Unit 1 - Past Questions (N.B. Some questions do not add up to 20 due to the removal of irrelevant questions from previous years exams ALL questions in your exam will add up to 20 marks). Psychological Approaches January 2006 (a) Outline one way in which Skinner influenced the development of psychology. (2 marks) (b) Outline two criticisms of the psychodynamic approach (4 marks) (c) Lesley is anxious and has low self-esteem. As a child, she felt that, no matter how hard she tried to please people, on one ever approved of her. She sometimes feels worthless. Referring to the humanistic approach, explain one possible cause of Lesley’s problems. (4 marks) June 2006 (a) Briefly describe one feature of the psychodynamic approach in psychology. (3 marks) (b) Sunita is eight years old and suffers from a medical condition which means she often has to go into hospital. Each time she goes into hospital, the treatment makes her feel sick. One day, Sunita’s mother took her to visit her grandmother in hospital. When they arrived at the hospital, Sunita complained to her mother that she felt sick. Referring to features of the behaviourist approach, explain why Sunita felt sick when she went to visit her grandmother in hospital. (4 marks) (c) Discuss the humanistic approach in psychology. Refer to at least one other approach in your answer. (10 marks) January 2007 (a) Jaina is three years old. She sees a packet of her favourite chocolate biscuits on the kitchen table. Jaina’s mother says to her, “You must not eat any of the chocolate biscuits.” When her mother leaves the kitchen, Jaina cannot stop herself from eating a chocolate biscuit, even though she has been told not to.
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Unit 1 - Past Questions (NB Some questions do not add up to 20 due to the removal of irrelevant questions from previous years exams ALL questions in your exam will add up to 20 marks)
Psychological Approaches
January 2006
(a) Outline one way in which Skinner influenced the development of psychology (2 marks)
(b) Outline two criticisms of the psychodynamic approach (4 marks)(c) Lesley is anxious and has low self-esteem As a child she felt that no matter how hard she tried to
please people on one ever approved of her She sometimes feels worthlessReferring to the humanistic approach explain one possible cause of Lesleyrsquos problems (4 marks)
June 2006
(a) Briefly describe one feature of the psychodynamic approach in psychology (3 marks)
(b) Sunita is eight years old and suffers from a medical condition which means she often has to go into hospital Each time she goes into hospital the treatment makes her feel sick One day Sunitarsquos mother took her to visit her grandmother in hospital When they arrived at the hospital Sunita complained to her mother that she felt sick
Referring to features of the behaviourist approach explain why Sunita felt sick when she went to visit her grandmother in hospital (4 marks)
(c) Discuss the humanistic approach in psychology Refer to at least one other approach in your answer (10 marks)
January 2007
(a) Jaina is three years old She sees a packet of her favourite chocolate biscuits on the kitchen table Jainarsquos mother says to her ldquoYou must not eat any of the chocolate biscuitsrdquo When her mother leaves the kitchen Jaina cannot stop herself from eating a chocolate biscuit even though she has been told not toSuggest a psychodynamic explanation as to why Jaina ate the chocolate biscuit (4 marks)
(b) Discuss the cognitive approach in psychology Refer to at least one other approach in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
(a) (i) Briefly explain one assumption of the humanistic approach in psychology (2 marks)(ii) Briefly explain one assumption of the cognitive approach in psychology (2 marks)
(b) Describe and discuss the behaviourist approach in psychology (10 marks)
January 2008
(a) Outline one way in which Rogers influenced the development of psychology (2 marks)
(b) Mia is revising for her history examination Her teacher asks her the following question ldquoWho was the mother of Queen Elizabeth Irdquo Mia thinks hard She then remembers what her teacher taught her in the previous history lesson She then replies ldquoAnne Boleynrdquo
Outline the information-processing approach and illustrate it with reference to the description above (5 marks)
(c) Discuss the psychodynamic approach in psychology (10 marks)
June 2008
(a) Describe one assumption of the behaviourist approach in psychology (2 marks)
(b) Mark is 33 years old He has low self-esteem and feels worthless One day his therapist asks him about his childhood Mark said ldquoI never had a close relationship with my mother She would only cuddle me if I was a good boy and did as I was toldrdquoWith reference to one assumption of the humanistic approach explain a possible cause of Markrsquos problems (4 marks)
(c) Discuss the cognitive approach in psychology Refer to at least one other approach in your answer (10 marks)
Biological Approach (NB This is no longer a separate question in the exam but combined with the approaches questions)
January 2006
(a) Below is a diagram of the human brain It is labelled A B C and D
Write in your answer book which letter matches each of the areas below
(i) Auditory area(ii) Somatosensory area(iii) Visual area(iv) Motor area (4 marks)
(b) Distinguish between the terms genotype and phenotype (3 marks)
(c) State what is meant by selective breeding Explain why it has been used to investigate the genetic basis of behaviour (3 marks)
June 2006
(a) Below is a diagram of a sensory neuron (Figure 1) It is labelled A B C and D
Write in your answer book which letter A B C or D matches each of the structures below
(i) Cell body (ii) Myelin sheath (iii) Nucleus (iv) Axon (4 marks)
(b) Describe and discuss how two of the following methods have been used to investigate genetic basis of behaviour
Twin studies Adoption studies Selective breeding (10 marks)
January 2007
(a) Briefly describe one technique used to study cortical specialisation in the brain (3 marks)
(b) Outline what is meant by the fight or flight response Give an example(3 marks)
(c) Some psychologists believe that human and non-human behaviour can be explained in terms of evolutionary processes(i) What is meant by the term evolution (2 marks)(ii) Give an example of one behaviour and suggest how this behaviour can be explained in
terms of evolutionary processes (2 marks)
(d) Discuss the biological approach in psychology Refer to evidence in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
(a) Outline one difference in function between a motor neuron and a sensory neuron(2 marks)
(b) What is meant by the terms genotype and phenotype Use an example to illustrate the difference between them (4 marks)
(c) Briefly discuss one limitation of the biological approach in psychology (4 marks)
(d) Ben and his friends are at a theme park They are waiting in a queue to ride a terrifying rollercoaster Ben starts to feel sick and his hands become hot and sticky As he moves near to the front of the queue he feels his heart pounding After the ride Ben feels very thirsty and tired
Describe the role of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the adrenal glands in a stressful situation Use this knowledge to explain Benrsquos responses before and after the rollercoaster ride (10 marks)
January 2008
(a) Outline the role of the adrenal glands in the fight or flight response (2 marks)(b) Tom has a phobia of mice He saw a mouse scurry across the floor Tom immediately felt sick and
he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end Some time later his heart stopped pounding and he got his breath backFrom the description above identify three of Tomrsquos bodily responses and state whether each response results from the action of the sympathetic or parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system (3 marks)
(c) Describe one study in which selective breeding was used to investigate the genetic basis of behaviour Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn (5 marks)
(d) Discuss at least two methods that have been used to investigate localisation of function (cortical specialisation) in the brain (10 marks)
Mixed Approaches and Biopsychology(your exam question on the Approaches section will be like this)
Jan 2009
1 (a) What do behaviourists mean by the term operant conditioning Give an example of how operant conditioning might be used to train an animal (3 marks)1 (b) Identify and explain one methodological issue which might arise when using EEGs to investigate cortical specialization (3 marks)1 (c) (i) Outline the role of the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system in physiological arousal (2 marks)1 (c) (ii) Sophie is taking her driving test for the first time She is very nervous Her hands begin to sweat and she can feel her heart pounding When the examiner asks Sophie to start the car she feels sick After the driving test Sophie begins to feel her breathing slow downFrom the description above identify two of Sophiersquos bodily responses stating whether each response is a result of the action of the sympathetic nervous system or the parasympathetic nervous system (2 marks)1 (d) Describe and evaluate the humanistic approach in psychology Refer to at least one other approach in your answer (10 marks)
Jun 2009
1 (a) Name and briefly describe one defence mechanism Suggest how this defence mechanism might help a person to cope with the breakdown of a close relationship (3 marks)1 (b) (i) What is meant by classical conditioning (1 mark)1 (b) (ii) Briefly outline how researchers such as Pavlov have investigated classical conditioning (2 marks)1 (c) Jake has a very stressful job He is often late home from work and hardly gets any sleep One night Jake is so stressed and angry that he punches a door Jake comes from a violent family Suggest how a biological psychologist and a behavioural psychologist might explain Jakersquos violent behaviour (4 marks)1 (d) Discuss two of the following methods that have been used to investigate areas of cortical specialisation in the brain (10 marks)1048698 neurosurgery1048698 post-mortem examinations1048698 scanning techniques
Jan 2010
1 (a) What do humanistic psychologists mean by conditions of worth Suggest how a parent might place conditions of worth on his or her child (2 marks)1 (b) (i) Outline what is meant by evolution (2 marks)1 (b) (ii) Explain how one human or non-human behaviour may have resulted from the process of evolution (2 marks)1 (c) (i) Post-mortem examinations of the brain have been used to study cortical specialisation Explain how post-mortem examinations have helped us to understand cortical specialisation (2 marks)1 (c) (ii) Briefly explain one other method used to investigate cortical specialisation in the brain (2 marks)1 (d) Describe and evaluate the behaviourist approach in psychology (10 marks)
June 2010
1 (a) Humanistic psychologists have claimed that all individuals can achieve self-actualisation1 (a) (i) Explain what is meant by self-actualisation (2 marks)1 (a) (ii) Explain one problem with the concept of self-actualisation (2 marks)1 (b) Cognitive psychologists often propose models of mental processes 1 (b) (i) Identify one model used by cognitive psychologists (1 mark)1 (b) (ii) Outline one reason why cognitive psychologists use models of mental processes (2 marks)1 (c) (i) What do psychodynamic psychologists mean by a defence mechanism (1 mark)1 (c) (ii) Name and outline one defence mechanism (2 marks)1 (d) Discuss the behaviourist approach in psychology Refer to classical conditioning andoperant conditioning in your answer (10 marks)
