Lesson 3.6.1

3.6.1 Issues and debates in biological psychology Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Psychology, Unit 3

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

In partnership with Revision Ninja

Lesson 3.6.1, Issues and debates in biological psychology: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Psychology (9PS0), Unit 3: Biological psychology, written with Revision Ninja.

Host it live on the board and students join with a game code on their own devices, or revise alone with Free Play. The answers are revealed in the game.

Host this setFree Play

The 20 questions

  1. Which feature of biological research methods best supports psychology as a science?

    • Subjective self-reports
    • Objective measurements
    • Unstructured interviews
    • Qualitative observations

  2. Keeping a patient's brain scan data secure and anonymous addresses which ethical issue?

    • Right to withdraw
    • Deception
    • Confidentiality
    • Protection from harm

  3. Explaining complex human behaviour using only low-level biological explanations is known as what?

    • Determinism
    • Holism
    • Ethnocentrism
    • Reductionism

  4. What practical issue can degrade image quality during an fMRI brain scan?

    • Participant movement
    • Lack of consent
    • Low cost
    • Demand characteristics

  5. Comparing Freud's psychodynamic theory of aggression with biological explanations illustrates which debate theme?

    • Ethical issues
    • Cultural diversity
    • Scientific status
    • Comparing explanations

  6. Studying how testosterone levels differ between males and females relates to which issue?

    • Social sensitivity
    • Gender differences
    • Ethnocentrism
    • Cultural relativism

  7. Using brain scanning technology to monitor and regulate offender behaviour raises which issue?

    • Social control
    • Ethnocentrism
    • Cultural bias
    • Reductionism

  8. The technological advancement from CAT scans to fMRI demonstrates how psychological understanding has done what?

    • Developed over time
    • Reduced validity
    • Become subjective
    • Remained static

  9. Using biological research on aggression to design rehabilitation programmes is an application of what?

    • Purely theoretical study
    • Psychological knowledge
    • Social learning
    • Unethical practice

  10. Investigating whether aggression stems from genetics or upbringing addresses which major debate?

    • Nature versus nurture
    • Freewill versus determinism
    • Holism versus reductionism
    • Idiographic versus nomothetic

  11. Why is biological research into aggression classified as socially sensitive?

    • Potential group harm
    • It causes stigmatisation
    • Methodological flaw
    • High financial cost

  12. Biological explanations of aggression are often criticised for ignoring social factors. What debate does this illustrate?

    • Cultural relativism
    • Biological reductionism
    • Environmental determinism
    • Idiographic approach

  13. Comparing psychodynamic drives with neurotransmitter levels represents a comparison between which two psychological explanations?

    • Biological and evolutionary
    • Psychodynamic and biological
    • Humanistic and social
    • Cognitive and behavioural

  14. Which practical research design issue is commonly associated with brain scanning studies of aggression?

    • Small sample sizes
    • Demand characteristics
    • Social desirability
    • Ethical deception

  15. Which feature of research into synaptic transmission best supports psychology as a science?

    • Objective measurement
    • Qualitative analysis
    • Introspective reporting
    • Subjective interpretation

  16. Using mandatory biological treatments to modify aggressive behaviour in offenders raises which social issue?

    • Gender bias
    • Researcher bias
    • Ethnocentrism
    • Social control

  17. Focusing solely on testosterone levels whilst ignoring gender role socialisation demonstrates which bias?

    • Sampling bias
    • Cultural bias
    • Experimenter bias
    • Gender bias

  18. Failing to explain potential long-term findings of a brain scan to a participant violates which ethical guideline?

    • Informed consent
    • Right to withdraw
    • Confidentiality
    • Protection from harm

  19. Which debate contrasts innate biology with environmental learning?

    • Free will versus determinism
    • Nature versus nurture
    • Reductionism versus holism
    • Nomothetic versus idiographic

  20. Generalising brain scan results from a single case study to the whole population creates which methodological issue?

    • Low generalisability
    • Observer bias
    • Low internal validity
    • High demand characteristics

All Pearson Edexcel Psychology quizzes