AS Exam Questions + Mark Scheme NOV 2021 Flashcards
Outline Wundt’s method of introspection.
3 MARKS
- Introspection is a systematic analysis of one’s own conscious experience
- ‘Structuralism’ - Wundt believed that the mind splits into sections like elements in the periodic table and wanted to experiment this.
- People were presented with standardised sensory events like a ticking metronome and asked to report their reactions. This data was used to make inferences about the brain.
Which nervous system splits into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems?
1 MARK
Autonomic Nervous System.
Explain the action of the Somatic Nervous System?
2 MARKS
- Transmits sensory information from the body/sense receptors to the brain/central nervous system
- Transmits information from the brain (via the spinal cord) to muscles/effectors to produce (voluntary) movements
+ Some movements are involuntary such as in the reflex arc.
Carissa has just started learning to knit and she watches carefully when her aunt is
knitting. She thinks about how her aunt holds the needles and how she pulls the wool
through her fingers. Carissa wonders if she can do the same with her needles and
wool. She tries to copy her aunt’s actions as she wants her knitting to be neat and
accurate.
Referring to Carissa’s experiences, explain the role of mediational processes in
learning.
4 MARKS
- Clarissa may identify with her aunt and see her as a role model due to her ability to knit flawlessly.
- Attention - Clarissa pays attention to the knitting and the steps her aunt takes. This is stored in her memory.
- Retention - By paying close attention to the steps, Clarissa is able to store the information. She is also imagining her doing the same things with the needles and wool.
- Reproduction - Through retaining the information, Clarissa is able to knit how her aunt knits - e.g. pulling the wool the same way.
- Motivation - Clarissa is motivated to be as good as her aunt (neat and accurate) and perhaps to recieve praise from her role model.
Outline one difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning
2 MARKS
- Classical Conditioning involves the acquisition of a behaviour.
- Whilst Operant Conditioning involves maintaining a behaviour.
A teacher investigated the effects of operant conditioning using two separate groups
of eight-year-old children:
Group A: Rewarded a class of children with smiley stickers on their classwork as well as the usual ticks and comments.
Group B: Rewarded a different class of children with only the usual ticks and comments on their classwork.
After two weeks, the teacher found the average classwork score for the children
in Group A was higher than the average classwork score for the children in Group B.
Explain the type of reinforcement being used by the teacher in this investigation.
3 MARKS
- Positive reinforcement for both Group A and Group B
Both groups get a reward for desirable behaviour but Group A’s reward is much more desirable. - The rewards increase the likelihood of the behaviour of good work being repeated.
- The rewards shape the behaviours of the children as desired by the teacher. The children are motivated to gain the reward of smiley stickers.
A teacher investigated the effects of operant conditioning using two separate groups
of eight-year-old children:
Group A: Rewarded a class of children with smiley stickers on their classwork as well as the usual ticks and comments.
Group B: Rewarded a different class of children with only the usual ticks and comments on their classwork.
Explain one way the teacher could change the experimental design to deal with any extraneous variables.
2 MARKS
- Matched Pairs Design
- Match the students based on factors which might affect the responses they submit in work. For example, older students should be matched as they might have better abillities. Students should be matched in terms of IQ and learning abilities to reflect accuracy and overcome participant variables.
OTHERS
-Random Allocation
-Repeated Measures Designs
Explain one assumption of the cognitive approach.
3 MARKS
- One assumption of the cognitive approach is Schemas.
- Schemas are packages of information about objects, places, things, people and situations in everyday life that changes through our experiences.
- Schemas are quick mental shortcuts - they allow us to process a lot of information in a short amount of time and prevents from becoming overwhelmed. Examples include how to behave at a cinema.
MARK SCHEME INCLUDES
-Theoretical / Computer Model
-Inferences
-Internal Mental Processes
Explain one limitation of the cognitive approach.
3 MARKS
- Heavy reliance on scientific methods to investigate.
