paper 2 2022 Flashcards
(27 cards)
Explain what is meant by ‘primary sources’ in psychology (2)
Exemplar answers:
Information sources/data that is directly collected by the researcher firsthand e.g. they collect data through a questionnaire, experiment, interviews
etc. for their research (2 marks)
Data that is collected by the researcher (1 mark)
* Any other appropriate content.
Explain what is meant by ‘secondary sources’ in psychology. (2)
Exemplar answers:
Information sources/data that have not been directly collected /created by
the researcher e.g. use of methods such as content analysis of existing
data, or literature reviews. (2 marks)
The researcher uses data that already exists (1 mark)
* Any other appropriate content
Using examples from psychology, discuss why primary sources may be better
than secondary sources. (6)
Credit will be given for:
* Primary sources may be more valid than secondary sources as the
researcher has designed the investigation and the method of data
collection specifically to test a hypothesis. For example, an experiment
can be controlled to reduce or eliminate the effect of extraneous
variables.
* Primary sources may be more ethical than secondary sources as the
researcher has control over how participants are recruited and tested
and can ensure that BPS guidelines are followed. For example, an
interview of a sensitive topic can be adjusted to take into consideration
any sensitive issues that arise.
* However, primary sources may be more time consuming to collect and
analyse data whereas secondary data is already available; for example,
existing medical data exists to examine the effectiveness of drug
therapy for clinical disorders.
* Primary sources cannot examine historical trends whereas secondary
sources can be looked at over time to see trends and changes; for
example, we can understand obedience to authority at different points
in time.
* Any other appropriate content.
Explain the difference between quantitative and qualitative data (2)
Exemplar answers:
Quantitative data is a type of data that can be measured numerically by the
psychologist, so that statistical analysis can be completed, whereas
qualitative data is a type of data that can be observed, but not measured
numerically, usually in the form of words. (2 marks)
Quantitative data is usually numbers whereas qualitative data is often in
word form. (1 mark)
* Any other appropriate content
Evaluate the use of qualitative data in psychological research (4)
Credit will be given for:
Strengths
* Validity.
* Ethical consideration.
Weaknesses
* Lower reliability.
* More time consuming to analyse.
Any other appropriate content.
Describe the following ways of assessing validity in psychological research:
(a) concurrent validity (2)
Exemplar answers:
Validating a measurement by comparing it with an established
measurement that has known validity. If similar results occur on both tests,
then this new test is valid. If not, then the new test would have to be
redesigned and tested. (2 marks)
Comparing the results of a test to the results of an existing test which is
valid (1 mark)
* Any other appropriate content
Describe the following ways of assessing validity in psychological research:
(a) construct validity
Exemplar answers:
The most sophisticated test of validity as it looks at whether the overall
results reflect the phenomena as a whole (external validity). Checking the
existing definitions of the behaviour being studied and redesigning the test
if it measures a different construct. (2 marks)
Checking that the test is measuring the construct that it claims to be
measuring (1 mark)
* Any other appropriate content
(p2 2022) Identify which measures of central tendency are represented by (a) and (b) on this
diagram: (1)
mean
(p2 2022) Identify which measures of central tendency are represented by (a) and (b) on this
diagram: (2)
mode
Define the term ‘case studies’. (2)
Exemplar answer:
A method which involves an in-depth investigation of a phenomenon, which
uses a descriptive analysis of a person, group or event. It is a holistic study
through one or more methodologies that is usually longitudinal (2 marks)
An in-depth investigation of a person or event using several methods (1
mark)
* Any other appropriate content
Explain one strength and one weakness of using case studies in
psychological research. (2+2)
Credit will be given for:
Strength
* Higher validity due to in-depth data and/or analysis.
* Less ethical issues due to the use of several methods.
Weaknesses
* Less reliable due to the varied methodology.
* Possible ethical issues of anonymity or confidentiality due to studying
an individual or small group.
* Any other appropriate content.
