of the biological, cognitive, and social-cultural levels of

analysis.

Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of Abnormal Psychology.

2. Application and Analysis

Demonstrate and ability to use example of psychological research and psychological concepts to

formulate an argument in response to a specific question.

3. Synthesis and Evaluation

Evaluate psychological theories and empirical studies.

Discuss how the biological, cognitive, and socio-cultural levels of analysis can be used to explain

behavior.

Evaluate research methods.

4. Select and Use Skills Appropriate to Psychology

Demonstrate the acquisition of knowledge and skills required for experimental design, data collectio

and presentation, data analysis, and interpretation.

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GRADING

IB students will be graded using the same scale as the AP students. IB students will be required to complete all ofthe same assignments as the AP students as well as additional assignments that will be used to supplement the AP

curriculum.

IB students will be expected to meet outside of class to discuss: IB Learning Outcomes, empirical research studies,

experimental research design, Exam preparation.

Because this class is taught along with the AP curriculum, it will at times be onerous to handle all of the work. IB

students are expected to keep up with all assigned readings and to ask for help when needed.

PLAGIARISM

See Supplemental Handout.

SIMPLE EXPERIMENT (IB Internal Assessment)

All IB Psychology students will be required to complete a simple research experiment. Students will develop a

hypothesis, design and administer an experiment, collect data, analyze results, and write up a research paper.

CLASS OVERVIEW

IB PSYCHOLOGY AP PSYCHOLOGY

CORE: 90 Hours

Biological Level of Analysis

Research Methods & Statistics

Brain and Neuroscience

GeneticsLanguage

Intelligence and Individual Differences

Cognitive Level of Analysis Memory

LearningMotivation and Emotion

Sensation and Perception

Socio-Cultural Level of Analysis Social Psychology

Developmental Psychology

OPTION: 30 Hours

Abnormal Psychology

Abnormal Psychology

States of Consciousness

30 Hours

Simple Experiment Simple Research Paper

IB LEARNING OUTCOMES

Biological Level of Analysis

General Learning Outcomes

o Outline principles that define the biological level of analysis.

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

research.

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o Discuss how and why particular research methods are used at the biological level of analysis.

o Discuss ethical considerations related to research studies at the biological level of analysis.

Physiology and Behavior

o Explain one study related to localization of function in the brain.

o Using one or more examples, explain effects of neurotransmission on human behavior.

o Using one or more examples, explain functions of two hormones in human behavior.

o Discuss two effects of the environment on physiological processes.

o Examine one interaction between cognition and physiology in terms of behavior. Evaluate tw

relevant studies.

o Discuss the use of brain imaging technologies in investigating the relationship between

biological factors and behavior.

Genetics and Behavior

o With reference to relevant research studies, to what extent does genetic inheritance influence

behavior?

o Examine one evolutionary explanation of behavior.

o Discuss ethical considerations in research into genetic influences on behavior.

Cognitive Level of Analysis

General Learning Outcomes

o Outline principles that define the cognitive level of analysis.

o Explain how principles that define the cognitive level of analysis may be demonstrated in

research.

o Discuss how and why particular research methods are used at the cognitive level of analysis.

o Discuss ethical considerations related to research studies at the cognitive level of analysis.

Cognitive Processes

o Evaluate schema theory with reference to research studies.

o Evaluate two models or theories of one cognitive process with reference to research studies.

o Explain how biological factors may affect one cognitive process.

o Discuss how social or cultural factors affect one cognitive process.

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o With reference to relevant research studies, to what extent is one cognitive process reliable.

o Discuss the use of technology in investigative cognitive processes.

Cognition and Emotion

o To what extent do cognitive and biological factors interact in emotion.

o Evaluate one theory of how emotion may affect one cognitive process.

Socio-cultural Level of Analysis

General Learning Outcomes

o Outline principles that define the socio-cultural level of analysis.

o Discuss how and why particular research methods are used at the socio-cultural level of

analysis.

o Explain how principles that define the socio-cultural level of analysis may be demonstrated in

research.

o Discuss ethical considerations related to research studies.

Socio-cultural Cognition

o Describe the role of situational and dispositional factors in explaining behavior.

o Discuss two errors in attributions.

o Evaluate social identity theory, making reference to relevant studies.

o Explain the formation of stereotypes and their effect on behavior.

Social Norms

o Explain social learning theory, making reference to two relevant studies.

o Discuss the use of compliance techniques.

o Evaluate research on conformity to group norms.

o Discuss factors influencing conformity.

Cultural Norms

o Define the terms culture and cultural norms.

o Examine the role of two cultural dimensions on behavior.

o Using one or more examples, explain emic and etic concepts.

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Abnormal Psychology

General Framework

o To what extent do biological, cognitive, and socio-cultural factors influence abnormal

behavior?

o Evaluate psychological research relevant to the study of abnormal behavior.

Concepts and Diagnosis

o Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality.

o Discuss validity and reliability of diagnosis.

o Discuss cultural and ethical considerations in diagnosis.

Psychological Disorders

o Describe symptoms and prevalence of one disorder from two of the following groups:

anxiety disorders

affective disorders

eating disorders

o Analyze etiologies of one disorder from two of the following groups:

anxiety disorders

affective disorders

eating disorders

o Discuss cultural and gender variations in prevalence of disorders.

Implementing Treatment

o Examine biomedical, individual, and group approaches to treatment.

o Evaluate the use of biomedical, individual, and group approaches to the treatment of onedisorder.

o Discuss the use of eclectic approaches to treatment.

o Discuss the relationship between etiology and therapeutic approach in relation to one disorde

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