as 2009-2013 exams research methods questions + feedback from the report on the examination

AS 2009-2013 exams

Research methods questions+ feedback from the Report on the

Examination

The AS examination January 2009 Unit 1The AS examination January 2009 Unit 1

3 A psychologist showed participants 100 different cards, one at a time. Each card had two unrelated words printed on it, eg DOG, HAT. Participants in one group were instructed to form a mental image to link the words. Participants in the other group were instructed simply to memorise the words.After all the word pairs had been presented, each participant was shown a card with the first word of each pair printed on it. Participants were asked to recall the second word. The following results were found.

3 (a) What is the independent variable (IV) in this study? (2 marks)

Some centres had prepared candidates well for RM questions, but not true of all (a ‘centre effect’).

3 (b) What is the dependent variable (DV) in this study? (2 marks)


3 (c) What experimental design was used in this study? (1 mark)

Students get confused by this term – common answer was lab study but really anything went e.g. peg-word method, random sample.

3 (d) Explain one strength of this experimental design in the context of this study. (1 mark)

Follow on from part (c).

3 (e) Explain how a psychologist could find out whether these results are reliable. (2 marks)

Students did better with this, suggesting replication could be used.

5 (b) Psychologists have carried out research into the use of cognitive interviews. One possible ethical issue which might arise during this research is protection of participants from harm. Explain how psychologists could deal with this ethical issue. (3 marks)

Weaker answers were very brief, eg ‘confidentiality’, ‘debrief them’, etc without making it clear how this strategy would protect the participant from harm.


7 One situation in which disruption of attachment can occur is when a mother of a young child is admitted into hospital. A researcher decided to study the behaviour of a two-year-old boy who experienced this disruption of attachment. She decided to use naturalistic observation of the boy both before his mother was admitted into hospital and after she returned home. Each period of observation lasted for one hour. 7 (a) Suggest two suitable behavioural categories the researcher could use to record the boy’s behaviour. (2 marks)

Many candidates did not understand behavioural categories.

7 (b) How might the researcher record the boy’s behaviour during the one-hour observation? (2 marks)

The requirement for ‘how’ was often ignored.

7 (c) Explain why the psychologist might want to carry out a pilot study before the main observation. (2 marks)

Many think that pilot studies ‘give you the idea for the main study’.


9 A psychologist analysed the results of ‘Strange Situation’ studies from different countries. Some of the results are shown below.

9 (a) Outline what the table above shows about cultural variations in attachment. (3 marks)

Mainly good answers, some candidates inappropriately used their knowledge of cross-cultural research to write about different parenting styles in various countries instead of simply reading the table


2 A doctor has been given a new drug to test, which is intended to help boost the immune system and help prevent people from getting colds.How have psychologists investigated the relationship between stress and the immune system? (4 marks)

Some candidates not prepared for ‘how’.

8 (b) Milgram’s work can be criticised for being unethical. Describe one way in which his work is unethical. (2 marks)

Could get full marks without naming the issue.

8 (c) Apart from ethical issues, give one strength and one limitation of Milgram’s methodology. (2 marks + 2 marks)

More difficult, possibly because they didn’t read the question carefully and didn't focus on research methodology.

3 (b) Outline a method used by psychologists to assess whether someone shows Type A behaviour. (2 marks)

Naming a method not sufficient for 2 marks, needed elaboration.

The AS examination June 2009 Unit 1The AS examination June 2009 Unit 1

3 Some psychology students read about an experiment which suggested that organisation is a useful strategy for improving memory. The students carried out an experiment to investigate the effects of organisation on word recall. They made up a list of 50 items that could be bought in a supermarket. The participants were teachers at their school. One group of participants saw the words organised into categories such as fruit, vegetables, dairy products and cleaning materials. The other group saw the same words presented randomly. The results are given in Table 1 below.Table 1 The number of words correctly recalled by participants who saw the organised list and participants who saw the random list.

3 (a) Identify a suitable measure of central tendency that could be used with these data. Justify your answer. (2 marks)

Some didn’t know what ‘central tendency’ referred to. Some of those who did explained how to calculate the measure or simply defined it, which could not receive credit. Seemed poorly prepared.


3 (b) The psychology students decided to use a volunteer sample. Suggest one way in which this sample could be obtained. (2 marks)

Candidates who had not read the stimulus material carefully enough suggested ways to obtain a volunteer sample which would not have been appropriate for this specific example.

3 (c) Suggest one possible extraneous variable in this study. (1 mark)

Variables to do with word lists not relevant.

3 (d) Suggest one way in which the students could control for this extraneous variable. (2 marks)

Linked to (c).