Briefly describe the results found by Milgram in his (1963) research
‘Behavioural Study of Obedience’. (2)
Example answers:
Milgram found that 65% of his participants obeyed the experimenter and
gave the 450-volt shock. Some participants were seen to sweat or dig their
fingernails into their flesh. [2 marks]
26 participants or 65% of the participants displayed obedience; 35% of the
participants were disobedient. [1 mark]
Milgram tested 40 males to see how many would be obedient; he found
two-thirds of his sample were obedient. [1 mark]
* Any other appropriate content.
Milgram conducted an observation of obedience using a volunteer (selfselected) sample in a laboratory environment. Evaluate the methodology,
sample and location of research used by Milgram in his (1963) research
‘Behavioural Study of Obedience’ (12)
Credit will be given for:
Evaluation of the sample:
* The sample was all male so prone to beta bias, meaning the findings
could not be generalised to women but this was acceptable scientific
research at the time.
* The sample contained a range of ages, occupations and backgrounds,
but it was limited by location (New Haven, USA) meaning the findings
cannot be generalised to other cultures; cross cultural studies have
produced mixed findings.
* The sample was self-selecting which may have meant that the
participants were more likely to take the research seriously; however,
only certain people might volunteer for research.
Evaluation of the observation
* Several observers were used, increasing the internal reliability of the
method but the observers did discuss their surprise at what they were
witnessing which could have affected their interpretation of the
behaviour.
* Objective measures recorded the behaviour of the participant,
increasing validity but this does not give an insight as to how they were
feeling or what they were thinking.
Evaluation of the location (laboratory)
* The research controlled for extraneous variables by using standardised
procedures, such as the same confederate and prods. This allowed for
the study to be repeated to test for reliability (e.g. Burger 2009) but
critics claim that the standardised procedures were not maintained after
the first few trials (Perry).
* The study lacks ecological validity as it is not an everyday task to be
asked to administer electric shocks on command; but Milgram claimed
that events such as the Holocaust were not everyday acts and soldiers
were often in a unique situation.
* Any other appropriate content
N.B. Description of the issues will be limited to 1-3 marks
(p2 2022) A primary school headteacher received complaints from a few parents that a teacher
was discriminating against the boys in her class. The parents complained the teacher
was giving the boys more negative attention and less positive attention than the girls.
The headteacher asked an educational psychologist to carry out a participant
observation. Using event sampling, she recorded how many times the teacher paid
attention to the pupils in the class, noting the gender of the pupil and whether the
attention was negative or positive. The educational psychologist’s findings are shown
in the table below: Describe what is meant by the term ‘participant observation’. (2)
Exemplar answers:
A research method where the researcher takes on the role of a participant
whilst observing other participants’ behaviour around them (2 marks)
Where the researcher is part of the event being studied (1 mark)
Any other appropriate content.
(p2 2022) A primary school headteacher received complaints from a few parents that a teacher
was discriminating against the boys in her class. The parents complained the teacher
was giving the boys more negative attention and less positive attention than the girls.
The headteacher asked an educational psychologist to carry out a participant
observation. Using event sampling, she recorded how many times the teacher paid
attention to the pupils in the class, noting the gender of the pupil and whether the
attention was negative or positive. The educational psychologist’s findings are shown
in the table below: Describe what is meant by the term ‘event sampling’. (2)
Exemplar answers:
Event sampling is a method of recording behaviour in an observation. The
researcher records how many times a particular event occurs. [2 marks]
Event sampling is when the researcher counts how many times something
happens [1 mark]
Any other appropriate content.
(p2 2022) A primary school headteacher received complaints from a few parents that a teacher
was discriminating against the boys in her class. The parents complained the teacher
was giving the boys more negative attention and less positive attention than the girls.
