past paper - mixture

Question 1

two groups of participants took part in memory experiment - 20 words were read to them.
what is meant by standardisation and suggest one way it could have been used in this experiment?

Answer 1

ways in which the procedures within an investigation are kept the same for all participants - e.g same set list of words were read out for both groups.

Question 2

what is meant by randomisation and suggest one way it could have been used in this experiment?

Answer 2

the use of ‘chance’ in setting up an investigation - e.g the order of words in the list decided randomly.

Question 3

briefly outline the deviation from ideal mental health definition of abnormality - refer to dave in your answer.

Answer 3

behaviour defined by the absence of particular ideal characteristics for good mental health e.g Jahoda’s criteria - the more absent from criteria, the more abnormal.
dave finds it difficult to concentrate at work which may affect his ability to reach his full potential.
dave is experiencing anxiety which shows he is unable to cope with stress.

Question 4

evaluate the failure to function adequately definition of
abnormality (5)

Answer 4

• it recognises that the patients perspective and experience is important in defining abnormality.
• however the failure to function may just be a normal reaction to a traumatic event e.g bereavement.
• cultural relativism - what might be considered abnormal in one culture may not be the case for another.
• the failure to function adequately can be dependent on other factors not just psychopathology e.g failure to keep a job due to economic situation.
• provides professional help for those who need it most.

Question 5

what is content analysis?

Answer 5

a method used to analyse qualitative date using coding or categorisation.

Question 6

explain one way in which the researchers could have used content analysis to analyse diary extracts of patients with depression.

Answer 6

• describing the number of times a word/ phrase could be categorised.
• identifying relevant words that relate to depression e.g sadness.

Question 7

the two researchers’ analyses of the diary extracts were found to be quite different - explain how the reliability of this content analysis could be improved (4)

Answer 7

• researchers should clarify operationalised categories used.
• they should create new categories if necessary.
• they should be well trained in using identified categories.
• compare researchers results with each other.

Question 8

outline and evaluate the ABC model of depression - refer to text (8)

Answer 8

• the ABC model consists of ‘activating event’, ‘beliefs’ which could be irrational or rational and ‘consequences’ of these beliefs/event which could be anxiety or depression.
• activating event - dropping change on till.
• irrational beliefs - they all knew I was useless, no one else is this stupid
• consequence - cycle fo depression, i’ll never leave house again.
• practical applications to therapy e.g REBT and ABCDE model.
• comparison with other models e.g becks negative triad.