Biological Approach
Core study: Canli et al (2000) Brain scans and emotions
P - Point
High in reliability
Low in ecological validity
High in validity
E - Explain the point
The extent to which a
procedure, task, or measure is
consistent. That it would
produce the same results with
the same people on each
occasion.
The extent to which the study
would be applicable in real life
settings.
The extent to which the
researchers are testing what
they claim to be studying.
E - Example from the study
All ten participants saw 96
images for 2.88 seconds with
12.96 seconds in between
when the participants would
focus on a fixation cross.
For example, participants were
placed in an fMRI scanner in a
laboratory. Participants were
shown 96 images while biting
down on a bite bar to minimize
head movements.
For example, all the
participants were right-handed
healthy females. All the
participants were tested in a
laboratory and given the same
items, which are the 96 images
to rate in each condition. For
all participants, the time that
each item was presented for
2.88 seconds with an interval
R - Relate to the point on why
is it a strength / weakness in
the study
The standardised procedure of
the duration of each image
shown for all participants,
eases the process of
replication of future research
hence the study has high
reliability.
This setting is not normal to
everyday life. Participants had
to lie in the fMRI while rating
the intensity of the 96 images
shown, making the response
shown not genuine not
everyday life, hence making
this study low in ecological
validity.
Therefore, as the environment,
the items, and the duration of
presentation were controlled,
the researchers can be more
confident that there are fewer
confounding variables affecting
the study, resulting in a high
validity.

Low in generalisability Generalisability is how widely
the findings of the study is
applicable to other settings
and populations.
between presentations of
12.96 seconds.
For example, the ten
participants in this study were
only right-handed female
which is not representative of
the whole population.
Therefore, generalisation of
this study is not applicable to
males and people who are left-
handed. Thus, this study is low
in generalisability.