AQA A Level Psychology Paper 3: Issues and Options in Psychology June 2022 question paper 7182/3

Outline what is meant by soft determinism.

A psychologist investigated the effect of the presence of a friend on mood. She used a controlled laboratory experiment. She asked a group of participants to rate their happiness on a scale.

In Condition 1 (Alone Condition), participants completed the scale after sitting alone in a room for 30 minutes.

In Condition 2 (Friend Condition), the same participants completed the same scale after sitting for 30 minutes in a room with a friend.

The conditions were counterbalanced.

The psychologist analysed the results of the study using a Wilcoxon test. The analysis showed that happiness ratings were significantly higher in the Friend Condition.

Explain two reasons why it was appropriate to use a Wilcoxon test in this situation. Refer to the description of the study in your answer.

The psychologist claimed to have demonstrated a causal explanation for happiness.

What is meant by a causal explanation? Explain why it was appropriate to claim that there was a causal explanation in this case.

Using an example of a research study you have learned about in psychology, outline what is meant by a nomothetic approach to psychological investigation.

Referring to the example used in your answer to Question 04, briefly explain how the same behaviour might be studied using an idiographic approach to psychological investigation.

There are many examples of socially sensitive research in psychology.

Outline what social sensitivity means in the context of psychology. Explain how researchers in psychology could deal with issues related to social sensitivity.

Chris and Sam are discussing their 15-year relationship.

Chris says, “Compared to the relationships of our friends, I think I get a good deal. I do the household jobs and you earn plenty of money. It works well.”

Sam says, “It balances out. Also, it would be such a waste if we split up now. We’ve each put a lot of time and effort into this relationship and we have a lovely home. It could never be this good with anyone else.”

Use your knowledge of theories of romantic relationships to explain the comments made by Chris and Sam.

Discuss self-disclosure and the absence of gating in virtual relationships.

Olga and Frank are talking about their five-year-old son, Donny.

Olga says, “Remember when he was very little and he used to say he would be a mummy when he grew up?”

Frank replies, “Now look at him at the playground. He only plays with tractors and wants to be ‘a tractor man’. He has no interest in watching his sister and the other girls. He concentrates on what the other boys are doing and why.”

Use your knowledge of cognitive explanations for gender development to explain the comments made by Olga and Frank.

Discuss the role of chromosomes and hormones in sex and gender.

Leonard and Felix are primary school teachers. They discuss the methods they use in their classrooms.

Leonard says, “Children need to experiment with the right sort of task. They learn well if they make mistakes until they get it right.”

Felix says, “Children need various levels of guidance to achieve their potential. The more able children can really help the ones who are struggling.”

Use your knowledge of theories of cognitive development to explain the comments made by Leonard and Felix.

Discuss theory of mind and Selman’s levels of perspective-taking in the development of social cognition.

Which of the following best describes the diathesis-stress model of schizophrenia?

Write the correct letter in your answer book.

A An underlying predisposition triggers the development of schizophrenia in stressful conditions.

B Schizophrenia develops in people who have an underlying predisposition whether there are stressful conditions or not.

C Stressful conditions trigger the development of schizophrenia in people with an underlying predisposition.

D Stressful conditions trigger the development of schizophrenia whether people have an underlying predisposition or not.

Tokens are sometimes used in the management of schizophrenia. Which of the following best describes the tokens that are used in token economies?

Write the correct letter in your answer book.

A Something enjoyable that is presented for good behaviour.

B Something neutral that is presented for bad behaviour.

C Something neutral that is presented for good behaviour.

D Something unpleasant that is presented for bad behaviour.

Outline a cognitive explanation for schizophrenia and outline one limitation of this explanation.

Researchers studied therapies for schizophrenia. They assessed the mood of two groups of participants before the participants received therapy. The same participants were assessed again after four weeks of receiving therapy.

Group 1 (Drug therapy group) received drug therapy alone.

Group 2 (Combined therapy group) received a combination of drug therapy and cognitive therapy.

The researchers assessed mood using a standardised test of mood. A low score indicated negative mood and a high score indicated positive mood. Scores ranged from 0 to 100. The lowest score was 24 and the highest score was 83.

Table 1 shows the results of the study after four weeks of therapy.

Table 1 Mean mood scores for Group 1 (Drug therapy group) and Group 2 (Combined therapy group) after four weeks of therapy

Explain why the data in Table 1 does not enable the researchers to draw proper conclusions about the effectiveness of therapy for the two groups. What should the researchers do about this?

