A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

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What is the independent variable (IV) in Raine et al.'s study?

Type of crime committed
Whether a participant is an offender pleading NGRI
Age of the participant
Gender of the participant

The correct answer is: Whether a participant is an offender pleading NGRI

In Raine et al.'s study, the independent variable is whether a participant is an offender pleading Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI). This is the critical factor that the researchers manipulated to observe its effects on brain activity, as measured by brain imaging techniques. By comparing brain scans of NGRI offenders to those of a control group of non-offenders, the study aimed to determine differences in neurological functioning associated with violent behavior and the legal context of insanity pleas. The independent variable is essential because it sets the stage for examining the dependent variables, such as the brain activity patterns observed through imaging. The focus on NGRI offenders provides a specific context for understanding the implications of criminal behavior in relation to mental health and brain function, thereby allowing researchers to draw conclusions about the relationship between mental states and violent actions.