The psychology students wanted to carry out an experiment to investigate the effectiveness of a different strategy for memory improvement. For this further experiment, suggest the following: 3 (e) (i) an appropriate strategy for memory improvement; (2 marks)

Sometimes gave lengthy descriptions of an appropriate memory strategy, unnecessary.

3 (e) (ii) an appropriate experimental design; (1 mark)

Some confused and confused and suggested laboratory or field

3 (e) (iii) operationalised independent and dependent variables. (2 marks)

Not many got 2 marks because didn’t operationalise both.


Section B Developmental Psychology and Research Methods5 A recent study recorded the amount of time that children spent in day care from birth to four years, and asked each child’s mother to rate her child for aggression and disobedience. The study found that, as the time spent in day care went up, the mothers’ rating of aggression and disobedience also went up. 5 (a) What kind of correlation is this research showing? (1 mark) Few incorrect answers.

5 (b) Outline one strength and one weakness of using correlational research to investigate the effects of day care. (2 marks + 2 marks)

Candidates found it harder to identify a strength than a weakness.

Scenario described.

7 (b) The scenario above is an example of a case study. Outline one strength and one limitation of this research method. (2 marks + 2 marks)

Some candidates got confused with longitudinal and observational research.


8 By observing interactions between the infants and their mothers in a Strange Situation, Mary Ainsworth was able to identify different types of attachment. 8 (a) Describe possible demand characteristics in this research. (3 marks)

Some candidates clearly did not know what the term meant.


2 Questionnaires have often been used in stress research to measure the impact of life changes on health.Outline one advantage and one disadvantage of using questionnaires in stress research. (3 marks + 3 marks)

Many candidates failed to identify one (either advantage or disadvantage) but instead linked several together. Therefore their answers lacked detail and they seldom gained more than one mark.

7 (a) Outline one method that psychologists have used to study conformity. (2 marks)

A concise answer naming an appropriate study and identifying the method could gain 2marks.

7 (b) Explain one limitation of this method. (2 marks) Ethical issues not a limitation per se.

7 (c) Suggest an appropriate way of overcoming this limitation. (2 marks)

AS 2010 exams


2 A case study was carried out on Peter whose brain was damaged in a motorcycle accident. Psychologists tested how many numbers he could hold in his short-term memory. They did this by reading him lists of numbers and asking him to recall the numbers immediately in the right order. He could recall a maximum of two items. The psychologists found that his long-term memory was normal.

2 (c) Identify one ethical issue associated with this case study of Peter. Suggest how psychologists could deal with this ethical issue. (4 marks)

Some failed to state the issue, just dealt with unspecified issue.


3 A psychologist carried out a field experiment to investigate the accuracy of eyewitness testimony. The participants were pupils and parents attending a school concert. Justbefore the concert began, two professional actors had an argument on the stage. Duringthe argument, one actor pushed the other actor. Both actors then left the stage. Some of the audience were approached as they left the concert and were asked to take part in an experiment. Those who agreed were taken to a quiet room and were asked some questions about the argument. For some participants, the questions included, “Did you see the man in glasses push the other man?” In fact, neither man was wearing glasses. The participants were then asked to describe the argument in their own words. 3 (a) What is a field experiment? (2 marks)

Identified real world setting but unclear about control of IV (thought it was controlled but not manipulated).

3 (b) Other than ethical issues, outline one weakness of using a field experiment in this investigation. (2 marks)

Better answers included an example.


3 (c) Suggest why the psychologist included the question about the man in glasses. (2 marks)

Some students thought it was included to effect anxiety.

3 (d) The psychologist applied content analysis to each participant’s description of the argument. One behavioural category the psychologist selected was “pushing”. Suggest one other relevant behavioural category the psychologist could select. Explain how the content analysis could be carried out. (1 mark + 3 marks)

Students don’t understand ‘behavioural category’ nor do they understand the process of content analysis.


6 A psychologist investigated the effect of different forms of day care on children’s later social development. She selected two different types of day care: •child minders •day nurseries.The children had been in one of these types of day care full-time for at least a year before they started primary school.Each child’s mother was asked to complete a questionnaire. 6 (a) Identify one sampling technique and explain how it could be used to select the children. (1 mark + 2 marks)

Most scored full marks, some muddled opportunity and volunteer sampling. Random sampling – don’t write enough for 2 marks.

6 (b) The questionnaire given to the mothers included questions about the way their children’s social behaviour changed over time. Explain what is meant by children’s social behaviour. (2 marks)

Marks lost because no example/elaboration.

6 (c) Write one suitable question which could be used in the questionnaire to produce quantitative data. (2 marks)

Generally good though some poorly operationalised.

