Possible AS Exam Questions - Module 1
Cognitive Approach
1.
2.
Outline one factor that could be included in a definition of the cognitive
approach. (3)
Outline one theory of forgetting. (3)
3.
Evaluate one theory or model of memory in terms of two of the following
criteria: methodological issues, ethical issues, alternative theories, research
evidence for contradictory claims, practical application. (6)
4.
You have studied the divers’ study by Godden and Baddeley (1975) and one
other study from Peterson and Peterson (1959),Craik and Tulving (1975)
and Ramponi et al.(2004). In terms of the methodology used, compare the
study by Godden and Baddeley (1975) with one of the other three studies. (6)
5.
When studying the cognitive approach you will have carried out an
experiment of your own. Answer the following questions based on what you
did and what you found:
a What was the aim of your experiment? (2)
b Which participant design did you use? (1)
c Give one reason why you chose that design. (1)
d Give one aspect of your study that you controlled. (1)
e Explain one reason why you had to control the aspect you gave for (d).
(2)
f Outline two reasons why the experimental research method was the
correct method to choose for your study. (4)
6.
Which of the following examples is a field experiment, a laboratory
experiment or a natural experiment? (1)
a. An experiment was conducted to see whether more words could be
recalled if the words required a deeper level of thought compared
with words that required only minimal thought
b. An experiment was conducted to see if media influenced the
behaviour of children on a remote island that had previously not been
connected to mainland television.
c.
An experiment in obedience was conducted on passers-by to see if
they would be more likely to give a stranger money for parking when
dressed in a uniform or plain clothes.
7.
8.
Which of the above experiments has ecological validity? (1)
Which of the above experiments has the least control over extraneous
variables? (1)
9. An experiment was conducted to see if there was more trolley-bumping at a
busy supermarket compared to a quiet supermarket. Using this example of an
experiment, devise a one-tailed or directional hypothesis and a two-tailed or
non-directional hypothesis. (4)
10. Identify the independent variable (IV) and dependent variable (DV) in these
examples. (6)
a. An investigation was set up to examine the effect of noise on essay
writing.
b. A number of first- and second-born children were given an IQ test to
see if intelligence was affected by birth order.
c. One group of children were allowed to play violent computer games
and another group only games that were non-violent. Levels of
aggression were studied following play.
11. Identify the participant design used by the following experiments: (3)
a. Craik and Tulving (1975) conducted an experiment to see if words
processed at different levels (semantic, phonetic and structural)
affected recall. They presented each word one at a time and asked
questions that required semantic, phonetic or structural
processing. All participants had the same experience of all
questions.
b. Tulving and Pearlstone (1976) gave participants either a
categorised or randomised list of words to remember and recall.
c. The IQ and social skills of children attending after-school clubs for
enrichment programmes were compared to those children who
did not attend any after-school programmes. The researchers
made sure that both groups had similar backgrounds and came
from similar schools.
12. A researcher was interested to see if people would recall more happy words
than sad words. A repeated measures design was chosen and participants
had to read and recall a list of sad words and a list of happy words. The
researcher was anxious that participants would become practised or tired
when reading the second list, and order effects could confound the result.
a. How might the researcher go about using counterbalancing to
balance order effects? (2)
b. How might the researcher go about using randomisation to
balance the order effects? (2)
13.
Levels of Processing Theory suggests the depth of processing affects how
much will be learned. Identify one level of processing and explain how it
might be tested. (3)
14.
Evaluate the levels of processing theory (5)
15.
Suggest ways cue-dependent forgetting may be overcome. (3)
16.
Describe one theory of memory other than levels of processing (4)
17.
18.
Compare the Levels of Processing Theory with one other theory of memory
you have studied. (4)
Evaluate Godden and Baddley’s study into cue-dependent memory (6)
19.
Most people can remember where they were and what they were doing
when they first heard the news about the “Twin Towers” terrorist bombings
in 2001. Use your knowledge of cognitive psychology to describe and
evaluate explanations of how such memories are created. (12)
20.
