RULES of the GAME THE EXAM All questions

RULES of the GAME

THE EXAM • All questions are compulsory. • The answer booklet dictates how much you write. • Your answers are clipped when they are marked.

THE EXAM • One extended writing question where QOWC marks are allocated. • 72 marks for the whole paper in 90 minutes i. e. about 1 ¼ minutes per mark – 4 mark question = 5 minutes • Injunctions … – outline, describe – explain … – discuss or describe + evaluate Can I use bullet points?

GETTING INTO THE MIND OF THE PRINCIPAL EXAMINER [RESEARCH INTO] [DESCRIPTION AND EVALUATION] Types of conformity, including internalisation and compliance Obedience, including Milgram’s work The multi-store model, including the concepts of encoding, capacity and duration. Ø Questions are set from the specification. Ø Don’t rely on textbooks. Ø For each topic be aware of POSSIBLE questions. Ø Use past papers. Ø Write your own questions.

QT 1 Simple selection If you tick too many your answer is null and void. Only 50% of students got this right.

QT 2 Make sure you write the right amount. (a) W by the t n a e m hat is term Short description Cognitive interviews have been developed to improve witness recall. Identify and explain two techniques used in the cognitive interview. rks) 2 ma ( ? t n e m attach … ……… … … … ………… …. …… … …… rnalisation in te in by nt ea m is t ha w (a) Explain conformity? (2 marks) the context of …………………. … … … … ……………………. … … … … ……………… ………. … … … … …… …………… mpliance in the co by nt ea m is t ha w in (b) Expla conformity? (2 marks) context of (3 marks + 3 marks)

QT 3 Longer description Outline the main features of the multi-store model of memory. Some students wrote about WMM? ? ………………………………. 6 marks ge of n a h c l a i for soc s n o i t a c e impli h t e r …. a ence? t u … l f … n i Wha l … a i al change. soc …… ci so o of t … g in n nd i ta … rs de h un c r … …s contributed to ou … resear ha … e nc ue fl … in al ci so … w ho Describe…………… … ……………. . … … … ………………… …………… Outline or more ways to improve memory. 4 marks ………………………………. Describe personality factors that have been shown to influence the way people respond to stress. 5 ………………………………. marks

Good AO 1 is DETAILED The devil is in the detail • ‘Repression is when you don’t remember certain events. ’ • More detail: ‘Repression is when you don’t remember traumatic events. ’ • Even more detail: ‘According to Freud (1918) repression is when you don’t remember traumatic events. ’

Good AO 1 is is just the right length Outline the behavioural approach to psychopathology. (6 marks) Explain what is meant by informational social influence. (3 marks) Describe how one research study investigated workplace stressors. (4 marks)

Why it works • Produces a précis of text. • Gives you the coat pegs. • Ensures you learn just the right amount (not too much or too little). A prècis is a summary where one cuts out less important material leaving the key bits. golden nuggets. 10

Why it works ü YOU select your points § § § Levels of processing theory E. g. Mandler (1967) Processing increases recall. Processing increases understanding. Cues help recall (cue retrieval theory). § Organises your exam answer. § Revise by rehearsal (MSM) and elaborating the points (leads to enduring memories).

QT 4 WHAT Research studies Outline and evaluate research into the effects of anxiety on the accuracy of eyewitness testimony. 12 marks Outline one study of the effects of disruption of attachment. 4 marks HOW Outline how Ainsworth studied types of attachment. 3 marks Outline how one research study investigated the accuracy of eyewitness testimony (EWT). 4 marks SHOW Describe what research has shown about he effect of age on witnesses on the accuracy of eyewitness testimony. 6 marks Outline what research has shown about the effects of day care on children’s aggressive behaviour.

QT 5 Applying knowledge During the last few months, Paula has suffered from headaches and colds, and has been having difficulty sleeping. She decided to keep a diary and found that her headaches, colds and sleep problems were associated with experiences such as having too much homework, losing house keys and being stuck in traffic. 1 mark for basic statement of Use your knowledge of psychology to explain why relationship between Paula might be feeling unwell. daily hassle and stress. Two pronged attack: • Answer the question • Give the psychology 4 marks 3 marks for elaboration (theory and/or studies)

QT 5 Applying knowledge A student teacher finds it very difficult to remember pupils’ names. She decides to look in a psychology book to find some useful strategies for improving her memory. Outline one strategy the student teacher could use, and explain why this might improve her memory for pupils’ names. Candidates often selected a memory technique that was not appropriate for names or not linked to names e. g. method of loci.

Exam question for you Mr Harris is about to move his business into a brand new building. He is very keen to create a healthy working environment and reduce workplace stress. In this way he hopes to improve productivity and reduce absenteeism. What advice would you give Mr Harris? Use your knowledge of psychological research in this area. (6 marks) Jan 2010

QT 6 Differences How does the behaviour of securely attached infants differ from that of insecurely attached infants? (4 marks) Candidates can look at one difference in detail. ………………………………………………………………… Or more than one difference more ………………………………… briefly. ………………………………… But candidates who only describe insecure or secure attachment get a maximum of 1 mark. ………………………………… A further 1 mark if the comparison is implicit.