Research Methods
January 2006
June 06
June 2007
A psychologist was interested in conducting a case study of an individual who had been convicted of a criminal offence
To investigate why the offender committed the crime the psychologist used various methods of data collection including
interviews with the offender and the offenderrsquos family observations of the offenderrsquos behaviour in prison analysis of the offenderrsquos school reports and medical notes psychometric tests on the offender
(a) (i) What is meant by a case study (1 mark)(ii) Explain one strength of the case study method (2 marks)
(b) The psychologist used the offenderrsquos family as a source of information about the offenderrsquos childhoodApart from ethical issues identify and explain one problem of using this source of information
(3 marks)
(c) Distinguish between a structured and an unstructured interview (3 marks)
(d) The psychologist conducted a number of overt observations of the offenderrsquos behaviour in various prison situations(i) What is meant by overt observation (1 mark)(ii) Outline one methodological problem that might arise when just one psychologist observes a
personrsquos behaviour (2 marks)(iii) Explain how the problem you have identified in (d) (ii) can be overcome
(2 marks)(iv) Explain one advantage of conducting an observation in a natural setting compared with an
observation in a laboratory setting (3 marks)
(e) Identify and explain one ethical issue the psychologist should have considered before conducting this study (3 marks)
Jan 2009
3 A psychologist wanted to investigate the effect of computer games on levels of aggression Twenty participants aged 14 to 16 years took part in the experiment The participants were randomly selected from a secondary school In one condition of the experiment ten participants played a computer game which thepsychologist had previously assessed as aggressive for thirty minutes (Game 1)In the other condition of the experiment the other ten participants played a computer gamewhich the psychologist had previously assessed as neutral for thirty minutes The computergame contained no acts of aggressive behaviour (Game 2)After playing the computer game each participant was tested in order to measure his or her level of aggression The maximum score on the test was 50 A high score on the test indicated a high level of aggression a low score indicated a low level of aggressionThe psychologist calculated the mean scores of levels of aggression These are shown in Table 1 below
Table 1 Mean aggression score for participants who played Game 1 (aggressive) and participants who played Game 2 (neutral)
3 (a) What do the mean scores suggest about the effects of the computer games in this study (2 marks)3 (b) Draw a bar chart to display the data presented in Table 1 Correctly label your bar chart3 (c) (i) Identify the independent variable (IV) in this study (1 mark)3 (c) (ii) Identify the dependent variable (DV) in this study (1 mark)3 (d) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist used random sampling to select the participants for this studyWhat is meant by random sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Explain why random sampling might be a better method to use than opportunity sampling(2marks)3 (f) (i) Identify the type of experimental design used in this study (1 mark)3 (f) (ii) Give one advantage of the experimental design that you have identified in your answer to (f)(i)
(1 mark)3 (g) (i) What is meant by an extraneous variable (1 mark)3 (g) (ii) Explain how one extraneous variable might have confounded the results in this study (3 marks)3 (h) Before the study the psychologist assessed the computer games as either aggressive or neutralOutline how the psychologist might have carried out this assessment (2 marks)
Jun 2009
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 and state what it shows about the relationship between stress and number of days absent from work (2 marks)3 (b) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) Identify two differences between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (d) Outline one advantage of conducting a correlational study (2 marks)3 (e) The psychologist obtained the thirty nurses for this study by random sampling How might the psychologist have obtained the random sample of nurses (2 marks)3 (f) The psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress3 (f) (i) What is meant by a pilot study (1 mark)3 (f) (ii) Give one reason why the psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress in this study (1 mark)3 (g) The interviews that the psychologist carried out were structured interviews Outline one strength of using structured interviews (2 marks)3 (h) Identify and explain one ethical issue that the psychologist should have considered in this study
(3 marks)3 (i) The psychologist decided to conduct a case study of one nurse who showed a very high level of stress3 (i) (i) What is meant by a case study (1 mark)3 (i) (ii) Outline one limitation of conducting a case study (2 marks)
Jan 2010
3 (a) What do the mean scores in Table 1 show Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (b) (i) What is meant by standard deviation (1 mark)3 (b) (ii) What do the standard deviations in Table 1 suggest about the performance of the two groups in the recall test Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (c) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (d) Name the experimental design used in this study Identify two advantages of this type of experimental design (3 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist obtained the participants from a school canteen Name the sampling method that the psychologist used in this study (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Identify two disadvantages of the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(i)
(2 marks)3 (f) Identify one extraneous variable that might have confounded the results of this studyExplain how this variable might have affected the recall of Spanish words by participants (3 marks)3 (g) After the experiment the psychologist needed to debrief the participants Write a short debrief that the psychologist could read to the participants (4 marks)
Jun 2010
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 Explain what it shows about the relationship between attitudes towards healthy eating and weight (2 marks)3 (b) Write a suitable hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) The students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating What is meant by a pilot study Give one reason why the students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire
(2 marks)3 (d) One statement the students used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating was lsquoeatinga healthy diet is very important to mersquo3 (d) (i) Write one other statement that could be used to assess a personrsquos attitude towardshealthy eating (1 mark)3 (d) (ii) Explain one disadvantage of using questionnaires in psychological research (2 marks)3 (e) The students used an opportunity sample3 (e) (i) What is meant by opportunity sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Name one other sampling method (1 mark)3 (e) (iii) Explain why the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(ii) mightbe a better method to use than opportunity sampling (2 marks)3 (f) Identify and briefly explain one ethical issue that the students would need to consider when conducting this study (3 marks)3 (g) Explain one difference between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (h) After the initial study the students conducted a case study with the participants who had a very positive attitude towards healthy eatingBriefly discuss the value of conducting case studies in psychological research (2 marks)
Psychology of Gender
January 2006
June 2006
January 2007
(a) Outline what is meant by the term gender (2 marks)
(b) What is meant by androgyny Give an example of how a person might show androgynous behaviour (3 marks)
(c) Discuss the concepts of nature and nurture in relation to gender Refer to at least one study in your answer (10 marks)
(a) Identify one effect that testosterone might have on behaviour (1 mark)
(b) (i) Briefly describe Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex (3 marks)(ii) Outline one limitation of Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex
(2 marks)(c) Philip is seven years old and is going to a fancy dress party He is wearing a dress
Philiprsquos little brother Sydney says ldquoLook mummy Philiprsquos a girl nowrdquo Philip repliesldquoI am still a boy even if I am wearing a dressrdquo(i) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender
development shown by Sydney In your answer refer to comments made by Sydney (2 marks)
(ii) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender development shown by Philip In your answer refer to comments made by Philip
(2 marks)(d) Discuss the social learning theory explanation of gender Refer to at least one other explanation of
gender in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
(a) (i) Give one typical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)(ii) Give one atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)
(b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender developmentRead the following statementsA A child understands that someone stays the same biological sex even though heshe may
change in appearanceB A child understands that people stay the same sex throughout lifeC A child understands that people can change sex by changing their appearanceD A child is able to label hisher own sex correctly
In your answer book write down which statement (A B C or D) is a correct definition of the following(i) gender identity(ii) gender stability(iii) gender constancy (3 marks)
(c) Describe one study in which the social learning theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn
(5 marks)(d) Describe and discuss a psychoanalytic explanation of gender development
(10 marks)
January 2008
(a) In relation to gender describe what is meant by nature and nurture (4 marks)
(a) Julia notices that her friend Ruth goes salsa dancing twice a week so Julia starts going salsa dancing too Julia carries on going to classes because everyone tells her that she is very good at dancingFrom the description above identify an example of the following
(i) modelling(ii) reinforcement (2 marks)
(b) (i) Give a social learning theory explanation of identification (1 mark)(ii) Give a psychoanalytic explanation of identification (1 mark)(iii) State one difference between these two explanations (1 mark)
(c) Describe one study in which the cognitive-developmental theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn (5 marks)
(d) Describe and discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one study of gender in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2009
2 (a) (i) An atypical sex chromosome pattern is XXY Name the syndrome (1 mark)2 (a) (ii) Briefly explain how studying people with atypical sex chromosome patterns can contribute to our understanding of gender (2 marks)2 (b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Write one question that a psychologist might use to assess a childrsquos understanding of the following (3 marks)2 (b) (i) gender identity2 (b) (ii) gender stability2 (b) (iii) gender constancy2 (c) Lulu is six years old One Saturday she goes to play with her friend Emma at Emmarsquos house Lulu notices how Emma helps her mother with the cooking When Emma helps with the cooking her mother praises her When Lulu returns home she helps her mother with the cooking Referring to social learning theory explain why Lulu helps her mother with the cooking (4 marks)2 (d) Discuss a psychodynamic explanation of gender development (10 marks)
