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IB Psychology HL tutor

The six psychological concepts

Bias, causality, change, measurement, perspective and responsibility provide ways to interrogate psychological evidence and its applications. Topics: Bias, Causality, Change, Measurement, Perspective, Responsibility.

Content: the biological approach

The biological approach explains behaviour through brain function, chemical signalling and genetic influences interacting with the environment. Topics: Investigating biological explanations, Genetic and environmental influences, Localization and neuroplasticity, Chemical messengers and neurotransmission.

Content: the cognitive approach

This unit explains behaviour through learning processes and the processing of information. Topics: Classical and operant conditioning, Cognitive load and cognitive models, Schema theory, Dual processing and decision biases.

Content: the sociocultural approach

This unit explains how social interaction, group membership and culture shape behaviour. Topics: Dissonance, compliance and conformity, Cultural dimensions and research perspectives, Enculturation and acculturation, Social identity and social learning.

Content: research methodology

This unit examines how psychologists select methods, recruit participants and judge the quality and ethics of research. Topics: Research methods and class practicals, Sampling techniques, Research considerations, Ethics in research and class practicals.

Context: health and well-being

Apply psychological explanations and evidence to mental health disorders, health problems, and their prevention or treatment. Topics: Mental health disorders, Health problems, Prevention and treatment.

Context: human development

Explain changes in behaviour and cognition through biological and sociocultural influences, models of development, and the development of self. Topics: Models of development, Development of self.

Context: human relationships

This context explains group behaviour and interpersonal relationships using psychological theories and evidence. Topics: Group behaviour, Interpersonal relationships.

Context: learning and cognition

This context examines how people learn, make decisions and carry out cognitive processes. Topics: Thinking and learning, Cognitive processes.

HL inquiries: culture, motivation and technology

This organizational unit groups three of the guide's four HL extensions: culture, motivation and technology. Topics: Culture across the four contexts, Motivation across the four contexts, Technology across the four contexts.

Data analysis and HL Paper 3

This organizational unit covers the guide's data analysis and interpretation extension and Paper 3 response practice. Topics: Interpreting quantitative evidence, Interpreting qualitative findings and combining sources.

Assessment craft and the research proposal

Construct responses that meet the different demands of Papers 1 and 2. Topics: Paper 1 response craft, Paper 2 research responses, Designing the research-proposal IA.