The headteacher asked an educational psychologist to carry out a participant
observation. Using event sampling, she recorded how many times the teacher paid
attention to the pupils in the class, noting the gender of the pupil and whether the
attention was negative or positive. The educational psychologist’s findings are shown
in the table below: Identify the level of measurement of the data collected by the researcher in
this research. (1)
Credit will be given for:
* Interval data
* Ratio data
(p2 2022) A primary school headteacher received complaints from a few parents that a teacher
was discriminating against the boys in her class. The parents complained the teacher
was giving the boys more negative attention and less positive attention than the girls.
The headteacher asked an educational psychologist to carry out a participant
observation. Using event sampling, she recorded how many times the teacher paid
attention to the pupils in the class, noting the gender of the pupil and whether the
attention was negative or positive. The educational psychologist’s findings are shown
in the table below: The educational psychologist decided to write up a report about the observation
for the headteacher. In the report she decided to convert the data in Fig. 1 into
percentages. Showing your workings, calculate the percentage for the number of times
negative attention was received by a male pupil. (2)
Credit will be given for:
* Correct percentage = 30%
* Correct calculation:
* 12 students divided by the total of 40 students multiplied by 100
* 12/40 x 100
* Any other appropriate content
(p2 2022) A primary school headteacher received complaints from a few parents that a teacher
was discriminating against the boys in her class. The parents complained the teacher
was giving the boys more negative attention and less positive attention than the girls.
The headteacher asked an educational psychologist to carry out a participant
observation. Using event sampling, she recorded how many times the teacher paid
attention to the pupils in the class, noting the gender of the pupil and whether the
attention was negative or positive. The educational psychologist’s findings are shown
in the table below: The educational psychologist decided to write up a report about the observation
for the headteacher. In the report she decided to convert the data in Fig. 1 into
percentages. Showing your workings, calculate the percentage for the number of times
positive attention was received by a female pupil. (2)
Credit will be given for:
* Correct percentage = 45%
* Correct calculation:
* 18 students divided by the total of 40 students multiplied by 100
* 18/40 x 100
* Any other appropriate content
(p2 2022) A psychologist investigated the claim a company had made about its brain training
app. The company claimed that using the app every day could improve memory. He
decided to conduct a matched pairs experimental design, using 20 pairs. Group One
used the brain training app for 15 minutes every day, Group Two did not use the app
at all. Each of the groups was given a memory test (on a scale of 0-10) once a week
for five weeks. The memory test was administered in a laboratory. The psychologist
calculated the mean score of each group for each of the weekly tests and the results
are shown on the graph below. Identify the graphical representation used by the psychologist in Fig.3. (1)
Credit will be given for:
* A line graph.
* A line plot / line chart.
* Any other appropriate content.
(p2 2022) A psychologist investigated the claim a company had made about its brain training
app. The company claimed that using the app every day could improve memory. He
decided to conduct a matched pairs experimental design, using 20 pairs. Group One
used the brain training app for 15 minutes every day, Group Two did not use the app
at all. Each of the groups was given a memory test (on a scale of 0-10) once a week
for five weeks. The memory test was administered in a laboratory. The psychologist
calculated the mean score of each group for each of the weekly tests and the results
are shown on the graph below. Explain why the graphical representation used by the psychologist in
Fig.3. is appropriate in this research. (2)
Credit will be given for:
* Appropriate justification of why the line graph is appropriate.
Exemplar answer:
A line graph was used because the data is showing quantitative
values of scores on a memory test over a specified time interval of
five weeks [2 marks]
A line graph was used because the data is changing over time [1
mark]
* Any other appropriate content
(p2 2022) A psychologist investigated the claim a company had made about its brain training
app. The company claimed that using the app every day could improve memory. He
decided to conduct a matched pairs experimental design, using 20 pairs. Group One
used the brain training app for 15 minutes every day, Group Two did not use the app
at all. Each of the groups was given a memory test (on a scale of 0-10) once a week
for five weeks. The memory test was administered in a laboratory. The psychologist
calculated the mean score of each group for each of the weekly tests and the results
are shown on the graph below.What conclusion can be drawn from the information in Fig.3. (2)
Exemplar answers:
The improvement in the mean scores on the memory test over the
five weeks for the group who used the app was the same (from 6 to
8) as for the group who did not use the app (from 5 – 7). [2 marks]
Both groups improved the same amount over the time period [1
mark]
* Any other appropriate content.