6 (d) Write one suitable question which could be used in the questionnaire to produce qualitative data. (2 marks)

Some write questions with categorical answers.

6 (e) Give one weakness of using questionnaires in this research. (2 marks)

Social desirability bias is the favourite. Also lack of ability to follow up answers.



One measure of the functioning of the immune system is the level of activity of white blood cells. 3 (a) What does the graph below tell you about the relationship between stress and the level of activity of white blood cells?

(2 marks)Mostly accurate answers.


3 (b) Outline one strength and one weakness of using correlations in stress research. (4 marks)

Rarely able to give a strength, just gave a definition.


7 In an experiment into conformity, an experimenter varied both the number of confederates (stooges) and the ambiguity of the task. The bar chart below shows the findings.

7 (a) What does the bar chart show about conformity? (4 marks)

Many went beyond the graph and related conclusions to Asch etc. Not creditworthy.


7 (b) Most research into conformity takes place in a laboratory. Outline one strength of conducting research into conformity in a laboratory. (2 marks) Answered well.


3 A researcher carried out an experiment to investigate how many numbers could be held in short-term memory. The participants were 15 children and 15 adults. Participants were asked to repeat lists of random numbers, in the correct order, as soon as they were read out by the researcher. For example, when the researcher said, “3, 4, 2, 8” the participant immediately repeated “3, 4, 2, 8”. When the researcher then said, “7, 5, 9, 6, 4” the participant immediately repeated “7, 5, 9, 6, 4”. One number was added to the list each time until participants were unable to recall the list correctly. Each participant’s maximum digit span was recorded.

3 (a) Write an appropriate non-directional hypothesis for this experiment. (2 marks)

Poor answers of every variety.

3 (b) Explain why the researcher used an independent groups design for this experiment. (2 marks)

Some candidates did work this out but not most who just defined ind gps


3 (c)

Generally correctly answered.


3 (d) What does the frequency distribution show about the results? (3 marks)

Many candidates were only able to make a single point ie that adults generally had better recall than children and then ‘padded out' their answer with repetition of the same point. A common pitfall was for candidates to state that 6 was the maximum number of digits recalled by children (or 7 by adults) instead of realising that this was the modal score. It appears that candidates could benefit from more practical experience of interpreting graphs.

5 (c) Explain why it might be better to carry out research into eyewitness testimony in the real world, rather than in a laboratory. (3 marks)

Weak answers just said higher ecological validity with no explanation.


6 (b) A psychologist investigated the relationship between type of attachment in childhood and success in later adult relationships. He published a questionnaire in a local newspaper. The participants were people who read the newspaper, filled in the questionnaire and sent it to the psychologist. Participants’ answers to the questions were used to decide whether they had been securely or insecurely attached as children. The participants who were identified as securely attached children were more likely to have successful adult relationships than those identified as insecurely attached children. Identify the sampling technique used in this study. Outline one weakness of using this sampling method. (3 marks)

A surprising number of candidates did not understand what was meant by a sample and identified the method (questionnaire) instead.

6 (c) Identify one ethical issue the researcher would need to consider in this research. Suggest how the researcher could deal with this ethical issue. (3 marks)

Good answers, informed consent didn’t work well.


6 (d) Questionnaires and interviews are both self-report techniques. Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of using a questionnaire rather than an interview. (4 marks)

Main pitfall was to describe a strength or weakness without explaining it in comparison to an interview.

7 Observation in a Strange Situation has been used to investigate cultural variations in attachment. 7 (a) Give one advantage of using observation in psychological research. (2 marks)

OK, some just described observational studies.


Section A Biological Psychology 1 The following data show the results from a study into different strategies for coping with stress. 100 student volunteers were first given a talk about emotion-focused approaches and then given a talk about problem-focused approaches. They were then asked which one of these strategies they generally preferred.

1 (a) What might the researcher conclude from these data? (2 marks) Most got full marks.

Section B Social Psychology 4 (a) Milgram’s experiments into obedience can be criticised as being unethical. Describe two ethical issues that can be illustrated by Milgram’s research. (4 marks)

Generally OK, some overlook fact that Milgram did give right to withdraw.

4 (b) Choose one of the ethical issues identified in your answer to 4(a) and explain a way of dealing with it. (2 marks)

Some have difficulty with way to deal with it.

2 (b) Outline one way in which psychologists measure Type A personality. (2 marks)

OK

as 2009-2013 exams research methods questions + feedback from the report on the examination

Documents

pilot study

main study

lab study

hour observation

main observation

protection of participants

different countries

marksmany candidates