exam questions june 2018 paper

Question 1

outline the findings in relation to the strange stories task (2 marks)

Answer 1

autistic group made significantly more errors on stranger stories task than the group of adults with Tourette’s Syndrome

Question 2

explain why participants of Hancocks study were interviewed at the beginning of the study ( 2 marks)

Answer 2

to establish whether they were psychopaths or not
to explain the purpose of the study

Question 3

from the study by Loftus and Palmer on eyewitness testimony outline two ways in which the procedure was standardised (4 marks)

Answer 3

participants watched same film clips
all participants saw film clips at same time

Question 4

to what extent does grant et als contemporary study into context dependent memory change our understanding of the key theme of memory. (5 marks)

Answer 4

Grants study adds to our understanding as it investigates a different aspect of memory.
Loftus and Palmer studied reconstructive memory whereas Grant studied context dependent memory.
Both show memory is fragile and can be influenced by external factors.

Question 5

outline the gorilla condition (3 marks)

Answer 5

between 44-48 seconds gorilla appears
unexpected event lasted about 5 seconds
players did not interact with gorilla

Question 6

Outline one difference between Milgrams study of obedience and Bocchiaro study into disobedience and whistleblowing (2 marks)

Answer 6

Milgram conducted his in the New Haven area of USA whereas Bocchiaro conducted their study in Amsterdam

Question 7

Describe the concept of free will

Answer 7

the free will debate suggest individuals can choose how they want to behave and so have responsibility for their own behaviour

Question 8

Suggest why research in the individual differences area is often considered socially sensitive. Support your answer with examples from core studies (5 marks)

Answer 8

Research can be defined as socially sensitive if it has wider negative implications, either directly for participants in the study or individuals represented by research.
Studies in the individual differences area contain participants that differ from the majority and results may have far reaching negative consequences in terms of stigmatisation and discrimination.
E.G; Gould study culturally biased
Baron Cohen used vulnerable participants had autism

Question 9

Describe two weaknesses of the individual differences area. Support your answer with examples from relevant core studies (4 marks)

Answer 9

often case studies are used which leads to biased conclusions/ open to researcher bias e.g Freud
the area can be unethical as it labels people as different e.g Hancock, Baron-Cohen

Question 10

Compare the individual differences area with the behaviourist perspective ( 6 marks)