N.B. No credit for inferential conclusions (e.g. the brain training app
did not make memory improve)
(p2 2022) A psychologist investigated the claim a company had made about its brain training
app. The company claimed that using the app every day could improve memory. He
decided to conduct a matched pairs experimental design, using 20 pairs. Group One
used the brain training app for 15 minutes every day, Group Two did not use the app
at all. Each of the groups was given a memory test (on a scale of 0-10) once a week
for five weeks. The memory test was administered in a laboratory. The psychologist
calculated the mean score of each group for each of the weekly tests and the results
are shown on the graph below. Fully explain how the psychologist could have applied the matched pairs
experimental design in this research. (3)
Credit will be given for:
* An appropriate explanation of the way the psychologist could have
matched the pairs in this research; e.g. criteria for matching, how the
pairing was decided and how they were allocated into the two groups.
Exemplar answers:
The researcher could have asked all 40 participants for their age and then
matched each participant with another participant of a similar or close age,
as this is a variable that may influence memory recall. The researcher
would then allocate one of the pairs into group 1 to use the app for the five
weeks and the other to group 2 to complete the tests without the app. [3
marks]
The researcher could have matched the participants on existing recall
skills. He could have given all 40 participants a memory test as a baseline
measure. The participants could then be matched into a pair with another
participant who scored similar or the same baseline score. [2 marks]
The participants could have been matched for gender by putting one male
participant and one female participant into each pair to be tested. [1 mark]
* Any other appropriate content.
(p2 2022) A psychologist investigated the claim a company had made about its brain training
app. The company claimed that using the app every day could improve memory. He
decided to conduct a matched pairs experimental design, using 20 pairs. Group One
used the brain training app for 15 minutes every day, Group Two did not use the app
at all. Each of the groups was given a memory test (on a scale of 0-10) once a week
for five weeks. The memory test was administered in a laboratory. The psychologist
calculated the mean score of each group for each of the weekly tests and the results
are shown on the graph below. In the final week the psychologist compared the memory scores of the 20 pairs; in 18
of the pairs the participants had different memory scores. The psychologist used a
Wilcoxon matched pairs signed ranks test.
(c) Apart from using a matched pairs experimental design, explain two reasons
why a Wilcoxon matched pairs signed ranks test is appropriate to analyse the
data in this research. (2+2)
Credit will be given for:
* Using two groups
* Ordinal data or above
* Test for difference
Exemplar answers:
A Wilcoxon test was appropriate because the test is looking for a difference
between the mean scores of the memory test for the group who used the
brain training app and the group who didn’t use the app. [2 marks]
A Wilcoxon test was appropriate because the participants in each pair were
matched for criteria such as age, as this variable may affect the memory
test scores. [2 marks]
A Wilcoxon was appropriate because the scores are interval data. [1 mark]
* Any other appropriate content.
(p2 2022) A psychologist investigated the claim a company had made about its brain training
app. The company claimed that using the app every day could improve memory. He
decided to conduct a matched pairs experimental design, using 20 pairs. Group One
used the brain training app for 15 minutes every day, Group Two did not use the app
at all. Each of the groups was given a memory test (on a scale of 0-10) once a week
for five weeks. The memory test was administered in a laboratory. The psychologist
calculated the mean score of each group for each of the weekly tests and the results
are shown on the graph below. The researcher used a directional hypothesis and found that the observed
(calculated) value was 53. Using the critical values table, identify which critical value is
appropriate in this research. (1)
Credit will be given for:
* The correct critical value of 40 (for n=18).
* Any other appropriate content.
