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Love and Marriage
Student Assessment Workbook
Name
This workbook contains materials prepared
specifically to help with assessments. It should
be adapted as needed.
For more resources visit our blog at: https://ibpsych.themantic-education.com © Travis Dixon
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CONTENTS
 Short Answer Response (SAR) Checklist
3
 Example Short Answer Response (with comments)
4
 Comparison of SARs Activity
5
 “Describe” and “Explain”?
6
 Practice Short Answer Response Task
7-9
 Comparing Paragraphs Activity
10
 Essay Writing Checklist
11
 Suggest Essay Structure
12
 Example Essay: Discussion or an Evaluation
13-15
 How To Write An Evaluation of a Theory
16
 Practice Essay
17-19
 Essay Rubric (from IB)
20
 Topic Review Questions
21-22
 Take Home Essay Assignment – Evaluation
23-28
 Key Questions Review
29
 Revision Tips
30
 ThemEd’s Rubric for Essays
31
 Exam Prep Notes
32
 Space for Notes
33-38
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Short Answer Response Checklist
This basic checklist has been designed to help you self-edit and check your own practice
answers. It could also be used to help a friend with their SAR writing.
I planned my answer before I started writing.
My introduction includes…
…a one to two sentence statement of my central argument, so the
reader knows how I’m answering the question.
…the study I’m using to support the argument, so the reader knows
the evidence I’m using to support my argument.
My central argument…
…clearly explains a significant relationship that’s stated in the
question.
My evidence…
…is clearly described with concise summaries of procedures and
results. This is so the reader can comprehend the study.
…includes a clear explanation because I’ve made it really clear how
the study supports the central argument.
My conclusion…
…summarizes my answer in one or two sentences, so the reader
knows I’ve finished my answer.
…includes no new information.
My answer…
…uses key terms correctly.
…does not use the word “prove,” but other verbs like “shows” or
“suggests.”
…uses qualifiers and avoids definitive statements, to show that I
understand conclusions in psychology are often tentative.
…is at least 200 words long.
You could also give yourself a score out of 5 to assess how confident you are in completing each of
these tasks.
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Example SAR
Describe one study investigating memory
reliability.
Comments
This is an excellent short answer
response.
Min’s Answer…
One study investigating memory reliability is Loftus and Palmer’s
(L&P) experiment on leading questions and the misinformation
effect. Their study investigated memory reliability by seeing if
leading questions could act as a form of misinformation, and
whether or not this would cause false memories. Their study
raises questions about memory reliability.
L&P actually conducted two experiments, so I’ll focus only on the
second experiment. In the second experiment Loftus and Palmer
tested their hypothesis that leading questions can result in
changes in memory during the reconstruction process. While
their original experiment showed that different verbs (smashed,
hit, contacted, collided and bumped) in leading questions about a
car crash affect speed estimates, in their second experiment they
sought stronger evidence that memory was actually being
changed.
The second experiment used a similar paradigm, but only two
verbs: smashed and hit. The results were consistent: smashed
participants estimated higher speeds than hit. But a second
critical question was also asked: did the participants see broken
glass? 34% of those in the smashed condition reported seeing
broken glass, compared with 14% in the hit condition.
This second result provides more evidence that the leading
question was actually altering the memory of the participants
during recall. There was no broken glass in the original video, but
because of the connotations of the word “smashed,” participants
may have actually remembered a stronger impact than really
happened (hence the increase in recall of broken glass), and had a
false memory implanted by the leading question.
From this second experiment Loftus and Palmer were able to
draw stronger conclusions about how leading questions might
cause the misinformation effect and lead to false memories. This
is one of many studies that addresses the misinformation effect
and raises questions about memory reliability. (300 words).
The introductory paragraph clearly
states the relevant study and
provides an outline of how it
investigated memory reliability.
Description is provided in this
paragraph in the form of giving some
context as to the study and making it
clear which of the two studies will be
the focus of the question.
Description is concise and relevant
and shows good knowledge of the
research.
Once again, more description that is
clear and relevant. This conveys
accurate knowledge of the study and
provides sufficient contexts for
further explanation later in the
answer.
Explanation is provided in this
paragraph about the significance of
the results of the study and how it is
related to memory reliability.
The answer is strengthened through
the use of precise terminology
throughout the answer, e.g. leading
questions, misinformation effect,
memory reliability, recall, critical
question, etc.
A broader summary explanation is
provided, showing more
understanding of the significance of
this study in relation to memory
reliability.
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Comparison of SARs activity