How does the behaviour of securely attached infants differ from that of insecurely attached infants? (4 marks) If an infant is securely attached then their behaviour is a lot different from those who have an insecure attachment. If you are securely attached then you will seek proximity and distress when you are separated you are also likely to be easily calmed down. If you are insecurely attached then you will show no signs of distress when separated and make it seem as though you have no care. Securely attached infants cry when the caregiver leaves the room but are easily soothed when reunited. Insecure avoidant infants take little interest when the caregiver leaves and continue with what they were doing. Securely attached infants seek close bodily contact whereas anxious insecure infants seek and reject intimacy. Securely attached infants also explore from a safe base whereas insecure avoidant infants are more clingy.

QT 7 Criticisms, and strengths and weaknesses Outline one weakness of defining abnormality in terms of mental health. (3 marks) ach to o r p p a l a r ou he behavi ion of t t a t i m i l e n Outline o logy. (2 marks) tho psychopa Outline on attachm e criticism of in ent usin g the ‘S vestigating cu lt trange S ituation ural variations ’. (3 ma in rks). The three point rule

ELABORATING COMMENTARY THREE POINT RULE…. ü State your criticism (“What is it? ”) ü Evidence (“How do I know that? ”) ü Explain it (e. g. “Why is this a good or bad thing? ”) Weak AO 2 • This study can be criticised because it lacks ecological validity. Coherently elaborated AO 2 This study can be criticised … • …it lacks ecological validity, • …because photographs were used instead of real people. • This means that the findings cannot be generalised beyond the particulars of this study.

Extended writing questions

QT 8 Short essays Discuss the emotion-focused approach to coping with stress. (8 marks) Discuss one or more physiological methods of stress management. (10 marks) Why did many candidates wrote about psychological methods …? Were they stressed?

QT 9 Long essays Outline and evaluate research into the effects of anxiety on the accuracy of eyewitness testimony. (12 marks) Psychologists have put forward different explanations of attachment, such as learning theory and Bowlby’s theory. Discuss one or more explanations of attachment. (12 marks) Outline and evaluate Discuss Quotations

THE ESSAY QUESTIONS Description (AO 1) Mark Detail Knowledge s and understandi ng 6 Accurate Sound and reasonably detailed 5 -4 Generally Relevant accurate, less detailed 3 -2 Basic Some relevant Selection of appropriate material Presentatio n of information Appropriate Clear and coherent Some evidence Appropriate Little evidence Appropriate

THE ESSAY QUESTIONS Evaluation (AO 2) Marks Use of Range of issues material and/or evidence 6 5 -4 3 -2 Effective Broad range in reasonable depth or narrower range in greater depth Not always range in limited depth effective or narrower range in greater depth Basic Superficial consideration of restricted range Expression of ideas , specialist terms, spelling etc Clear and good range, few errors Reasonable, some errors Lacks clarity, some specialist terms, errors

Effective AO 2 SHOCK HORROR! There is no such thing as AO 2, only material that is used as AO 2.

Consider ALL AO 1 • Bandura suggested that people learning through observation and vicarious reinforcement. • He conducted a study with the Bobo doll where children observed a model and then were tested to see if they imitated the model. AO 1 and AO 2 • Bandura suggested that people learning through observation and vicarious reinforcement. • This was supported by a study he conducted with the Bobo doll where children observed a model and then were tested to see if they imitated the model.

To make AO 2 effective use THE AO 2 ‘VOCABULARY’ • However … • On the other hand … • This suggests that… • So we can see that… • This would imply… • A consequence would be… • An advantage of this is… • An alternative explanation could be… • This is supported by… • This is challenged by… • Not everyone reacts the same way, for example… • There may be cultural variations… • This has been applied to…

There is substantial research evidence to support the claim that violence is a reaction to the deprivation imposed by institutions such as prisons. For example, Mc. Corkle et al. (1995) found that overcrowding in prisons significantly increased peer violence. This knowledge has been applied in the treatment of violent offenders in UK prisons (Wilson, 2005). Wilson lowered overcrowding and other environmental ‘pollutants’ (noise and heat) associated with prison deprivation, achieving a significant decrease in violence. However, , research in this area has not produced reliable results, with other studies in prisons (e. g. Nijman, 1997) failing to decrease violence levels with lower levels of overcrowding. This suggests that deprivation alone cannot fully account for institutional aggression in prison populations.

If you leave it out, it’s not AO 2 • This was a laboratory study using a doll as the target of aggression. • This study may not tell us much about real life aggression because it was conducted in a laboratory using a doll as the target of aggression. • People in collectivist cultures are more helpful than those in individualist cultures. • There are important cultural variations, people in collectivist cultures are more helpful than those in individualist cultures. This suggests that altruism is not innate. Statement Effective criticism

And don’t forget … elaborated, SEXy AO 2

QT 10 Research methods Not the same as research studies!

QT 10 Research methods What conclusions about the effectiveness of different therapies can you draw from the bar chart? (4 marks)

Every mark counts June 2010 A B C D E Unit 1 52/72 47 42 37 32 72% Unit 2 50/72 69% 58% 44 38 53% 44% 32 27 37%

THIN K ON YOU R