Exam Questions

Question 1

Briefly describe one role of the unconscious according to the psychodynamic approach (2).

Answer 1

• The unconscious protects the conscious self from anxiety/fear/trauma/conflict
• Defence mechanisms e.g. repression, denial, displacement are used unconsciously to reduce anxiety

Question 2

Outline what is meant by congruence. Explain one way in which Dominic might achieve congruence. (4)

Answer 2

• Congruence is the when there is similarity between a persons perceived self (how you see yourself) and ideal self (the self you would like to be)
• Dominic needs to close the gap between his perceived and ideal self
• Gap can be reduced or closed if he develops a more healthy view of himself or has a more achievable + realistic ideal self + unconditional positive regard from his therapist could be one strategy

Question 3

Explain 1 limitation of assessing sleep quality using a rating scale of 1-10. (2)

Answer 3

• Sleep quality is subjective so might be interpreted differently by each student
• A rating of 3 for example might mean something diff for diff students
• Students are not able to explain their rating

Question 4

What is meant by the term meta-analysis ? (2)

Answer 4

• Meta analysis is the process where researchers collect + collate a wide range of previously conducted research on a specific area
• Collated research is reviewed together
• Combined data/effect size is often statistically tested to provide an overall correlation

Question 5

Give one reason why it is important for scientific reports to include a referencing section (1) ?

Answer 5

• To give credit to other researchers + acknowledge their ideas
• To avoid plagiarism

Question 6

Explain what is means for a test to have high concurrent validity (2)?

Answer 6

• High CV is where there is close agreement between the data produced by the new test compared to the established test
• Close agreement is indicated if the correlation between the two sets of data produced by the tests exceeds +0.8

Question 7

Explain why a histogram would not be an appropriate way of displaying the means shown (2).

Answer 7

• You need to have continuous data to draw a histogram
• The data represents 2 separate conditions (categorical)

Question 8

Describe the process and purpose of peer review (6).

Answer 8

• Other psychologists check the research report before deciding whether it can be published
• Work is considered in terms of its validity, significance and originality
• Assessment of the appropriateness of the methods + designs used
• Editor makes the final decision whether to accept or reject the research report based on the reviewers comments
• Research proposals are submitted to panel and assessed for merit
• To ensure quality + relevance of research
• To ensure accuracy of findings

Question 9

Explain how using the standard deviation rather than the range in this situation would improve the study (3).

Answer 9

• This would be an improvement because the SD is a measure of dispersion that was less easily distorted by a single extreme scale
• Takes account of all data values
• Not just the difference between the highest data value + lowest data value

Question 10

What is meant by the results were significant at p<0.05 ?

Answer 10

This means that there is a less than 5% likelihood that this difference would occur if there is not real difference between the conditions (difference due to chance or something other than IV)

Question 11

Briefly explain one reason why it is important for research to undergo a peer review process (2).

Answer 11

• Prevents publication of irrelevant findings + deliberate fraud and improves the quality of research

Question 12

Briefly explain one reason why it is important for research to be replicated (2).

Answer 12

Effects that occur in a study are more likely to be reliable if they occur in a repeat of the study + replication therefore increases reliability

Question 13

Explain how this content analysis could have been conducted (4).

Answer 13

• Identify/devise important categories/themes (from the interview)
• E.g. of possible category/theme (e.g. references to aggressive interactions)
• Work through transcribed conversations / repeatedly listen to segments of the recording
• Count/tally the no. of occurrences of each of the categories / themes

Question 14

Explain how the reliability of the content analysis could be assessed (test-retest reliability). (4)

Answer 14

• Content analysis repeated on a second occasion using the same interview data
• Compare the results of the 2 separate analysis (no of occurrences of each)
• Researchers could calculate the correlation between the 2 ratings
• Researchers generally accept 0.8 correlation between the test + retest

Question 15

Explain how the reliability of the content analysis could be assessed (inter-rater reliability). (4)

Answer 15

• Use a second person to work with original researcher
• They could read the interviews separately + devise a set of categories
• They could tally the occurrences of each categories of the interviews separately
• Calculate the correlation between the 2 ratings
• Researchers generally accept 0.8 correlation between the test + retest

Question 16

Describe the structure and function of a neuron (6).

Answer 16

• Neurones enable communication within the nervous system
• The cell body contains the genetic material
• Dendrites carry functional info towards the cell body
• Axons carry messages away from the cell body
• Axons can be myelinated to increase the speed of nerve transmission
• Axon terminals contain neurotransmitters

Question 17

Outline the difference in function between Broca’s area and Wernicke’s areas (2).

Answer 17

• Broca’s area is responsible for speech production whereas Wernicke’s area is responsible for language comprehension
• Broca’s area enables speech to be fluent whereas Wernicke’s area enables speech to be meaningful

Question 18

Similarity between FMRI and ERPs

Answer 18

• They are both non-invasive + don’t use radiation (risk free)
• They both measure brain activity linked to events/tasks

Question 19

Explain how the body responds during fight or flight and why this could be unhelpful in a driving test situation (4).

Answer 19

• The F/F response causes adrenaline to be released which can cause an increased production of sweat + faster heart and breathing rate which could be off putting + unhelpful during a driving test
• Sweaty hands may make it harder to grip the steering wheel

Question 20

Outline the role of adrenaline in the fight or flight response (4).

Answer 20

• Hypothalamus prepares the body for action + emergency response
• Adrenaline is released from the adrenal medulla in response to activation of the sympathomedullary pathway
• Effects: increase heart rate, constricts blood vessels, increases blood to brain and skeletal muscles, diverts blood away from the skin, kidneys and digestive system
• General effects: prepare the body for action, increase blood supply/oxygen to skeletal muscles for physical action + increase oxygen to brain for rapid response planning
• As the stressful situation passes adrenaline levels return to normal + heart rate decreases

Question 21

Briefly explain one problem the researcher might have in analysing the qualitative data collected from the questionnaires (2).

Answer 21

• Analysis of qualitative data relies on the interpretation by the researcher which could be inaccurate/biased/subjective
• Qualitative data may not be easy to categorise into a sensible no of answer types

Question 22

Write a brief consent form that would have been suitable for use in this experiment (6).

Answer 22

• Outline of experiment (what they are required to do)
• They can withdraw anytime + withdraw their data from the experiment
• Data will be kept confidential and anonymous
• Will receive a full debrief at the end of the programme
• Leave a space for participant sign the form
• Leave space for the date + to print their name

Question 23

Design an observation study to investigate… (12)
Provide details of the task of participants, behavioural categories to be used + how the data will be recorded, how reliability of the data collection might be established, ethical issues to be considered.

Answer 23

• TASK: detail of what they would need to do
• CATEGORIES: detail of specific/observable behaviours + detail of recording method e.g. record sheet
• RELIABILITY: using two observers or recordings, statistical comparisons of data, +0.8 validity
• ETHICAL: confidentiality, deception, informed consent, right to withdraw, debrief