Unit 4 - Biological rhythms
- Research studies into circadian, infradian, and ultradian rhythms, including the role of endogenous pace makes and exogenous zeitgebers.
- The consequence of disrupting biological rhythms, e.g. jet lag and shift work.
Text Resources
- Eysenck's A2 Psychology: Key Topics, second edition, pages 125 to 138.
- Dwyer and Charles' Revise A2 Psychology: Key Topics, pages 70 to 78.
Electronic Resources
Teaching Methods / Activities
- Chalk and talk. Brainstorm: The physiological approach and link to biological rhythms.
- Questionnaire: Lark or owl? (This questionnaire is not part of A2-Level Psychology Online — Psychology Press is not responsible for the content of external sites).
- Make notes on the biological rhythms.
- Research activity: Prepare a questionnaire on shift work with questions on the effects and type of rotation. Analyse the data using content analysis.
- Write a newspaper report on research studies into one of the biological rhythms.
- Homework: Essay question.
Assessments
- Brainstorm
- Q&A
- Contribution to discussion
- Quality of newspaper report
- Completion of notes
- Homework essay question:
- Describe two biological rhythms (12 marks).
- Assess the consequences of disrupting biological rhythms (12 marks).