Understanding Standards Higher Course Event Psychology Aims of

Understanding Standards: Higher Course Event Psychology

Aims of the Day To support Teachers, Lecturers and Assessors in their understanding of national standards by: Ø reviewing candidate evidence Ø discussing this evidence and associated Marking Instructions with colleagues Ø providing the opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification about national standards Ø sharing ideas on selecting appropriate topics for the course assignment

Mandatory & Support Documents to Prepare Candidates Ø Mandatory Information Course and Unit Specifications Course Assessment Specification Ø Advice and Guidance Course and Unit Support Notes Course Report Ø Assessment Support Unit Assessment Support Packs (UASPs) Specimen Question Papers and Marking Instructions Past Papers and Marking Instructions Coursework Information

How did candidates perform in 2016? § § § 3, 591 entries 731 candidates (20. 4%) were awarded A 782 candidates (21. 7%) were awarded B 844 candidates (23. 5%) were awarded C 364 candidates (10. 2%) were awarded D 870 candidates (24. 2%) got No Award

Component 1: question paper Ø Overall, candidates appeared to be well prepared for questions in sections one and two of the question paper, although they did appear to find question 1(a) challenging. Ø While candidates demonstrated good skills in description, evaluation, and analysis, they found section three of the question paper more challenging — specifically distinguishing between strategies for resisting social pressure and factors affecting conformity.

Component 1: question paper Question 1 - Research: Ø Candidates are asked to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the research process, through application and evaluation. Ø Candidates are also asked to demonstrate their analytical skills through the application of statistical procedures on a data set, and draw conclusions from this processed data.

Component 1: question paper Question 2 – Individual Behaviour and Question 3 – Social Behaviour: Focused on the mandatory topics. With candidates being asked to draw on knowledge and understanding of the topics and relevant research evidence, through description, explanation and evaluation.

Skills: Demonstrating knowledge, understanding and application through: • • Describe Explain Evaluate Analyse

A development of a point (of description, explanation, evaluation or analysis) will provide further related information and might include exemplification of the point.

Describe: Requires candidates to provide a statement or structure of characteristics and/or features. It will be more than an outline or than a list. It may refer to, for instance, a concept, process, experiment, situation, or facts.

Explain: Requires candidates to make points that relate cause and effect and/or make relationships between things clear. This explanation may be the product of a process that includes evaluation and/or analysis.

Evaluate: Requires candidates to make points that make a judgement based on criteria; determine the value of something.

Analyse: Requires candidates to make points that identify parts, the relationship between them, and their relationships with the whole; draw out and relate implications; analyse data (possibly including calculations and/or a conclusion).

Workshop 1: question paper Ø In your delegate pack you will find Workshop 1 Candidate Evidence. Ø Mark the candidate responses, section by section, in line with the question paper and marking instructions and discuss your marks within your group before moving onto the next section. Ø Pay particular attention to the command words within the questions

Component 2: Assignment Ø Generally, candidates who clearly followed the current guidelines performed well in the assignment. Some candidates included an abstract which attracts no marks, and many omitted details of how ethical issues relevant to their research were addressed in the methods sections of the assignment. Ø Candidates on the whole were able to discuss previous research and theories/concepts relevant to their primary research, which enabled them to set the scene for their research and demonstrate how they had used their understanding to inform the design of their research.

Workshop 2: assignment Ø In your delegate pack you will find Workshop 2 Candidate Evidence Ø Mark each section of the assignment in turn using the Course Assessment Task document and discuss each section within your group.