Which one of these short answer responses is better? Provide at least one reason for your answer.
Question: Explain how one study has investigated localization of brain function.
Andre’s Answer
One study that investigated localization of brain function was Milner’s case study on HM.
This study helped to show the function of the hippocampus in memory consolidation.
Localization of brain function means that different parts of the brain perform different
functions. One example of this is the hippocampus, which we now know plays a role in
memory consolidation. This was not known at the time of HM’s operation to remove his
hippocampus, which is why the memory effects were surprising.
HM experienced seizures as a result of a bike accident that he had as a kid and the
hippocampus was thought to play a role in the seizures, so in order to save his life they
operated. The removal of his hippocampus helped to reduce the seizures but afterwards the
researchers noticed that he had memory problems. He couldn’t make new memories. They
found that they could ask him to hold a number in his head but when distracted or after a
while he couldn’t remember what the number was. His working memory was fine, it
seemed, but his ability to transfer his short-term working memory to long-term memory
was affected. Since these problems only occurred after the operation where his
hippocampus was removed, it suggests that hippocampus plays a role in memory
consolidation (the ability to transfer short-term memory into long-term memory.
Sam’s Answer
Localization of brain function can be seen in HM’s study where he had his hippocampus
removed because he had epileptic seizures. This study investigated the function of the
hippocampus.
Localization of brain function is a term that describes how different parts of the brain
perform different functions. The hippocampus, a part of the limbic system, has been shown
to play an important role in the transfer of memory from short-term to long-term memory.
HM experienced seizures as a result of a bike accident when he was younger. The seizures
got so bad that they might have killed him so he and his parents agreed to a radical surgery
to remove his hippocampus to stop the seizures. In one sense the surgery was successful
because the seizures finished, but in another it was a complete disaster as HM suffered
terrible memory problems. His long-term memory seemed undamaged because he could
still remember details of his life before the surgery, including the Dr. who performed the
operation. However, he couldn’t make new long-term memories. He could hold information
in his short-term memory if he was asked to focus on it. But if he was distracted it was
forgotten. Milner observed such things like HM eating meals one after the other because he
had forgotten he had already eaten, or he remembered where his parents’ old house was
but not their new house where he now lived (where they moved after his surgery).
Also, they did tasks like a star-tracing task and they showed that his procedural memory was
fine as well, it was only his episodic memory. These results show that the hippocampus may
not affect other cognitive processes like procedural memory, but specifically the process of
consolidating short-term memory into long-term memory.
Interestingly, HM’s IQ actually increased a few points and his procedural memory wasn’t
affected. This was shown in the star-tracing task. He had to trace a star in a mirror-image,
which is really difficult to do. But he got better over time without remembering his practice.
This study was one of the first that helped determine the function of the hippocampus in
memory consolidation. (300 words)
Here we can see how this study investigated localization of brain function of the
hippocampus.
(300 words)
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What’s the difference between “Describe” and “Explain”?

Highlight the explanation in the two answers on the previous page. What is
“explanation?”
Describe = summarizing!
Explaining = applying!
Every year IB examiners write in subject reports that students’ answers are “too
descriptive.”
What do you think they mean by this?
How can you make sure your answers aren’t “too descriptive?”
Where would you recommend some explanation is added in either (or both) of the
answers in the previous page??
IB Paper 1 Section A: Short Answer Rubric
Markband Level Descriptor
7-9
The response is fully focused on the question and meets the command
term requirements.
Knowledge and understanding is accurate and addresses the main
topics/problems identified in the question.
The response is supported by appropriate research which is described
and explicitly linked to the question.
4-6
The response is relevant to the question, but does not meet the
command term requirements.
Knowledge and understanding is accurate but limited.
The response is supported by appropriate research which is described.
1-3
The response is of limited relevance to or only rephrases the question
Knowledge and understanding is mostly inaccurate or not relevant to the
question.
The research supporting the response is mostly not relevant to the
question and if relevant only listed.
0
The answer does not reach a standard described by the descriptors
below.
You can find more guidance on how to write excellent SARs in the textbook (Chapter 10).
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Practice Short Answer Question
Write a practice answer to one of the following questions in about 300 words, using evidence. Use
the checklist to help you.



Explain the effect of one hormone on human behaviour.
Explain one evolutionary explanation of one behaviour.
Explain how one factor may influence the formation of personal relationships.
Plan
Get your plan checked first before writing.
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Paper 1 Section A: Short Answer Questions & Responses
Markband Level Descriptor
7-9
The response is fully focused on the question and meets the command
term requirements.
Knowledge and understanding is accurate and addresses the main
topics/problems identified in the question.
The response is supported by appropriate research which is described
and explicitly linked to the question.
4-6
The response is relevant to the question, but does not meet the
command term requirements.
Knowledge and understanding is accurate but limited.
The response is supported by appropriate research which is described.
1-3
The response is of limited relevance to or only rephrases the question
Knowledge and understanding is mostly inaccurate or not relevant to the
question.
The research supporting the response is mostly not relevant to the
question and if relevant only listed.
0
The answer does not reach a standard described by the descriptors
below.
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Comparing Answers
Read the following two different paragraphs.
Which one is better? Why?
Question: To what extent do sociocultural factors influence interpersonal relationships?
These paragraphs are taken come from essays on the above question…
Yin’s Answer
Thomas’s Answer
….Cultural dimensions are another way
sociocultural factors may influence a marriage.
Depending on the cultural values, this may
impact the reasons behind forming a marriage,
which might affect the likelihood of the
marriage ending in divorce. For example, if a
couple have formed a marriage based on the
expectations and traditions of a wider social or
family group (as is the case in arranged
marriages in many collectivist cultures), this
might make it harder to get divorced because
there is a wider cultural and social pressure on
the couple to stay together. The marriage is a
union of families, not just of individuals.
….People from individualistic cultures tend to
place a higher emphasis on love as a reason for
marrying, when compared to people from
collectivist cultures. Levine’s study showed this
by surveying people from eleven different
cultures. The results showed that participants
from Philippines and Pakistan (collectivist
cultures) were more likely to disagree with
ending a marriage because there is no love in
the marriage anymore. Other results in Levine’s
study showed that cultures with a higher
emphasis on the importance of love in a
marriage also had higher rates of divorce.
On the other hand, if a couple marries for love
then it might be easier to dissolve the marriage.
This is because “love” is a personal feeling
between two people and is not concerned with
the thoughts or feelings of others. Thus, when
“the love runs out” there might not be anything
else holding the marriage together, and so
dissolving the marriage (e.g. through divorce or
separation) might be easier.
There is evidence for this in Levine et al’s study
where they…
Collectivist cultures tend to have more
arranged marriages, whereas individualistic
cultures tend to have more marriages based on
love. There are also lower divorce rates in
countries like India and Pakistan, than there are
in countries like England and America.
Communication is another factor that might
also influence interpersonal relationships, and
so are biological factors.
In one study by Gottman on communication
and relationships, he found that…
Remember: The key to structuring good answers is using sign-posts!
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