2 Markers

Question 1

Explain what is meant by ‘primary sources’ in psychology.

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

Explain what is meant by ‘secondary sources’ in psychology.

Answer 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.

Question 3

Explain the difference between quantitative and qualitative data.

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Describe the following ways of assessing validity in psychological research:
(a) concurrent validity

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Describe the following ways of assessing validity in psychological research:
(b) construct validity

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Define the term ‘case studies’.

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Briefly describe the results found by Milgram in his (1963) research
‘Behavioural Study of Obedience’.

Answer 7

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. [2marks]

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.

Question 8

Describe what is meant by the term ‘participant observation’.

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

Describe what is meant by the term ‘event sampling’.

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

Define the term ‘null hypothesis’.

Answer 10

Exemplar answers:
A statement which predicts that any findings will be down to chance / other factors. [2 marks]

A hypothesis that suggests there will be no difference/ relationship between variables, any that does occur does so by chance. [2 marks]

A prediction that the findings will not be statistically significant. [2marks]

The results will be down to chance. [1 mark]
* Any other appropriate content.

Question 11

Give an example of a null hypothesis.

Answer 11

Exemplar answers:
There will not be a significant relationship between time of day and concentration in lessons. [2 marks]

The difference between genders on sports performance will be down to chance. [1 mark]
* Any other appropriate content.

Question 12

Explain why a psychologist would accept the null hypothesis.

Answer 12

Exemplar answers:
* The findings from the inferential test did not reach significance at the minimum accepted level of p<0.05. [2 marks]
* The psychologist did not have a significant result. [1 mark]
* Any other appropriate content.

Question 13

Explain one advantage of using event sampling in psychological observations.

Answer 13

Credit will be given for:
* Event sampling allows for all behaviour to be recorded which means that the findings could be more valid because the researcher does not miss anything.
* Allows for the study of events or behaviours that may be frequently or infrequently occurring.
* Any other appropriate content.

2
* Appropriate explanation of one advantage of event sampling.

Question 14

Define the following terms:
(a) Target population.

Answer 14

Exemplar answers:
A group of people who are of interest to the researcher from where the sample is selected. [2 marks]

The group of individuals that a researcher is interested in studying e.g. people in the UK. [2 marks]

The people the researcher is interested in for the study. [1 mark]
* Any other appropriate content.

Question 15

Define the following terms:
(b) Systematic sampling.

Answer 15

Exemplar answers:
A sampling technique where every nth person on a list is selected by the researcher e.g. every 3rd house on a street, or 5th person on a register. [2 marks]

A sample where every n th person is selected. [1 mark]
* Any other appropriate content

Question 16

Define the following terms:
(c) Demand characteristics.

Answer 16

Exemplar answers:
The participants guess the aim of the study and change their behaviour accordingly [2 marks]

A type of confounding variable where participants unconsciously work out the aim and act differently (either through social desirability or the screw you effect). [2 marks]
* Any other appropriate content.

Question 17

Define the following terms:
(d) Quasi experiment.

Answer 17

Exemplar answers:
An experiment conducted in a controlled or natural environment where the independent variable is not manipulated by the researcher. [2 marks]

A research method where the IV arises naturally, although the DV can still be measured in a laboratory or any other location of the researcher’s choice. This method would be used when it is unethical to directly manipulate the IV [2 marks].

An experiment where the IV is naturally occurring. [1 mark]
* Any other appropriate content.

Question 18

Describe what is meant by confidentiality in psychological research.

Answer 18

Exemplar answers:
Information about the participant must not be shared or revealed; the data is kept locked away or in secure online files. [2marks]

Third parties should not be able to trace information back to individual participants. This is usually achieved through providing anonymity e.g. using participant numbers not names. [2 marks]

The participants’ data must be kept hidden. [1 mark]
* Any other appropriate content.

Question 19

Define the term ‘probability value’.

Answer 19

Exemplar answers:
* A numerical value that gives an indication of the likelihood that results are due to a real difference/correlation and not due to chance factors. (2 marks)

• A value that represents the likelihood of a given event. (1 marks)
• Any other appropriate content.

Question 20

Explain why a psychologist would use 0.05 rather than 0.01 as their probability value.

Answer 20

Exemplar answers:
* We would use 0.05 as this suggests that there is a 5% chance of our results being due to chance, whereas using 0.01 would lower this to a 1% chance which may be too strict. (2 marks)

• By using 0.01, instead of 0.05, we may increase the risk of incurring a type II error and incorrectly accept the null hypothesis. (2 marks)
• May be too small and they may make a mistake when choosing their hypothesis. (1 mark)
• Any other appropriate content.