AQA A Level Psychology Paper 3: Issues and Options in Psychology June 2019 question paper 7182/3

Explain what psychologists mean by socially sensitive research.

Most early psychologists focused on causal explanations and argued that behaviour was determined by either internal or external influences. In the 1960s, some psychologists chose to focus more on the role of free will in behaviour. More recently, there has been a broad shift back to more deterministic thinking, but this time with the focus on biology and cognitive processes.

Referring to the text above, explain what is meant by a paradigm shift.

Which two of the following are examples of ethnocentrism? Write the two correct letters in your answer book.

When a Chinese researcher:

A assumes findings from research in other countries also apply to people in China. chooses to carry out research with people from China rather than with people B from other countries. expects people from other countries to behave in the same way as people from C China.

D thinks that people from China are superior to people from other countries. treats people from China in the same way that she treats people from other E countries.

Discuss the nature-nurture debate in psychology.

Outline and briefly discuss the relationship between sexual selection and human reproductive behaviour.

Describe and evaluate the social exchange theory of romantic relationships.

Outline and briefly discuss Freud’s theory of the Oedipus complex as an explanation for gender development in boys.

Describe and evaluate Kohlberg’s explanation for gender development.

Outline and briefly discuss the role of the mirror neuron system in social cognition.

Describe and evaluate Piaget’s research in relation to the pre-operational stage of intellectual development.

Name and briefly outline one negative symptom of schizophrenia.

In a study of communication, researchers used a language rating scale to compare two groups of participants. Participants in Group A were a volunteer sample of people from a self-help group for people with schizophrenia. Participants in Group B, the control group, were a volunteer sample of people who attended a community centre.

The researchers used an inferential statistical test to see if there was a significant difference in language rating between the two groups.

Explain why a Mann-Whitney test is an appropriate choice of statistical test in this situation and a Spearman’s test is not.

Explain one reason why there might be a problem of bias and generalisation in this study. How could the researchers modify their study to deal with this problem?

Discuss the use of an interactionist approach in explaining and treating schizophrenia.

Identify and briefly outline one psychological explanation for anorexia nervosa.

In a study of body image, researchers used a body image rating scale to compare two groups of participants. Participants in Group A were a volunteer sample of people who attended a self-help group for people with eating disorders. Participants in Group B, the control group, were a volunteer sample of people who attended a community centre.

The researchers used an inferential statistical test to see if there was a significant difference in body image rating between the two groups.

Explain why a Mann-Whitney test is an appropriate choice of statistical test in this situation and a Spearman’s test is not.

Explain one reason why there might be a problem of bias and generalisation in this study. How could the researchers modify their study to deal with this problem?

Describe and evaluate genetic and neural explanations for obesity.

Name one type of drug used to treat stress and briefly outline how it functions.

In a study of stress, researchers used a stress rating scale to compare two groups of participants. Participants in Group A were a volunteer sample of people who attended a self-help group for people with stress. Participants in Group B, the control group, were a volunteer sample of people who attended a community centre.

The researchers used an inferential statistical test to see if there was a significant difference in stress rating between the two groups.

Explain why a Mann-Whitney test is an appropriate choice of statistical test in this situation and a Spearman’s test is not.

Explain one reason why there might be a problem of bias and generalisation in this study. How could the researchers modify their study to deal with this problem?

Discuss the role of personality type and hardiness in stress.

A psychologist used a set of negative images to assess violent attitudes before and after participants played a 30-minute computer game. In a repeated measures design, 15 participants were tested before and after playing the game using a single set of images.

Explain how two sets of images could be used in this study and why this would be an improvement.

Each participant had a different total score in the before condition, where the maximum score was 40 and the median score was 23.

How many of the participants had a score < the median in the before condition? Explain your answer.

Researchers observed two brightly coloured male Siamese fighting fish. The fish were in separate tanks with a slide screen between the tanks so the fish could not see each other. When the slide screen was raised so that the fish could see each other, they both reacted by puffing themselves up to appear larger. The fish also puffed themselves up when a small, brightly coloured piece of card was displayed alongside the tank.

Describe what is meant by a fixed action pattern. Refer to the study above in your answer.

Outline and evaluate the dispositional explanation for institutional aggression in prisons.

A psychologist used a set of negative images to assess angry attitudes before and after participants took part in a 30-minute anger management session. In a repeated measures design, 15 participants were tested before and after the session using a single set of images.

Explain how two sets of images could be used in this study and why this would be an improvement.

Each participant had a different total score in the before condition, where the maximum score was 40 and the median score was 23.

How many of the participants had a score < the median in the before condition? Explain your answer.

Researchers studied three generations of several families, noting the frequency and type of offending. They found that sons and grandsons of offenders often committed similar crimes themselves. The researchers also interviewed people who knew the families, such as friends and neighbours. Most friends and neighbours were not concerned by the offending behaviour, and some said it was a good way to behave in the circumstances.

Describe differential association theory in the context of offending. Refer to the study above in your answer.

Outline and evaluate official statistics and/or victim surveys as ways of measuring crime.

A psychologist used a set of negative images to assess attitudes to smoking before and after participants took part in a 30-minute covert sensitisation session. In a repeated measures design, 15 participants were tested before and after the session using a single set of images.

Explain how two sets of images could be used in this study and why this would be an improvement.

Each participant had a different total score in the before condition, where the maximum score was 40 and the median score was 23.

How many of the participants had a score < the median in the before condition? Explain your answer.

Researchers studied the role of learning in gambling. Using a computer programme, they manipulated the predictability of ‘wins’ on different machines. For example, some machines were set to pay out after 2 minutes of play and others, on average, after every tenth bet. The researchers found a link between gambling behaviour and the setting of the machine. They also found that on certain machines, people would carry on betting for a long time after the last win.

Describe learning theory as applied to gambling. Refer to the study above in your answer.

Outline and evaluate personality as a risk factor in the development of addiction.