Jun 2009
2 (a) Androgyny is a term that is used to describe an individual who possesses both masculine and feminine traits Suggest how a psychologist might measure androgyny (2 marks)2 (b) (i) Briefly describe the social learning theory explanation of gender development (3 marks)2 (b) (ii) Explain one limitation of the social learning theory explanation of gender development (2 marks)2 (c) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Read the following definitionsA a child understands that he or she stays the same sex over timeB a child believes that he or she can change sex by changing their appearanceC a child knows that he is a boy or she is a girlD a child understands that he or she stays the same sex despite external changes in appearanceWrite in the box which letter (A B C or D) is the best definition ofGender identityGender stabilityGender constancy (3 marks)2 (d) Discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to evidence in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2010
2 (a) What is meant by the term androgyny Suggest how a person might show androgynous behaviour (2 marks)
2 (b) (i) Name one syndrome associated with an atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)2 (b) (ii) Give one feature of the syndrome that you have identified in your answer to(b)(i) (1 mark)2 (b) (iii) Explain why psychologists investigating gender study people with atypical sex chromosome patterns (2 marks)2 (c) With reference to one study of gender2 (c) (i) outline the research method used in this study (2 marks)2 (c) (ii) briefly explain either one strength or one limitation of this study (2 marks)2 (d) Discuss a cognitive explanation of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 2010
2 (a) Jemima is playing dressing-up games with her older sister Abbie Jemima puts on a builderrsquos hat and says to Abbie ldquoWhen Irsquom a big girl Irsquom going to be a builderrdquo Abbie replies ldquoNo you canrsquot be a builder silly Only boys can be builders Girls donrsquot do that sort of jobrdquo What is meant by sex-role stereotyping Refer to the conversation above in your answer (3 marks)2 (b) How have cognitive psychologists investigated gender schema (3 marks)2 (c) (i) Identify one study in which cultural variations in gender-related behaviour were investigated
(1 mark)2 (c) (ii) Briefly evaluate the study that you have identified in your answer to (c)(i) (3 marks)2 (d) Describe and evaluate biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
(b) Mia is revising for her history examination Her teacher asks her the following question ldquoWho was the mother of Queen Elizabeth Irdquo Mia thinks hard She then remembers what her teacher taught her in the previous history lesson She then replies ldquoAnne Boleynrdquo
Outline the information-processing approach and illustrate it with reference to the description above (5 marks)
(c) Discuss the psychodynamic approach in psychology (10 marks)
June 2008
(a) Describe one assumption of the behaviourist approach in psychology (2 marks)
(b) Mark is 33 years old He has low self-esteem and feels worthless One day his therapist asks him about his childhood Mark said ldquoI never had a close relationship with my mother She would only cuddle me if I was a good boy and did as I was toldrdquoWith reference to one assumption of the humanistic approach explain a possible cause of Markrsquos problems (4 marks)
(c) Discuss the cognitive approach in psychology Refer to at least one other approach in your answer (10 marks)
Biological Approach (NB This is no longer a separate question in the exam but combined with the approaches questions)
January 2006
(a) Below is a diagram of the human brain It is labelled A B C and D
Write in your answer book which letter matches each of the areas below
(i) Auditory area(ii) Somatosensory area(iii) Visual area(iv) Motor area (4 marks)
(b) Distinguish between the terms genotype and phenotype (3 marks)
(c) State what is meant by selective breeding Explain why it has been used to investigate the genetic basis of behaviour (3 marks)
June 2006
(a) Below is a diagram of a sensory neuron (Figure 1) It is labelled A B C and D
Write in your answer book which letter A B C or D matches each of the structures below
(i) Cell body (ii) Myelin sheath (iii) Nucleus (iv) Axon (4 marks)
(b) Describe and discuss how two of the following methods have been used to investigate genetic basis of behaviour
Twin studies Adoption studies Selective breeding (10 marks)
January 2007
(a) Briefly describe one technique used to study cortical specialisation in the brain (3 marks)
(b) Outline what is meant by the fight or flight response Give an example(3 marks)
(c) Some psychologists believe that human and non-human behaviour can be explained in terms of evolutionary processes(i) What is meant by the term evolution (2 marks)(ii) Give an example of one behaviour and suggest how this behaviour can be explained in
terms of evolutionary processes (2 marks)
(d) Discuss the biological approach in psychology Refer to evidence in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
(a) Outline one difference in function between a motor neuron and a sensory neuron(2 marks)
(b) What is meant by the terms genotype and phenotype Use an example to illustrate the difference between them (4 marks)
(c) Briefly discuss one limitation of the biological approach in psychology (4 marks)
(d) Ben and his friends are at a theme park They are waiting in a queue to ride a terrifying rollercoaster Ben starts to feel sick and his hands become hot and sticky As he moves near to the front of the queue he feels his heart pounding After the ride Ben feels very thirsty and tired
Describe the role of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the adrenal glands in a stressful situation Use this knowledge to explain Benrsquos responses before and after the rollercoaster ride (10 marks)
January 2008
(a) Outline the role of the adrenal glands in the fight or flight response (2 marks)(b) Tom has a phobia of mice He saw a mouse scurry across the floor Tom immediately felt sick and
he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end Some time later his heart stopped pounding and he got his breath backFrom the description above identify three of Tomrsquos bodily responses and state whether each response results from the action of the sympathetic or parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system (3 marks)
(c) Describe one study in which selective breeding was used to investigate the genetic basis of behaviour Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn (5 marks)
(d) Discuss at least two methods that have been used to investigate localisation of function (cortical specialisation) in the brain (10 marks)
Mixed Approaches and Biopsychology(your exam question on the Approaches section will be like this)
Jan 2009
1 (a) What do behaviourists mean by the term operant conditioning Give an example of how operant conditioning might be used to train an animal (3 marks)1 (b) Identify and explain one methodological issue which might arise when using EEGs to investigate cortical specialization (3 marks)1 (c) (i) Outline the role of the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system in physiological arousal (2 marks)1 (c) (ii) Sophie is taking her driving test for the first time She is very nervous Her hands begin to sweat and she can feel her heart pounding When the examiner asks Sophie to start the car she feels sick After the driving test Sophie begins to feel her breathing slow downFrom the description above identify two of Sophiersquos bodily responses stating whether each response is a result of the action of the sympathetic nervous system or the parasympathetic nervous system (2 marks)1 (d) Describe and evaluate the humanistic approach in psychology Refer to at least one other approach in your answer (10 marks)
Jun 2009
1 (a) Name and briefly describe one defence mechanism Suggest how this defence mechanism might help a person to cope with the breakdown of a close relationship (3 marks)1 (b) (i) What is meant by classical conditioning (1 mark)1 (b) (ii) Briefly outline how researchers such as Pavlov have investigated classical conditioning (2 marks)1 (c) Jake has a very stressful job He is often late home from work and hardly gets any sleep One night Jake is so stressed and angry that he punches a door Jake comes from a violent family Suggest how a biological psychologist and a behavioural psychologist might explain Jakersquos violent behaviour (4 marks)1 (d) Discuss two of the following methods that have been used to investigate areas of cortical specialisation in the brain (10 marks)1048698 neurosurgery1048698 post-mortem examinations1048698 scanning techniques
Jan 2010
1 (a) What do humanistic psychologists mean by conditions of worth Suggest how a parent might place conditions of worth on his or her child (2 marks)1 (b) (i) Outline what is meant by evolution (2 marks)1 (b) (ii) Explain how one human or non-human behaviour may have resulted from the process of evolution (2 marks)1 (c) (i) Post-mortem examinations of the brain have been used to study cortical specialisation Explain how post-mortem examinations have helped us to understand cortical specialisation (2 marks)1 (c) (ii) Briefly explain one other method used to investigate cortical specialisation in the brain (2 marks)1 (d) Describe and evaluate the behaviourist approach in psychology (10 marks)
June 2010
1 (a) Humanistic psychologists have claimed that all individuals can achieve self-actualisation1 (a) (i) Explain what is meant by self-actualisation (2 marks)1 (a) (ii) Explain one problem with the concept of self-actualisation (2 marks)1 (b) Cognitive psychologists often propose models of mental processes 1 (b) (i) Identify one model used by cognitive psychologists (1 mark)1 (b) (ii) Outline one reason why cognitive psychologists use models of mental processes (2 marks)1 (c) (i) What do psychodynamic psychologists mean by a defence mechanism (1 mark)1 (c) (ii) Name and outline one defence mechanism (2 marks)1 (d) Discuss the behaviourist approach in psychology Refer to classical conditioning andoperant conditioning in your answer (10 marks)
Research Methods
January 2006
June 06
June 2007
A psychologist was interested in conducting a case study of an individual who had been convicted of a criminal offence
To investigate why the offender committed the crime the psychologist used various methods of data collection including
interviews with the offender and the offenderrsquos family observations of the offenderrsquos behaviour in prison analysis of the offenderrsquos school reports and medical notes psychometric tests on the offender
(a) (i) What is meant by a case study (1 mark)(ii) Explain one strength of the case study method (2 marks)
(b) The psychologist used the offenderrsquos family as a source of information about the offenderrsquos childhoodApart from ethical issues identify and explain one problem of using this source of information
(3 marks)
(c) Distinguish between a structured and an unstructured interview (3 marks)