In this study, the mood scores were assumed to be an interval level of measurement because the test of mood was standardised.

Explain how you could convert the mood scores from this study into: i) ordinal data and ii) nominal data.

Evaluate antipsychotics as a therapy for schizophrenia.

Which of the following is the best example of a cognitive distortion in anorexia nervosa?

Write the correct letter in your answer book.

A Believing that dieting allows you to be in control.

B Believing that you are bigger than you really are.

C Thinking that being thin will make you happy.

D Thinking that people will like you more if you are thinner.

Which of the following best describes enmeshment in family systems theory?

Write the correct letter in your answer book.

A Where an individual member is uncomfortable because they feel pressured by other members of the family.

B Where an individual member of the family feels extremely attached to other members of the family.

C Where an individual member of the family is overanxious about their family responsibilities.

D Where an individual member of the family lacks a sense of individuality and personal identity.

Outline the role of learning in food preference and outline one limitation of this explanation.

Researchers studied psychological support for people on a strict diet. They assessed the mood of two groups of participants before the participants received psychological support. The same participants were assessed again after four weeks of receiving support.

Group 1 (Family support group) received family-based support.

Group 2 (Individual support group) received one-to-one support.

The researchers assessed mood using a standardised test of mood. A low score indicated negative mood and a high score indicated positive mood. Scores ranged from 0 to 100. The lowest score was 24 and the highest score was 83.

Table 2 shows the results of the study after four weeks of receiving support.

Table 2 Mean mood scores for Group 1 (Family support group) and Group 2 (Individual support group) after four weeks of receiving support

Explain why the data in Table 2 does not enable the researchers to draw proper conclusions about the effectiveness of different types of support. What should the researchers do about this?

In this study, the mood scores were assumed to be an interval level of measurement because the test of mood was standardised.

Explain how you could convert the mood scores from this study into: i) ordinal data and ii) nominal data.

Evaluate one or more psychological explanations for obesity.

Which of the following describes what happens when skin conductance is used to indicate that a person is stressed?

Write the correct letter in your answer book.

A The level of moisture on the surface of a person’s skin decreases and skin conductivity decreases.

B The level of moisture on the surface of a person’s skin decreases and skin conductivity increases.

C The level of moisture on the surface of a person’s skin increases and skin conductivity decreases.

D The level of moisture on the surface of a person’s skin increases and skin conductivity increases.

Which of the following statements about the hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system is correct?

Write the correct letter in your answer book.

A It involves the release of adrenocorticotrophin hormone from the adrenal gland.

B It involves the release of adrenocorticotrophin hormone from the adrenal medulla.

C It involves the stimulation of the adrenal cortex to produce corticosteroids.

D It involves the stimulation of the adrenal medulla to produce adrenaline.

Outline life changes as a source of stress and outline one limitation of life changes as a source of stress.

Researchers studied therapies for stress. They assessed the mood of two groups of participants before the participants received therapy. The same participants were assessed again after four weeks of receiving therapy.

Group 1 (Drug therapy group) received drug therapy alone.

Group 2 (Combined therapy group) received a combination of drug therapy and stress inoculation therapy.

The researchers assessed mood using a standardised test of mood. A low score indicated negative mood and a high score indicated positive mood. Scores ranged from 0 to 100. The lowest score was 24 and the highest score was 83.

Table 3 shows the results of the study after four weeks of therapy.

Table 3 Mean mood scores for Group 1 (Drug therapy group) and Group 2 (Combined therapy group) after four weeks of therapy

Explain why the data in Table 3 does not enable the researchers to draw proper conclusions about the effectiveness of therapy for the two groups. What should the researchers do about this?

In this study, the mood scores were assumed to be an interval level of measurement because the test of mood was standardised.

Explain how you could convert the mood scores from this study into: i) ordinal data and ii) nominal data.

Evaluate drug therapy as a way of managing stress.

Turn over for the Section D

Outline the effects of computer games on aggression.

Briefly evaluate the effects of computer games on aggression.

Discuss the influence of genetic factors in aggression.

Outline the bottom-up approach to offender profiling.

Briefly evaluate the bottom-up approach to offender profiling.

Discuss psychodynamic explanations of offending.

Outline the theory of planned behaviour.

Briefly evaluate the theory of planned behaviour.

Discuss risk factors in the development of addiction.