- Particularly Lab experiments which are quite artificial settings.
- Artificial settings leads to artificial behaviours and an increased chance of demand characteristics. This decreases the validity of the research as it lacks ecological validity.
MARK SCHEME ALLOWS
-Reliance on inference which is not objective.
-Machine reductionism of computer modelling
-Use of case studies: limitations of these.
Sami describes her life:
“I am always terrified of germs and worry that my family is in danger too. I think that
the meals I prepare will make them ill. I wash all the food items I can, at least three
times, and I cannot touch any food with my bare hands. It takes me ages to prepare
meals.”
Outline two characteristics of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Refer to Sami in your
answer.
4 MARKS
- One behavioural characteristic of OCD is repetitive repulsions.
- In Sami’s case, she is constantly washing the same food items repetitively. This brings her some peace, however the anxiety returns again.
- Another cognitive characteristic of OCD is irrational thinking.
- Sami constantly believes that she will spread germs to her family and make them sick. This isn’t a normal way of thinking. She feels the food she makes puts her family at danger. This is causing extreme anxiety and disrupting her life.
Researchers discovered a strong positive correlation between the number of therapy
sessions attended by people with obsessive-compulsive disorder and their well-being
ratings.
Explain why it would not be appropriate to conclude that therapy increases well-being
ratings.
2 MARKS
- Correlational study involves no manipulation of the IV and obtains correlational data.
- Correlational data doesn’t show a causal relationship between the therapy and well being ratings and infact could have other factors (other than therapy) that affects the well being of a person.
Stan has a phobia of lifts. He was stuck for three hours in a broken lift when he was
young. He feels sick when he sees a lift and now he cannot use escalators or ride on
roller coasters in case they break down. He feels calm when he uses the stairs.
How could Stan’s phobia be explained using the two-process model?
4 MARKS
- Process One - Classical Conditioning. Stan’s fear was acquired through classical conditioning
- Stan was conditioned to associate the neutral stimulus ‘lifts’ with danger whilst being stuck for 3 hours. The lift then became a conditioned stimulus that shows the conditioned response of fear. This was generalised to similar things such as escalators / roller coasters (likely to break.)
- Process Two involves Operant Conditioning. Stan’s fear is maintained here.
- Stan’s avoidance of lifts and similar things means his fear is maintained via operant conditioning. The phobia is negatively reinforced via the use of stairs and associating stairs with calmness.
Briefly outline flooding as a treatment for phobias.
2 MARKS
- Flooding involves direct exposure immediately to the fear / phobia instead of gradual build up.
- It is built on the aim of showing the participant that their fear is irrational and not harmful at all.
Outline and evaluate the biological approach to explaining and/or treating
obsessive-compulsive disorder.
12 MARKS
PLAN
*Key terms / figures - Genes, Polygenic / 230, SERT gene, COMPT gene, neurotransmitters, serotonin and dopamine, Orbital frontal cortex, CBT, SSRIs, SNRIs,
*Outline biological explanations - The idea that lowered amounts of serotonin causes anxiety and lowered mood. Higher amounts of dopamine contributes to higher concentration for OCD. Talk about SERT/COMPT Gene.
*Evaluate biological explanation +Evidenced
- Not fully accurate - SSRIs only 50% effective.
*Outline biological treatments -
*Evaluate biological treatments -
Researchers wanted to see if there was a difference in the number of students
choosing to use various work spaces in the college library. Previous research findings
on this topic were inconsistent.
There were three types of work space available in the library:
* single desks with a chair
* large tables with chairs
* settees with low tables.
The researchers used CCTV camera recordings of the different work space areas
taken over three days. From each day, they analysed two hours’ worth of recordings
from the morning and two hours’ worth of recordings from the afternoon. They noted
down the number of students seen working at each of the three work spaces.
Should the hypothesis for this observation be directional or non-directional?
Explain your answer.
2 MARKS