(d) The psychologist conducted a number of overt observations of the offenderrsquos behaviour in various prison situations(i) What is meant by overt observation (1 mark)(ii) Outline one methodological problem that might arise when just one psychologist observes a
personrsquos behaviour (2 marks)(iii) Explain how the problem you have identified in (d) (ii) can be overcome
(2 marks)(iv) Explain one advantage of conducting an observation in a natural setting compared with an
observation in a laboratory setting (3 marks)
(e) Identify and explain one ethical issue the psychologist should have considered before conducting this study (3 marks)
Jan 2009
3 A psychologist wanted to investigate the effect of computer games on levels of aggression Twenty participants aged 14 to 16 years took part in the experiment The participants were randomly selected from a secondary school In one condition of the experiment ten participants played a computer game which thepsychologist had previously assessed as aggressive for thirty minutes (Game 1)In the other condition of the experiment the other ten participants played a computer gamewhich the psychologist had previously assessed as neutral for thirty minutes The computergame contained no acts of aggressive behaviour (Game 2)After playing the computer game each participant was tested in order to measure his or her level of aggression The maximum score on the test was 50 A high score on the test indicated a high level of aggression a low score indicated a low level of aggressionThe psychologist calculated the mean scores of levels of aggression These are shown in Table 1 below
Table 1 Mean aggression score for participants who played Game 1 (aggressive) and participants who played Game 2 (neutral)
3 (a) What do the mean scores suggest about the effects of the computer games in this study (2 marks)3 (b) Draw a bar chart to display the data presented in Table 1 Correctly label your bar chart3 (c) (i) Identify the independent variable (IV) in this study (1 mark)3 (c) (ii) Identify the dependent variable (DV) in this study (1 mark)3 (d) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist used random sampling to select the participants for this studyWhat is meant by random sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Explain why random sampling might be a better method to use than opportunity sampling(2marks)3 (f) (i) Identify the type of experimental design used in this study (1 mark)3 (f) (ii) Give one advantage of the experimental design that you have identified in your answer to (f)(i)
(1 mark)3 (g) (i) What is meant by an extraneous variable (1 mark)3 (g) (ii) Explain how one extraneous variable might have confounded the results in this study (3 marks)3 (h) Before the study the psychologist assessed the computer games as either aggressive or neutralOutline how the psychologist might have carried out this assessment (2 marks)
Jun 2009
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 and state what it shows about the relationship between stress and number of days absent from work (2 marks)3 (b) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) Identify two differences between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (d) Outline one advantage of conducting a correlational study (2 marks)3 (e) The psychologist obtained the thirty nurses for this study by random sampling How might the psychologist have obtained the random sample of nurses (2 marks)3 (f) The psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress3 (f) (i) What is meant by a pilot study (1 mark)3 (f) (ii) Give one reason why the psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress in this study (1 mark)3 (g) The interviews that the psychologist carried out were structured interviews Outline one strength of using structured interviews (2 marks)3 (h) Identify and explain one ethical issue that the psychologist should have considered in this study
(3 marks)3 (i) The psychologist decided to conduct a case study of one nurse who showed a very high level of stress3 (i) (i) What is meant by a case study (1 mark)3 (i) (ii) Outline one limitation of conducting a case study (2 marks)
Jan 2010
3 (a) What do the mean scores in Table 1 show Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (b) (i) What is meant by standard deviation (1 mark)3 (b) (ii) What do the standard deviations in Table 1 suggest about the performance of the two groups in the recall test Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (c) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (d) Name the experimental design used in this study Identify two advantages of this type of experimental design (3 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist obtained the participants from a school canteen Name the sampling method that the psychologist used in this study (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Identify two disadvantages of the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(i)
(2 marks)3 (f) Identify one extraneous variable that might have confounded the results of this studyExplain how this variable might have affected the recall of Spanish words by participants (3 marks)3 (g) After the experiment the psychologist needed to debrief the participants Write a short debrief that the psychologist could read to the participants (4 marks)
Jun 2010
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 Explain what it shows about the relationship between attitudes towards healthy eating and weight (2 marks)3 (b) Write a suitable hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) The students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating What is meant by a pilot study Give one reason why the students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire
(2 marks)3 (d) One statement the students used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating was lsquoeatinga healthy diet is very important to mersquo3 (d) (i) Write one other statement that could be used to assess a personrsquos attitude towardshealthy eating (1 mark)3 (d) (ii) Explain one disadvantage of using questionnaires in psychological research (2 marks)3 (e) The students used an opportunity sample3 (e) (i) What is meant by opportunity sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Name one other sampling method (1 mark)3 (e) (iii) Explain why the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(ii) mightbe a better method to use than opportunity sampling (2 marks)3 (f) Identify and briefly explain one ethical issue that the students would need to consider when conducting this study (3 marks)3 (g) Explain one difference between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (h) After the initial study the students conducted a case study with the participants who had a very positive attitude towards healthy eatingBriefly discuss the value of conducting case studies in psychological research (2 marks)
Psychology of Gender
January 2006
June 2006
January 2007
(a) Outline what is meant by the term gender (2 marks)
(b) What is meant by androgyny Give an example of how a person might show androgynous behaviour (3 marks)
(c) Discuss the concepts of nature and nurture in relation to gender Refer to at least one study in your answer (10 marks)
(a) Identify one effect that testosterone might have on behaviour (1 mark)
(b) (i) Briefly describe Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex (3 marks)(ii) Outline one limitation of Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex
(2 marks)(c) Philip is seven years old and is going to a fancy dress party He is wearing a dress
Philiprsquos little brother Sydney says ldquoLook mummy Philiprsquos a girl nowrdquo Philip repliesldquoI am still a boy even if I am wearing a dressrdquo(i) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender
development shown by Sydney In your answer refer to comments made by Sydney (2 marks)
(ii) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender development shown by Philip In your answer refer to comments made by Philip
(2 marks)(d) Discuss the social learning theory explanation of gender Refer to at least one other explanation of
gender in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
(a) (i) Give one typical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)(ii) Give one atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)
(b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender developmentRead the following statementsA A child understands that someone stays the same biological sex even though heshe may
change in appearanceB A child understands that people stay the same sex throughout lifeC A child understands that people can change sex by changing their appearanceD A child is able to label hisher own sex correctly
In your answer book write down which statement (A B C or D) is a correct definition of the following(i) gender identity(ii) gender stability(iii) gender constancy (3 marks)
(c) Describe one study in which the social learning theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn
(5 marks)(d) Describe and discuss a psychoanalytic explanation of gender development
(10 marks)
January 2008
(a) In relation to gender describe what is meant by nature and nurture (4 marks)
(a) Julia notices that her friend Ruth goes salsa dancing twice a week so Julia starts going salsa dancing too Julia carries on going to classes because everyone tells her that she is very good at dancingFrom the description above identify an example of the following
(i) modelling(ii) reinforcement (2 marks)
(b) (i) Give a social learning theory explanation of identification (1 mark)(ii) Give a psychoanalytic explanation of identification (1 mark)(iii) State one difference between these two explanations (1 mark)
(c) Describe one study in which the cognitive-developmental theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn (5 marks)
(d) Describe and discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one study of gender in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2009
2 (a) (i) An atypical sex chromosome pattern is XXY Name the syndrome (1 mark)2 (a) (ii) Briefly explain how studying people with atypical sex chromosome patterns can contribute to our understanding of gender (2 marks)2 (b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Write one question that a psychologist might use to assess a childrsquos understanding of the following (3 marks)2 (b) (i) gender identity2 (b) (ii) gender stability2 (b) (iii) gender constancy2 (c) Lulu is six years old One Saturday she goes to play with her friend Emma at Emmarsquos house Lulu notices how Emma helps her mother with the cooking When Emma helps with the cooking her mother praises her When Lulu returns home she helps her mother with the cooking Referring to social learning theory explain why Lulu helps her mother with the cooking (4 marks)2 (d) Discuss a psychodynamic explanation of gender development (10 marks)
Jun 2009
2 (a) Androgyny is a term that is used to describe an individual who possesses both masculine and feminine traits Suggest how a psychologist might measure androgyny (2 marks)2 (b) (i) Briefly describe the social learning theory explanation of gender development (3 marks)2 (b) (ii) Explain one limitation of the social learning theory explanation of gender development (2 marks)2 (c) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Read the following definitionsA a child understands that he or she stays the same sex over timeB a child believes that he or she can change sex by changing their appearanceC a child knows that he is a boy or she is a girlD a child understands that he or she stays the same sex despite external changes in appearanceWrite in the box which letter (A B C or D) is the best definition ofGender identityGender stabilityGender constancy (3 marks)2 (d) Discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to evidence in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2010
