OCR A Level Psychology Applied psychology June 2025 question paper H567/03

Outline the biochemical explanation of mental illness.

2

(a) Describe one way mental disorders can be categorised.

Outline one problem a clinical psychologist might have when categorising mental disorders. Use

an example of a mental disorder to support your answer.

Outline one conclusion that can be drawn from these findings.

Outline one suggestion a psychologist might make about how these findings could be used.

Assess the reliability of these findings.

4* Discuss the validity of definitions of abnormality.

OPTION 1

Child psychology

* Outline the key research by Gibson and Walk (1960) and use it to show the extent to which depth

can be perceived by infants.

* Discuss the reliability of research into perceptual development.

* Nina is the manager of a pre-school playgroup for children aged 2–5 years. She is concerned that young children have too much ‘screen time’ (i.e. playing on electronic devices) so wants to use play to aid their development.

Outline at least one play strategy a psychologist might suggest to Nina to use with the children at

her playgroup to help develop their perception.

OPTION 2

Criminal psychology

* Outline the key research by Hall and Player (2008) and use it to show the extent to which bias

affects the collection and processing of forensic evidence.

* Discuss to what extent research into the collection and processing of forensic evidence is

scientific.

* From a crime scene, the police recover different examples of forensic evidence including fingerprints and a handwritten note. Experts will analyse the forensic evidence to help the police identify a suspect.

Outline at least one strategy a psychologist might suggest to the experts to reduce bias in the

collection and processing of forensic evidence.

OPTION 3

Environmental psychology

* Outline the key research by Ulrich (1984) and use it to show the extent to which the view through

a window may influence recovery from surgery.

* Discuss the usefulness of research into the psychological effects of the built environment.

* Sam has the job of converting an office block into apartments for people to live in. The office block is in the town centre and is twelve storeys high. Sam wants to design apartments that will improve the health/wellbeing of the people choosing to live there.

Outline at least one strategy a psychologist might suggest for how Sam can design apartments

that will improve the health/wellbeing of the people choosing to live there.

OPTION 4

Sport and exercise psychology

* Outline the key research by Lewis et al (2014) and use it to show the extent to which dance can

improve mental health.

* Discuss the validity of research into exercise and mental health.

* Amit is a primary school teacher with a class of children in Year 6 (aged 10–11 years). The children will soon be taking tests, and Amit wants to get them doing something that will improve their mental health. The school is near open countryside.

Outline at least one strategy a psychologist might suggest to Amit for how exercise could be used

to improve the mental health of the school pupils.