Paper 2 - Core studies - Section B Flashcards
Top band for 15 marker section b
12-15 marks for a thorough and balanced discussion that is relevant to the demands of the question.
Arguments are coherently presented with clear understanding of the points raised.
A range (at least 3) points are considered and are well developed as part of the discussion.
There is evidence of valid conclusions that summarise issues very well.
Relevant evidence is used to good effect to support the points being made.
There is consistent use of psychological terminology, and well-developed line of reasoning which is logically structured.
Information presented is appropriate and substantiated.
How would you structure a similarity or difference between areas
8 mark
Example question:
Discuss ways in which the biological area is similar to the developmental area.
Support your answer with evidence from appropriate core studies.
8 marks
Structure for all questions:
Identify similarity of difference and discuss with core studies and how it supports it
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Example question:
. Identifies at least two appropriate similarities
. Support with appropriate evidence from appropriate core studies from both areas
. Points are considered and well developed
Describe one application of the biological area.
3 marks
Outline the structure of the question
- A accurate description of relevant application
- Say a application
- How does it work
- What is the aim of it
- Give example to how this is applied
(Eg. cognitive therapy used for depression - this is for cognitive area)
- Clear understanding of principle or concept of the biological area
- Evidence / elaborate
Same for all applications
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Example of structure in answer:
Rehabilitation programmes are developed to help individuals who have brain damage caused by accidents, trauma, old age, etc (1 mark )
The biological area shows how physiological differences exist which affect how we think and behave (1 mark)
For example, research has shown that the distribution of grey matter in the hippocampus changes with use - the volume of the posterior hippocampus increases in response to demand for navigational skills. (1 mark )
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Another example of a application question:
Describe one application of the psychodynamic perspective
(4 marks)
Example of 4 mark answer:
Eye witnesses to crimes are sometimes unable to recall details because they have repressed them (1).
Psychodynamic strategies can be used to access the unconscious where they are being held (1).
One way of doing this is through the process of hypnosis which alters a persons state of consciousness (1).
This can be done in a therapeutic context so that the witness feels safe and able to retrieve and reveal an event that is potentially traumatic for them (1)
Examples of some comparison point that you can make
E.g ID area and behaviourist perspective
Candidates may make comparisons between the following:
. Data collected
. Ethical considerations
. Reductionism/holism
. Determinism/freewill
. Scientific procedures
. Research Method /designs
. Reliability
. Validity
. Ability to generalise
. Individual/situational explanations
. Nature/nurture
How should you structure the question when relating something to an area
(In section B)
E.g Describe one application and explain how it is linked to the individual differences area.
Explain what it asks
E.g application
Say how it is linked
E.g This is linked to the individual differences area because …
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Possible applications:
• Therapy, including counselling, psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.
• Treating students as
individuals/personalisation/differentiation in education.
• Personality testing in recruitment.
• Supporting individuals with atypical behaviours e.g.
Autism.
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Examiners report
A common mistake made by candidates on this question was for descriptions of how research findings could be used to support or develop cur understanding of differences between individuals to be given.
Good responses referred clearly to applications such as counselling, psychotherapy or psychometric testing in the workplace, and then detailed how they worked in practice.
Suggest why research in the individual differences area is often considered socially sensitive. Support your answer with examples from relevant core studies.
5 marks
The answer should show the following:
• Knowledge of the individual differences area.
• Understanding of the concept of socially sensitive research.
• How the concept links to the individual differences area.
• Supporting evidence from at least two relevant core studies.
Model answer :
Research can be defined as socially sensitive if it has wider (negative) implications, either directly for the participants in the research or for the class of individuals represented by the research (1). Studies in the individual differences area involve participants that, for one reason or another, ‘differ’ from the majority (1) and therefore findings from such studies, unless treated carefully, may have far-reaching negative consequences in terms of stigmatisation or discrimination (1). For example, in Gould’s study it was found the Yerkes’ IQ tests were highly flawed being culturally biased, dependent of good literacy and numeracy skills and so had tremendous negative effects on both the participants and others represented by the findings: American army recruits (in WW1) who scored poorly on the tests of native intelligence were marked as ‘low average intelligence’ and recommended only for the rank of ‘ordinary private’ whereas those who scored well were offered many promotion opportunities (1). Similarly, Baron-Cohen et al. used vulnerable participants who had autism/AS. This mental condition was already associated with many negative social stigmas so, by highlighting even more of the difficulties experienced by those with autism/AS, both participants and others with cognitive deficits such as lacking a Theory of Mind may experience even more prejudice (1).
Explain why Chaney et al funhaler can be considered useful
3 marks
Outline the structure for this question
1 mark for a general understanding of usefulness in the context of psychological research
Plus
1 mark for a link between usefulness and Chaney et al.’s research
Plus
1 mark for a specific finding or conclusion from the study which illustrates the usefulness of this research
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Model answer:
Chaney et al.’s study can be considered useful as the findings have practical implications (1) for how the use of rewards can encouraged desired behaviours which can be used to improve adherence to medical advice and/or reduce unwanted illness behaviours (1). The study showed how the positive rewards of reducing the negative effects of asthma brought about through the use of a Funhaler compared to a conventional device, encouraged children to improve adherence to their prescribed medical regimes which would, over time, result in an increase in health status (1).