2 (a) What is meant by the term androgyny Suggest how a person might show androgynous behaviour (2 marks)
2 (b) (i) Name one syndrome associated with an atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)2 (b) (ii) Give one feature of the syndrome that you have identified in your answer to(b)(i) (1 mark)2 (b) (iii) Explain why psychologists investigating gender study people with atypical sex chromosome patterns (2 marks)2 (c) With reference to one study of gender2 (c) (i) outline the research method used in this study (2 marks)2 (c) (ii) briefly explain either one strength or one limitation of this study (2 marks)2 (d) Discuss a cognitive explanation of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 2010
2 (a) Jemima is playing dressing-up games with her older sister Abbie Jemima puts on a builderrsquos hat and says to Abbie ldquoWhen Irsquom a big girl Irsquom going to be a builderrdquo Abbie replies ldquoNo you canrsquot be a builder silly Only boys can be builders Girls donrsquot do that sort of jobrdquo What is meant by sex-role stereotyping Refer to the conversation above in your answer (3 marks)2 (b) How have cognitive psychologists investigated gender schema (3 marks)2 (c) (i) Identify one study in which cultural variations in gender-related behaviour were investigated
(1 mark)2 (c) (ii) Briefly evaluate the study that you have identified in your answer to (c)(i) (3 marks)2 (d) Describe and evaluate biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 2006
(a) Below is a diagram of a sensory neuron (Figure 1) It is labelled A B C and D
Write in your answer book which letter A B C or D matches each of the structures below
(i) Cell body (ii) Myelin sheath (iii) Nucleus (iv) Axon (4 marks)
(b) Describe and discuss how two of the following methods have been used to investigate genetic basis of behaviour
Twin studies Adoption studies Selective breeding (10 marks)
January 2007
(a) Briefly describe one technique used to study cortical specialisation in the brain (3 marks)
(b) Outline what is meant by the fight or flight response Give an example(3 marks)
(c) Some psychologists believe that human and non-human behaviour can be explained in terms of evolutionary processes(i) What is meant by the term evolution (2 marks)(ii) Give an example of one behaviour and suggest how this behaviour can be explained in
terms of evolutionary processes (2 marks)
(d) Discuss the biological approach in psychology Refer to evidence in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
(a) Outline one difference in function between a motor neuron and a sensory neuron(2 marks)
(b) What is meant by the terms genotype and phenotype Use an example to illustrate the difference between them (4 marks)
(c) Briefly discuss one limitation of the biological approach in psychology (4 marks)
(d) Ben and his friends are at a theme park They are waiting in a queue to ride a terrifying rollercoaster Ben starts to feel sick and his hands become hot and sticky As he moves near to the front of the queue he feels his heart pounding After the ride Ben feels very thirsty and tired
Describe the role of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the adrenal glands in a stressful situation Use this knowledge to explain Benrsquos responses before and after the rollercoaster ride (10 marks)
January 2008
(a) Outline the role of the adrenal glands in the fight or flight response (2 marks)(b) Tom has a phobia of mice He saw a mouse scurry across the floor Tom immediately felt sick and
he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end Some time later his heart stopped pounding and he got his breath backFrom the description above identify three of Tomrsquos bodily responses and state whether each response results from the action of the sympathetic or parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system (3 marks)
(c) Describe one study in which selective breeding was used to investigate the genetic basis of behaviour Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn (5 marks)
(d) Discuss at least two methods that have been used to investigate localisation of function (cortical specialisation) in the brain (10 marks)
Mixed Approaches and Biopsychology(your exam question on the Approaches section will be like this)
Jan 2009
1 (a) What do behaviourists mean by the term operant conditioning Give an example of how operant conditioning might be used to train an animal (3 marks)1 (b) Identify and explain one methodological issue which might arise when using EEGs to investigate cortical specialization (3 marks)1 (c) (i) Outline the role of the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system in physiological arousal (2 marks)1 (c) (ii) Sophie is taking her driving test for the first time She is very nervous Her hands begin to sweat and she can feel her heart pounding When the examiner asks Sophie to start the car she feels sick After the driving test Sophie begins to feel her breathing slow downFrom the description above identify two of Sophiersquos bodily responses stating whether each response is a result of the action of the sympathetic nervous system or the parasympathetic nervous system (2 marks)1 (d) Describe and evaluate the humanistic approach in psychology Refer to at least one other approach in your answer (10 marks)
Jun 2009
1 (a) Name and briefly describe one defence mechanism Suggest how this defence mechanism might help a person to cope with the breakdown of a close relationship (3 marks)1 (b) (i) What is meant by classical conditioning (1 mark)1 (b) (ii) Briefly outline how researchers such as Pavlov have investigated classical conditioning (2 marks)1 (c) Jake has a very stressful job He is often late home from work and hardly gets any sleep One night Jake is so stressed and angry that he punches a door Jake comes from a violent family Suggest how a biological psychologist and a behavioural psychologist might explain Jakersquos violent behaviour (4 marks)1 (d) Discuss two of the following methods that have been used to investigate areas of cortical specialisation in the brain (10 marks)1048698 neurosurgery1048698 post-mortem examinations1048698 scanning techniques
Jan 2010
1 (a) What do humanistic psychologists mean by conditions of worth Suggest how a parent might place conditions of worth on his or her child (2 marks)1 (b) (i) Outline what is meant by evolution (2 marks)1 (b) (ii) Explain how one human or non-human behaviour may have resulted from the process of evolution (2 marks)1 (c) (i) Post-mortem examinations of the brain have been used to study cortical specialisation Explain how post-mortem examinations have helped us to understand cortical specialisation (2 marks)1 (c) (ii) Briefly explain one other method used to investigate cortical specialisation in the brain (2 marks)1 (d) Describe and evaluate the behaviourist approach in psychology (10 marks)
June 2010
1 (a) Humanistic psychologists have claimed that all individuals can achieve self-actualisation1 (a) (i) Explain what is meant by self-actualisation (2 marks)1 (a) (ii) Explain one problem with the concept of self-actualisation (2 marks)1 (b) Cognitive psychologists often propose models of mental processes 1 (b) (i) Identify one model used by cognitive psychologists (1 mark)1 (b) (ii) Outline one reason why cognitive psychologists use models of mental processes (2 marks)1 (c) (i) What do psychodynamic psychologists mean by a defence mechanism (1 mark)1 (c) (ii) Name and outline one defence mechanism (2 marks)1 (d) Discuss the behaviourist approach in psychology Refer to classical conditioning andoperant conditioning in your answer (10 marks)
Research Methods
January 2006
June 06
June 2007
A psychologist was interested in conducting a case study of an individual who had been convicted of a criminal offence
To investigate why the offender committed the crime the psychologist used various methods of data collection including
interviews with the offender and the offenderrsquos family observations of the offenderrsquos behaviour in prison analysis of the offenderrsquos school reports and medical notes psychometric tests on the offender
(a) (i) What is meant by a case study (1 mark)(ii) Explain one strength of the case study method (2 marks)
(b) The psychologist used the offenderrsquos family as a source of information about the offenderrsquos childhoodApart from ethical issues identify and explain one problem of using this source of information
(3 marks)
(c) Distinguish between a structured and an unstructured interview (3 marks)
(d) The psychologist conducted a number of overt observations of the offenderrsquos behaviour in various prison situations(i) What is meant by overt observation (1 mark)(ii) Outline one methodological problem that might arise when just one psychologist observes a
personrsquos behaviour (2 marks)(iii) Explain how the problem you have identified in (d) (ii) can be overcome
(2 marks)(iv) Explain one advantage of conducting an observation in a natural setting compared with an
observation in a laboratory setting (3 marks)
(e) Identify and explain one ethical issue the psychologist should have considered before conducting this study (3 marks)
Jan 2009
3 A psychologist wanted to investigate the effect of computer games on levels of aggression Twenty participants aged 14 to 16 years took part in the experiment The participants were randomly selected from a secondary school In one condition of the experiment ten participants played a computer game which thepsychologist had previously assessed as aggressive for thirty minutes (Game 1)In the other condition of the experiment the other ten participants played a computer gamewhich the psychologist had previously assessed as neutral for thirty minutes The computergame contained no acts of aggressive behaviour (Game 2)After playing the computer game each participant was tested in order to measure his or her level of aggression The maximum score on the test was 50 A high score on the test indicated a high level of aggression a low score indicated a low level of aggressionThe psychologist calculated the mean scores of levels of aggression These are shown in Table 1 below
Table 1 Mean aggression score for participants who played Game 1 (aggressive) and participants who played Game 2 (neutral)
3 (a) What do the mean scores suggest about the effects of the computer games in this study (2 marks)3 (b) Draw a bar chart to display the data presented in Table 1 Correctly label your bar chart3 (c) (i) Identify the independent variable (IV) in this study (1 mark)3 (c) (ii) Identify the dependent variable (DV) in this study (1 mark)3 (d) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist used random sampling to select the participants for this studyWhat is meant by random sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Explain why random sampling might be a better method to use than opportunity sampling(2marks)3 (f) (i) Identify the type of experimental design used in this study (1 mark)3 (f) (ii) Give one advantage of the experimental design that you have identified in your answer to (f)(i)
