New York University

The scope of experimental approaches. A scientist may try to understand behavior by monitoring molecules, nerve cells, brain regions, or social environments, or some combination of these levels of analysis.

1. Social level
2. Organ level
3. Neural systems level
4. Brain region level
5. Circuit level
6. Cellular level
7. Synaptic level
8. Molecular level

Levels of Analysis

Breedlove, S. & Watson, N. (2017). Behavioral neuroscience, eighth edition. Oxford University Press.

Behavioral Neuroscience 8th Edition

Individuals behaving in social interaction

Social level of analysis

Brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and eyes

Organ level of analysis

Neural systems level of analysis

Brain region level of analysis

Cellular level of analysis

A key challenge in psychology is to connect different levels of analysis. For example, researchers seek to understand how activity at the cellular level, such as the firing of millions of individual neurons, integrates to produce a phenomenon at the cognitive level, such as a conscious thought.

Example of Levels of Analysis: From Neurons to Thoughts

Read the following research scenario and determine the primary level of analysis being used. Provide a brief justification for your choice.

Identifying a Level of Analysis in Psychological Research

The study of perception involves multiple levels of analysis, extending from fundamental biological mechanisms to behavioral outcomes. These levels include:
1) Chemical processes
2) Activation of individual neurons
3) Activation of specific brain structures
4) Activation of interacting groups of brain structures
5) The conscious experience of perception
6) The resulting behavioral output or action

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