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The IB syllabus in psychology contains four main parts. The first part is concerned with the perspectives, the second part with the options, the third part with research methodology and finally all students have to carry out their own experimental study. There are three main perspectives, the biological, the cognitive and the learning. In addition to that higher level students also study the humanistic perspective. The options include comparative psychology, cultural psychology, psychology of dysfunctional behaviour, health psychology, lifespan psychology, psychodynamic psychology and social psychology. Students at higher level study two options whereas standard level students study only one.  Each of the perspectives should be explored using the following four compulsory topics:  The aims of the psychology course at HL and at SL are to:  First, students must choose an experiment to replicate. When conducting the experiment, the IB demands that certain ethical guidelines be followed After the experiment has been completed, a written report must be produced detailing the experiment. The external assessment, which is administered in May or November, is the second component of the IB Psychology SL exam. The test is divided into two parts, which are referred to as "papers". Using the internal and external assessment, the IB calculates a grade value of one through seven. A score of four is considered passing; a score of seven is considered outstanding 
 * development and cultural contexts 
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">framework <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt;">
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">methodologies <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt;">
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">application. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt;">
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">interpret and/or conduct psychological research to apply the resulting knowledge for the benefit of human beings <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt;">
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">ensure that ethical practices and responsibilities are implemented in psychological inquiry <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt;">
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">develop an understanding of the biological, social and cultural influences on human behaviour <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt;">
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">develop an understanding of different theoretical processes that are used to interpret behaviour, and to be aware of how these processes lead to the construction and evaluation of psychological theories <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt;">
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">develop an awareness of how applications of psychology in everyday life are derived from psychological theories <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt;">
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">develop an appreciation of the eclectic nature of psychology <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt;">
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">understand and/or use diverse methods of psychological inquiry. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt;">