(1 mark)3 (g) (i) What is meant by an extraneous variable (1 mark)3 (g) (ii) Explain how one extraneous variable might have confounded the results in this study (3 marks)3 (h) Before the study the psychologist assessed the computer games as either aggressive or neutralOutline how the psychologist might have carried out this assessment (2 marks)
Jun 2009
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 and state what it shows about the relationship between stress and number of days absent from work (2 marks)3 (b) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) Identify two differences between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (d) Outline one advantage of conducting a correlational study (2 marks)3 (e) The psychologist obtained the thirty nurses for this study by random sampling How might the psychologist have obtained the random sample of nurses (2 marks)3 (f) The psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress3 (f) (i) What is meant by a pilot study (1 mark)3 (f) (ii) Give one reason why the psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress in this study (1 mark)3 (g) The interviews that the psychologist carried out were structured interviews Outline one strength of using structured interviews (2 marks)3 (h) Identify and explain one ethical issue that the psychologist should have considered in this study
(3 marks)3 (i) The psychologist decided to conduct a case study of one nurse who showed a very high level of stress3 (i) (i) What is meant by a case study (1 mark)3 (i) (ii) Outline one limitation of conducting a case study (2 marks)
Jan 2010
3 (a) What do the mean scores in Table 1 show Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (b) (i) What is meant by standard deviation (1 mark)3 (b) (ii) What do the standard deviations in Table 1 suggest about the performance of the two groups in the recall test Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (c) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (d) Name the experimental design used in this study Identify two advantages of this type of experimental design (3 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist obtained the participants from a school canteen Name the sampling method that the psychologist used in this study (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Identify two disadvantages of the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(i)
(2 marks)3 (f) Identify one extraneous variable that might have confounded the results of this studyExplain how this variable might have affected the recall of Spanish words by participants (3 marks)3 (g) After the experiment the psychologist needed to debrief the participants Write a short debrief that the psychologist could read to the participants (4 marks)
Jun 2010
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 Explain what it shows about the relationship between attitudes towards healthy eating and weight (2 marks)3 (b) Write a suitable hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) The students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating What is meant by a pilot study Give one reason why the students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire
(2 marks)3 (d) One statement the students used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating was lsquoeatinga healthy diet is very important to mersquo3 (d) (i) Write one other statement that could be used to assess a personrsquos attitude towardshealthy eating (1 mark)3 (d) (ii) Explain one disadvantage of using questionnaires in psychological research (2 marks)3 (e) The students used an opportunity sample3 (e) (i) What is meant by opportunity sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Name one other sampling method (1 mark)3 (e) (iii) Explain why the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(ii) mightbe a better method to use than opportunity sampling (2 marks)3 (f) Identify and briefly explain one ethical issue that the students would need to consider when conducting this study (3 marks)3 (g) Explain one difference between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (h) After the initial study the students conducted a case study with the participants who had a very positive attitude towards healthy eatingBriefly discuss the value of conducting case studies in psychological research (2 marks)
Psychology of Gender
January 2006
June 2006
January 2007
(a) Outline what is meant by the term gender (2 marks)
(b) What is meant by androgyny Give an example of how a person might show androgynous behaviour (3 marks)
(c) Discuss the concepts of nature and nurture in relation to gender Refer to at least one study in your answer (10 marks)
(a) Identify one effect that testosterone might have on behaviour (1 mark)
(b) (i) Briefly describe Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex (3 marks)(ii) Outline one limitation of Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex
(2 marks)(c) Philip is seven years old and is going to a fancy dress party He is wearing a dress
Philiprsquos little brother Sydney says ldquoLook mummy Philiprsquos a girl nowrdquo Philip repliesldquoI am still a boy even if I am wearing a dressrdquo(i) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender
development shown by Sydney In your answer refer to comments made by Sydney (2 marks)
(ii) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender development shown by Philip In your answer refer to comments made by Philip
(2 marks)(d) Discuss the social learning theory explanation of gender Refer to at least one other explanation of
gender in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
(a) (i) Give one typical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)(ii) Give one atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)
(b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender developmentRead the following statementsA A child understands that someone stays the same biological sex even though heshe may
change in appearanceB A child understands that people stay the same sex throughout lifeC A child understands that people can change sex by changing their appearanceD A child is able to label hisher own sex correctly
In your answer book write down which statement (A B C or D) is a correct definition of the following(i) gender identity(ii) gender stability(iii) gender constancy (3 marks)
(c) Describe one study in which the social learning theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn
(5 marks)(d) Describe and discuss a psychoanalytic explanation of gender development
(10 marks)
January 2008
(a) In relation to gender describe what is meant by nature and nurture (4 marks)
(a) Julia notices that her friend Ruth goes salsa dancing twice a week so Julia starts going salsa dancing too Julia carries on going to classes because everyone tells her that she is very good at dancingFrom the description above identify an example of the following
(i) modelling(ii) reinforcement (2 marks)
(b) (i) Give a social learning theory explanation of identification (1 mark)(ii) Give a psychoanalytic explanation of identification (1 mark)(iii) State one difference between these two explanations (1 mark)
(c) Describe one study in which the cognitive-developmental theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn (5 marks)
(d) Describe and discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one study of gender in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2009
2 (a) (i) An atypical sex chromosome pattern is XXY Name the syndrome (1 mark)2 (a) (ii) Briefly explain how studying people with atypical sex chromosome patterns can contribute to our understanding of gender (2 marks)2 (b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Write one question that a psychologist might use to assess a childrsquos understanding of the following (3 marks)2 (b) (i) gender identity2 (b) (ii) gender stability2 (b) (iii) gender constancy2 (c) Lulu is six years old One Saturday she goes to play with her friend Emma at Emmarsquos house Lulu notices how Emma helps her mother with the cooking When Emma helps with the cooking her mother praises her When Lulu returns home she helps her mother with the cooking Referring to social learning theory explain why Lulu helps her mother with the cooking (4 marks)2 (d) Discuss a psychodynamic explanation of gender development (10 marks)
Jun 2009
2 (a) Androgyny is a term that is used to describe an individual who possesses both masculine and feminine traits Suggest how a psychologist might measure androgyny (2 marks)2 (b) (i) Briefly describe the social learning theory explanation of gender development (3 marks)2 (b) (ii) Explain one limitation of the social learning theory explanation of gender development (2 marks)2 (c) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Read the following definitionsA a child understands that he or she stays the same sex over timeB a child believes that he or she can change sex by changing their appearanceC a child knows that he is a boy or she is a girlD a child understands that he or she stays the same sex despite external changes in appearanceWrite in the box which letter (A B C or D) is the best definition ofGender identityGender stabilityGender constancy (3 marks)2 (d) Discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to evidence in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2010
2 (a) What is meant by the term androgyny Suggest how a person might show androgynous behaviour (2 marks)
2 (b) (i) Name one syndrome associated with an atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)2 (b) (ii) Give one feature of the syndrome that you have identified in your answer to(b)(i) (1 mark)2 (b) (iii) Explain why psychologists investigating gender study people with atypical sex chromosome patterns (2 marks)2 (c) With reference to one study of gender2 (c) (i) outline the research method used in this study (2 marks)2 (c) (ii) briefly explain either one strength or one limitation of this study (2 marks)2 (d) Discuss a cognitive explanation of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 2010
2 (a) Jemima is playing dressing-up games with her older sister Abbie Jemima puts on a builderrsquos hat and says to Abbie ldquoWhen Irsquom a big girl Irsquom going to be a builderrdquo Abbie replies ldquoNo you canrsquot be a builder silly Only boys can be builders Girls donrsquot do that sort of jobrdquo What is meant by sex-role stereotyping Refer to the conversation above in your answer (3 marks)2 (b) How have cognitive psychologists investigated gender schema (3 marks)2 (c) (i) Identify one study in which cultural variations in gender-related behaviour were investigated
(1 mark)2 (c) (ii) Briefly evaluate the study that you have identified in your answer to (c)(i) (3 marks)2 (d) Describe and evaluate biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
(a) Outline one difference in function between a motor neuron and a sensory neuron(2 marks)
(b) What is meant by the terms genotype and phenotype Use an example to illustrate the difference between them (4 marks)
(c) Briefly discuss one limitation of the biological approach in psychology (4 marks)
(d) Ben and his friends are at a theme park They are waiting in a queue to ride a terrifying rollercoaster Ben starts to feel sick and his hands become hot and sticky As he moves near to the front of the queue he feels his heart pounding After the ride Ben feels very thirsty and tired
Describe the role of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the adrenal glands in a stressful situation Use this knowledge to explain Benrsquos responses before and after the rollercoaster ride (10 marks)
January 2008
