Paper3 Exam Questions - Child

Question 1

Explain how the key research by Ainsworth and Bell could be used to help the parents of young children?

Answer 1

• strange situation to observe development of attachment
• uses a mother as a secure base
• 0-3 years is the most important time for attachment to develop - stimulates and activates areas of the brain
• parents can nurture, care, respond to child’s needs to encourage attachment
• less of this - child does more to grab attention

Question 2

Discuss sampling bias in research into the development of attachment?

Answer 2

infants 1year - attachment development occurs at this age
middle class parents - more time, less concerns to nurture child more - generalisable
culture/race all white - nurture differently - not valid
gender is all mothers - biased as child is naturally more attached to mother
monkeys - brains work differently - not reliable

Question 3

What advice might a psychologist give Alice about how to ensure that her nursery is an attachment friendly environment?

Answer 3

Bowlby applications
consistency
fewer staff
less staff turnover - stronger attachment formed
taster days with parents - not scared of key workers
slow transition days
nurturing key workers

Question 4

Explain how the research by Wood et al could be used by teachers to help children solve problems?

Answer 4

each child attempts
demonstrated by teacher
scored on attempts, fails, help needed, success
shows the level of cognitive development a child has
scaffolding - guide and peers encourage independence
age and how young children need more help

Question 5

Discuss the nature - nurture debate in relation to research into cognitive development and education?

Answer 5

nature: piaget
- cd is innate
- develops in specific stages at specific ages

nurture: vygotsky
- guidance from others encourages higher cd

nature and nurture: wood et al
- age affects cd
- environment affects cd

Question 6

what suggestions might a psychologist might make to Carl about strategies pupils can use to revise?

Answer 6

ensure that revision is realistic
mnemonics - auditory and visual
encoding, memory, recall
loci technique
mind maps - colour and images
stimulate left hemisphere of the brain