Explain two defining principles or concepts of the individual differences area.
4 marks
- How would you structure this question
For one principle/concept:
2 marks for a clear, accurate and developed explanation of one defining principle or concept of the individual differences area.
e.g.
1. People are unique; therefore, it is difficult to compare individuals.
- It attempts to quantify psychological attributes meaning scientific data can be obtained.
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Possible principles/concepts:
• People are unique/ everyone is different/ we are not the same
• Individual personality
• Measuring differences
• Idiographic approach
• Quantifying psychological attributes
• Investigating complex behaviours
• Use of case studies.
• Supports dispositional explanations of behaviour
• Holism/ Interactionist approach
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Examiners report:
The majority of candidates were able to give a brief outline of the principles of the individual differences area such as people are unique’, ‘psychological attributes can be quantified/measured’.
Only some candidates developed the principle/concept given further to show a greater understanding of the area.
Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the individual differences area.
8 marks
- How should you structure this question.
1.
One strength and one weakness
Examiners report:
The strongest responses made clear points and used studies in an illustrative way, developing on their point well and offered a balanced consideration of at least one strength and one weakness.
Some candidates showed an ability to analyse the points made and concluded/gave value judgements about what the strength/weakness means for the area. (e.g. By understanding complex disorders earlier, we can use the information to prevent future unwanted behaviour in their adulthood).
Responses scoring in the lower bands tended to take a more study-based approach with commentary relating to core studies rather than the area (e.g. Research like Freud only tests a small number of individuals) or stated a strength/weakness without developing it clearly into the area (e.g. A strength is the individual differences area is holistic).
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Points that you can mentions:
Possible strengths:
• Optimistic - potential for change
• Success in treating individuals
• Avoids over-generalisations
• Focused on understanding
individuals/understanding complex disorders
• Recognises the importance oi subjective experience in studying behaviours
• Holism - multiple factors (takes an interactionist approach)
Possible weaknesses:
• Too complex to study people reliably
• Cannot establish causal relationships
• Unable to generalise
• Lacks objectivity
• Makes people responsible for actions/ignores determinism
• Socially sensitive findings
What developed evaluative points can be made for an ethics 20 marker?
Examples of developed evaluation:
• Breaking ethical guidelines can lead to more valid data.
• Demand characteristics are reduced when participants are not informed.
• There are implications of breaking ethical guidelines e.g. people may not want to participate in the future.
• Breaking ethical guidelines can affect the integrity of psychological research.
• Comparison of how ethical considerations are different or similar between areas.
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(The question was:
Discuss ethical considerations in psychological research.
Support your answer using core studies from both the individual differences area and one other area.)
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Examiners report:
Many candidates defaulted to evaluating each core study in turn which limited their discussion of the ethical issues being reviewed.
Most candidates demonstrated an understanding of the studies and the arising ethical considerations within research.
Responses in the lower band tended to list the ethical considerations without making meaningful links to psychological research.
Successful responses offered a range of valid conclusions which summarised the issues raised from ethical considerations well.
The minority of candidates did this by evaluating ethical issues in research (e.g., referring to more valid data being gathered by breaking ethical guidelines, reducing demand characteristics when not informing participants). Some candidates did this by including comparison between the areas (e.g. Social area uses deception more in research as they carry out more research in the field compared to the individual differences area.
Outline what is meant by the concept of holism and how this relates to Freud’s study of Little Hans.
4 marks
What do you get the marks for
2 marks - definition of holism
2 marks - link to Freud study
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Answers:
2 marks:
Holism:
This approach believes the ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’ and states that behaviour is the result of lots of things interacting together.
2 marks:
Possible content:
Recognising the Hans’ phobia was the product of interacting factors including;
• unconscious desires
• unconscious anxiety
• age related stage of development
• interactions with father
• interactions with mother
• arrival of new baby into family
• witnessing a horse and cart accident
How would you structure a question linking a study to a perspective
eg. Explain how Freud’s study of Little Hans relates to the psychodynamic perspective.
4 marks
4 marks
. Outline the perspective
. Then explain how the study links to the perspective
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Example of the question:
4 marks:
accurate outline of at least one feature of the psychodynamic perspective and effectively applying it to Freud’s study.
Outline of the perspective:
The psychodynamic approach includes all the theories in psychology that see human functioning based upon the interaction of drives and forces within the person, particularly unconscious, and between the different structures of the personality.
Applying to Frued study
Possible content:
. role of unconscious - unconscious desire of mother and fear of castration from father
. role of dreams in revealing unconscious - the giraffe fantasy as desire to take mother away from father
. psychosexual stages of development- Hans was in the phallic stage
. resolution of conflict - family fantasy
. focus on individual differences - use of case study method
What do you need to do when writing a defining principle
State the defining principle
Explain / extend the defining principle