(a) Outline the role of the adrenal glands in the fight or flight response (2 marks)(b) Tom has a phobia of mice He saw a mouse scurry across the floor Tom immediately felt sick and
he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end Some time later his heart stopped pounding and he got his breath backFrom the description above identify three of Tomrsquos bodily responses and state whether each response results from the action of the sympathetic or parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system (3 marks)
(c) Describe one study in which selective breeding was used to investigate the genetic basis of behaviour Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn (5 marks)
(d) Discuss at least two methods that have been used to investigate localisation of function (cortical specialisation) in the brain (10 marks)
Mixed Approaches and Biopsychology(your exam question on the Approaches section will be like this)
Jan 2009
1 (a) What do behaviourists mean by the term operant conditioning Give an example of how operant conditioning might be used to train an animal (3 marks)1 (b) Identify and explain one methodological issue which might arise when using EEGs to investigate cortical specialization (3 marks)1 (c) (i) Outline the role of the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system in physiological arousal (2 marks)1 (c) (ii) Sophie is taking her driving test for the first time She is very nervous Her hands begin to sweat and she can feel her heart pounding When the examiner asks Sophie to start the car she feels sick After the driving test Sophie begins to feel her breathing slow downFrom the description above identify two of Sophiersquos bodily responses stating whether each response is a result of the action of the sympathetic nervous system or the parasympathetic nervous system (2 marks)1 (d) Describe and evaluate the humanistic approach in psychology Refer to at least one other approach in your answer (10 marks)
Jun 2009
1 (a) Name and briefly describe one defence mechanism Suggest how this defence mechanism might help a person to cope with the breakdown of a close relationship (3 marks)1 (b) (i) What is meant by classical conditioning (1 mark)1 (b) (ii) Briefly outline how researchers such as Pavlov have investigated classical conditioning (2 marks)1 (c) Jake has a very stressful job He is often late home from work and hardly gets any sleep One night Jake is so stressed and angry that he punches a door Jake comes from a violent family Suggest how a biological psychologist and a behavioural psychologist might explain Jakersquos violent behaviour (4 marks)1 (d) Discuss two of the following methods that have been used to investigate areas of cortical specialisation in the brain (10 marks)1048698 neurosurgery1048698 post-mortem examinations1048698 scanning techniques
Jan 2010
1 (a) What do humanistic psychologists mean by conditions of worth Suggest how a parent might place conditions of worth on his or her child (2 marks)1 (b) (i) Outline what is meant by evolution (2 marks)1 (b) (ii) Explain how one human or non-human behaviour may have resulted from the process of evolution (2 marks)1 (c) (i) Post-mortem examinations of the brain have been used to study cortical specialisation Explain how post-mortem examinations have helped us to understand cortical specialisation (2 marks)1 (c) (ii) Briefly explain one other method used to investigate cortical specialisation in the brain (2 marks)1 (d) Describe and evaluate the behaviourist approach in psychology (10 marks)
June 2010
1 (a) Humanistic psychologists have claimed that all individuals can achieve self-actualisation1 (a) (i) Explain what is meant by self-actualisation (2 marks)1 (a) (ii) Explain one problem with the concept of self-actualisation (2 marks)1 (b) Cognitive psychologists often propose models of mental processes 1 (b) (i) Identify one model used by cognitive psychologists (1 mark)1 (b) (ii) Outline one reason why cognitive psychologists use models of mental processes (2 marks)1 (c) (i) What do psychodynamic psychologists mean by a defence mechanism (1 mark)1 (c) (ii) Name and outline one defence mechanism (2 marks)1 (d) Discuss the behaviourist approach in psychology Refer to classical conditioning andoperant conditioning in your answer (10 marks)
Research Methods
January 2006
June 06
June 2007
A psychologist was interested in conducting a case study of an individual who had been convicted of a criminal offence
To investigate why the offender committed the crime the psychologist used various methods of data collection including
interviews with the offender and the offenderrsquos family observations of the offenderrsquos behaviour in prison analysis of the offenderrsquos school reports and medical notes psychometric tests on the offender
(a) (i) What is meant by a case study (1 mark)(ii) Explain one strength of the case study method (2 marks)
(b) The psychologist used the offenderrsquos family as a source of information about the offenderrsquos childhoodApart from ethical issues identify and explain one problem of using this source of information
(3 marks)
(c) Distinguish between a structured and an unstructured interview (3 marks)
(d) The psychologist conducted a number of overt observations of the offenderrsquos behaviour in various prison situations(i) What is meant by overt observation (1 mark)(ii) Outline one methodological problem that might arise when just one psychologist observes a
personrsquos behaviour (2 marks)(iii) Explain how the problem you have identified in (d) (ii) can be overcome
(2 marks)(iv) Explain one advantage of conducting an observation in a natural setting compared with an
observation in a laboratory setting (3 marks)
(e) Identify and explain one ethical issue the psychologist should have considered before conducting this study (3 marks)
Jan 2009
3 A psychologist wanted to investigate the effect of computer games on levels of aggression Twenty participants aged 14 to 16 years took part in the experiment The participants were randomly selected from a secondary school In one condition of the experiment ten participants played a computer game which thepsychologist had previously assessed as aggressive for thirty minutes (Game 1)In the other condition of the experiment the other ten participants played a computer gamewhich the psychologist had previously assessed as neutral for thirty minutes The computergame contained no acts of aggressive behaviour (Game 2)After playing the computer game each participant was tested in order to measure his or her level of aggression The maximum score on the test was 50 A high score on the test indicated a high level of aggression a low score indicated a low level of aggressionThe psychologist calculated the mean scores of levels of aggression These are shown in Table 1 below
Table 1 Mean aggression score for participants who played Game 1 (aggressive) and participants who played Game 2 (neutral)
3 (a) What do the mean scores suggest about the effects of the computer games in this study (2 marks)3 (b) Draw a bar chart to display the data presented in Table 1 Correctly label your bar chart3 (c) (i) Identify the independent variable (IV) in this study (1 mark)3 (c) (ii) Identify the dependent variable (DV) in this study (1 mark)3 (d) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist used random sampling to select the participants for this studyWhat is meant by random sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Explain why random sampling might be a better method to use than opportunity sampling(2marks)3 (f) (i) Identify the type of experimental design used in this study (1 mark)3 (f) (ii) Give one advantage of the experimental design that you have identified in your answer to (f)(i)
(1 mark)3 (g) (i) What is meant by an extraneous variable (1 mark)3 (g) (ii) Explain how one extraneous variable might have confounded the results in this study (3 marks)3 (h) Before the study the psychologist assessed the computer games as either aggressive or neutralOutline how the psychologist might have carried out this assessment (2 marks)
Jun 2009
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 and state what it shows about the relationship between stress and number of days absent from work (2 marks)3 (b) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) Identify two differences between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (d) Outline one advantage of conducting a correlational study (2 marks)3 (e) The psychologist obtained the thirty nurses for this study by random sampling How might the psychologist have obtained the random sample of nurses (2 marks)3 (f) The psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress3 (f) (i) What is meant by a pilot study (1 mark)3 (f) (ii) Give one reason why the psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress in this study (1 mark)3 (g) The interviews that the psychologist carried out were structured interviews Outline one strength of using structured interviews (2 marks)3 (h) Identify and explain one ethical issue that the psychologist should have considered in this study
(3 marks)3 (i) The psychologist decided to conduct a case study of one nurse who showed a very high level of stress3 (i) (i) What is meant by a case study (1 mark)3 (i) (ii) Outline one limitation of conducting a case study (2 marks)
Jan 2010
3 (a) What do the mean scores in Table 1 show Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (b) (i) What is meant by standard deviation (1 mark)3 (b) (ii) What do the standard deviations in Table 1 suggest about the performance of the two groups in the recall test Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (c) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (d) Name the experimental design used in this study Identify two advantages of this type of experimental design (3 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist obtained the participants from a school canteen Name the sampling method that the psychologist used in this study (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Identify two disadvantages of the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(i)
(2 marks)3 (f) Identify one extraneous variable that might have confounded the results of this studyExplain how this variable might have affected the recall of Spanish words by participants (3 marks)3 (g) After the experiment the psychologist needed to debrief the participants Write a short debrief that the psychologist could read to the participants (4 marks)
Jun 2010
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 Explain what it shows about the relationship between attitudes towards healthy eating and weight (2 marks)3 (b) Write a suitable hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) The students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating What is meant by a pilot study Give one reason why the students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire
(2 marks)3 (d) One statement the students used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating was lsquoeatinga healthy diet is very important to mersquo3 (d) (i) Write one other statement that could be used to assess a personrsquos attitude towardshealthy eating (1 mark)3 (d) (ii) Explain one disadvantage of using questionnaires in psychological research (2 marks)3 (e) The students used an opportunity sample3 (e) (i) What is meant by opportunity sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Name one other sampling method (1 mark)3 (e) (iii) Explain why the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(ii) mightbe a better method to use than opportunity sampling (2 marks)3 (f) Identify and briefly explain one ethical issue that the students would need to consider when conducting this study (3 marks)3 (g) Explain one difference between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (h) After the initial study the students conducted a case study with the participants who had a very positive attitude towards healthy eatingBriefly discuss the value of conducting case studies in psychological research (2 marks)
