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.

Questions are set from the
specification.

Don’t rely on textbooks.

For each topic be aware of
POSSIBLE questions.

Use past papers.

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.
Short description
Cognitive interviews have been developed to improve witness
recall. Identify and explain two techniques used in the
cognitive interview.
(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
Outline one 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 AO1 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 AO1 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
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)
The three point rule
ELABORATING COMMENTARY
THREE POINT RULE….
 State your criticism
(“What is it?”)
 Evidence (“How do I
know that?”)
 Explain it (e.g. “Why is
this a good or bad
thing?”)
Weak AO2
• This study can be criticised
because it lacks ecological validity.
Coherently elaborated AO2
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 (AO1)
Marks Detail
Knowledge
and
understanding
6
Accurate and Sound
reasonably
detailed
5-4
Generally
Relevant
accurate, less
detailed
Selection of
appropriate
material
Appropriate
Presentation
of information
Some evidence
Appropriate
Appropriate
Clear and
coherent
3-2
Basic
Some relevant
Little evidence
1
Very
brief/flawed
Very little
Largely or wholly inappropriate
THE ESSAY QUESTIONS
Evaluation (AO2)
Marks
Use of
material
Range of issues and/or
evidence
6
Effective
Broad range in reasonable
depth or narrower range in
greater depth
5-4
Not always
effective
range in limited depth or
narrower range in greater
depth
Reasonable, some
errors
3-2
Basic
1
Rudimentary
Superficial consideration of
restricted range
Just discernible
Lacks clarity, some
specialist terms, errors
Poor, few specialist
terms
Expression of ideas ,
specialist terms,
spelling etc
Clear and good range,
few errors
Effective AO2
SHOCK
HORROR!
There is no such thing
as AO2, only material
that is used as AO2.
Consider
ALL AO1
• 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.
AO1 and AO2
• 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 AO2 effective use
THE AO2 ‘VOCABULARY’
• However …
• On the other hand …
• An alternative explanation
could be…
• This suggests that…
• This is supported by…
• So we can see that…
• This is challenged by…
• This would imply…
• Not everyone reacts the same
way, for example…
• A consequence would be…
• An advantage of this is…
• 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, McCorkle 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 AO2
• 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
Statement
Effective criticism
And don’t forget
…
elaborated,
SEXy
AO2
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