As part of your course you devised and conducted an experiment on a topic
from the Cognitive Approach. Describe the study you undertook. You must
include details and justifications as appropriate regarding the design, ethical
considerations and procedure of your study. (8)
21.
Outline the central ideas of the cognitive approach to psychology (6)
22.
Describe the levels of processing model of memory (4)
23.
Describe one study from the cognitive approach (5)
24.
Evaluate the study that you have described (5)
25.
Evaluate one explanation of forgetting other than cue-dependency (4)
26.
Describe one study into the accuracy of eyewitness testimony (4)
27.
Using psychological theory, explain how eye witness memory can become
inaccurate (6)
Specimen answers needed for Q 13 -27
LHu Q13-19 SDu Q20- 27
Social Psychology
1.
In the boxes below, tick the two statements that apply to the social
approach. (2)
A Individuals cannot easily be understood outside their culture.
B Interactions between people are important.
C Information is processed by the brain; there is input, processing and
output.
D Individuals are governed most by their biological structures.
2.
Give one strength and one weakness of surveys as a research method. (4)
3.
What is meant by the term ‘obedience’? (2)
4.
Describe Milgram’s agency theory of obedience. (4)
5.
Evaluate social identity theory as an explanation of prejudice. (4)
6.
Evaluate Hofling et al. (1966). (5)
7.
Describe the findings (results and/or conclusions) of either Reicher and
Haslam (2003,2006),Sherif et al.(1954,1963,1981) or Tajfel et al.
(1970,1971). (5)
8.
Read the source below. Then, using concepts from the social approach,
explain what is being said. (6)
Fighting broke out between two local villages when a visiting rugby team from
one of the villages won an annual competition by 28 points. At first, the fight
was between two players who had clashed during the match, but the fighting
soon spread and the police had to be called. Elders from one of the villages
explained that there had been prejudice between the two villages for years, ever
since a factory built near one village had brought good road links and jobs to
that village. The other village was in a different valley and did not have the
same advantages.
9.
10.
What is an alternative hypothesis? (2)
Decide what type of question this is “Why did you choose to study
Psychology?” (1)
11.
Identify one advantage of using a Likert-type scale (2)
12.
Which type of data do you have if it consists entirely of numbers? (1)
13.
Outline one method of analyzing qualitative data (3)
14.
Explain how you would decide whether findings from a questionnaire are a
valid expression of an attitude that can be related to a wider population (3)
15.
Describe one or more features of the Social Approach in understanding
human behaviour (4)
16.
Describe the procedure used in Milgram’s (1963) original study (5)
17.
Compare Milgram’s (1963) study into obedience with that of Hofling et al’s
(1966) study of obedience. (4)
18.
Milgram used agency theory to explain the way that people behave when
faced with a demand to obey an authority figure. Use your knowledge of
Agency Theory to explain the behaviour of a prison guard who obeys an
order that involves mistreating prisoners, even though it breaks prison rules.
(4)
19.
Outline what is meant by the term “social categorization” (3)
20.
Evaluate Milgram’s research in terms of ethical considerations. (6)
21.
There was a clash between fans of rival football teams in the city centre
after a match. Several people were seriously injured and the damage to
businesses in the centre was estimated to be over 2 million pounds. Describe
Tajfel’s Social Identity Theory and show how it can be used to explain the
behaviour of these football fans. (12)
22.
Assess at least two ethical issues that arise from obedience research. Your
answer should relate both to participants in studies and society (6)
23.
Describe and evaluate one study from the social approach (8)
24.
Discuss agency theory as an explanation for human obedience (12)
25.
Explain the key features of the survey method (5)
26.
Explain what is meant by reliability and validity (6)
27.
28.
29.
Using an example explain how psychologists may obtain a representative
sample (4)
Describe and evaluate Social Identity Theory (12)
Use ideas from the social approach to explain one key issue in psychology
(12)
Specimen answers needed for Q 15 – 29
JDr Q15 – 21
AGo Q 22 - 29