Psychology of Gender
January 2006
June 2006
January 2007
(a) Outline what is meant by the term gender (2 marks)
(b) What is meant by androgyny Give an example of how a person might show androgynous behaviour (3 marks)
(c) Discuss the concepts of nature and nurture in relation to gender Refer to at least one study in your answer (10 marks)
(a) Identify one effect that testosterone might have on behaviour (1 mark)
(b) (i) Briefly describe Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex (3 marks)(ii) Outline one limitation of Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex
(2 marks)(c) Philip is seven years old and is going to a fancy dress party He is wearing a dress
Philiprsquos little brother Sydney says ldquoLook mummy Philiprsquos a girl nowrdquo Philip repliesldquoI am still a boy even if I am wearing a dressrdquo(i) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender
development shown by Sydney In your answer refer to comments made by Sydney (2 marks)
(ii) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender development shown by Philip In your answer refer to comments made by Philip
(2 marks)(d) Discuss the social learning theory explanation of gender Refer to at least one other explanation of
gender in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
(a) (i) Give one typical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)(ii) Give one atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)
(b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender developmentRead the following statementsA A child understands that someone stays the same biological sex even though heshe may
change in appearanceB A child understands that people stay the same sex throughout lifeC A child understands that people can change sex by changing their appearanceD A child is able to label hisher own sex correctly
In your answer book write down which statement (A B C or D) is a correct definition of the following(i) gender identity(ii) gender stability(iii) gender constancy (3 marks)
(c) Describe one study in which the social learning theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn
(5 marks)(d) Describe and discuss a psychoanalytic explanation of gender development
(10 marks)
January 2008
(a) In relation to gender describe what is meant by nature and nurture (4 marks)
(a) Julia notices that her friend Ruth goes salsa dancing twice a week so Julia starts going salsa dancing too Julia carries on going to classes because everyone tells her that she is very good at dancingFrom the description above identify an example of the following
(i) modelling(ii) reinforcement (2 marks)
(b) (i) Give a social learning theory explanation of identification (1 mark)(ii) Give a psychoanalytic explanation of identification (1 mark)(iii) State one difference between these two explanations (1 mark)
(c) Describe one study in which the cognitive-developmental theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn (5 marks)
(d) Describe and discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one study of gender in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2009
2 (a) (i) An atypical sex chromosome pattern is XXY Name the syndrome (1 mark)2 (a) (ii) Briefly explain how studying people with atypical sex chromosome patterns can contribute to our understanding of gender (2 marks)2 (b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Write one question that a psychologist might use to assess a childrsquos understanding of the following (3 marks)2 (b) (i) gender identity2 (b) (ii) gender stability2 (b) (iii) gender constancy2 (c) Lulu is six years old One Saturday she goes to play with her friend Emma at Emmarsquos house Lulu notices how Emma helps her mother with the cooking When Emma helps with the cooking her mother praises her When Lulu returns home she helps her mother with the cooking Referring to social learning theory explain why Lulu helps her mother with the cooking (4 marks)2 (d) Discuss a psychodynamic explanation of gender development (10 marks)
Jun 2009
2 (a) Androgyny is a term that is used to describe an individual who possesses both masculine and feminine traits Suggest how a psychologist might measure androgyny (2 marks)2 (b) (i) Briefly describe the social learning theory explanation of gender development (3 marks)2 (b) (ii) Explain one limitation of the social learning theory explanation of gender development (2 marks)2 (c) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Read the following definitionsA a child understands that he or she stays the same sex over timeB a child believes that he or she can change sex by changing their appearanceC a child knows that he is a boy or she is a girlD a child understands that he or she stays the same sex despite external changes in appearanceWrite in the box which letter (A B C or D) is the best definition ofGender identityGender stabilityGender constancy (3 marks)2 (d) Discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to evidence in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2010
2 (a) What is meant by the term androgyny Suggest how a person might show androgynous behaviour (2 marks)
2 (b) (i) Name one syndrome associated with an atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)2 (b) (ii) Give one feature of the syndrome that you have identified in your answer to(b)(i) (1 mark)2 (b) (iii) Explain why psychologists investigating gender study people with atypical sex chromosome patterns (2 marks)2 (c) With reference to one study of gender2 (c) (i) outline the research method used in this study (2 marks)2 (c) (ii) briefly explain either one strength or one limitation of this study (2 marks)2 (d) Discuss a cognitive explanation of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 2010
2 (a) Jemima is playing dressing-up games with her older sister Abbie Jemima puts on a builderrsquos hat and says to Abbie ldquoWhen Irsquom a big girl Irsquom going to be a builderrdquo Abbie replies ldquoNo you canrsquot be a builder silly Only boys can be builders Girls donrsquot do that sort of jobrdquo What is meant by sex-role stereotyping Refer to the conversation above in your answer (3 marks)2 (b) How have cognitive psychologists investigated gender schema (3 marks)2 (c) (i) Identify one study in which cultural variations in gender-related behaviour were investigated
(1 mark)2 (c) (ii) Briefly evaluate the study that you have identified in your answer to (c)(i) (3 marks)2 (d) Describe and evaluate biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
Jun 2009
1 (a) Name and briefly describe one defence mechanism Suggest how this defence mechanism might help a person to cope with the breakdown of a close relationship (3 marks)1 (b) (i) What is meant by classical conditioning (1 mark)1 (b) (ii) Briefly outline how researchers such as Pavlov have investigated classical conditioning (2 marks)1 (c) Jake has a very stressful job He is often late home from work and hardly gets any sleep One night Jake is so stressed and angry that he punches a door Jake comes from a violent family Suggest how a biological psychologist and a behavioural psychologist might explain Jakersquos violent behaviour (4 marks)1 (d) Discuss two of the following methods that have been used to investigate areas of cortical specialisation in the brain (10 marks)1048698 neurosurgery1048698 post-mortem examinations1048698 scanning techniques
Jan 2010
1 (a) What do humanistic psychologists mean by conditions of worth Suggest how a parent might place conditions of worth on his or her child (2 marks)1 (b) (i) Outline what is meant by evolution (2 marks)1 (b) (ii) Explain how one human or non-human behaviour may have resulted from the process of evolution (2 marks)1 (c) (i) Post-mortem examinations of the brain have been used to study cortical specialisation Explain how post-mortem examinations have helped us to understand cortical specialisation (2 marks)1 (c) (ii) Briefly explain one other method used to investigate cortical specialisation in the brain (2 marks)1 (d) Describe and evaluate the behaviourist approach in psychology (10 marks)
June 2010
1 (a) Humanistic psychologists have claimed that all individuals can achieve self-actualisation1 (a) (i) Explain what is meant by self-actualisation (2 marks)1 (a) (ii) Explain one problem with the concept of self-actualisation (2 marks)1 (b) Cognitive psychologists often propose models of mental processes 1 (b) (i) Identify one model used by cognitive psychologists (1 mark)1 (b) (ii) Outline one reason why cognitive psychologists use models of mental processes (2 marks)1 (c) (i) What do psychodynamic psychologists mean by a defence mechanism (1 mark)1 (c) (ii) Name and outline one defence mechanism (2 marks)1 (d) Discuss the behaviourist approach in psychology Refer to classical conditioning andoperant conditioning in your answer (10 marks)
Research Methods
January 2006
June 06
June 2007
A psychologist was interested in conducting a case study of an individual who had been convicted of a criminal offence
To investigate why the offender committed the crime the psychologist used various methods of data collection including
interviews with the offender and the offenderrsquos family observations of the offenderrsquos behaviour in prison analysis of the offenderrsquos school reports and medical notes psychometric tests on the offender
(a) (i) What is meant by a case study (1 mark)(ii) Explain one strength of the case study method (2 marks)
(b) The psychologist used the offenderrsquos family as a source of information about the offenderrsquos childhoodApart from ethical issues identify and explain one problem of using this source of information
(3 marks)
(c) Distinguish between a structured and an unstructured interview (3 marks)
(d) The psychologist conducted a number of overt observations of the offenderrsquos behaviour in various prison situations(i) What is meant by overt observation (1 mark)(ii) Outline one methodological problem that might arise when just one psychologist observes a
personrsquos behaviour (2 marks)(iii) Explain how the problem you have identified in (d) (ii) can be overcome
(2 marks)(iv) Explain one advantage of conducting an observation in a natural setting compared with an
observation in a laboratory setting (3 marks)
(e) Identify and explain one ethical issue the psychologist should have considered before conducting this study (3 marks)
Jan 2009
3 A psychologist wanted to investigate the effect of computer games on levels of aggression Twenty participants aged 14 to 16 years took part in the experiment The participants were randomly selected from a secondary school In one condition of the experiment ten participants played a computer game which thepsychologist had previously assessed as aggressive for thirty minutes (Game 1)In the other condition of the experiment the other ten participants played a computer gamewhich the psychologist had previously assessed as neutral for thirty minutes The computergame contained no acts of aggressive behaviour (Game 2)After playing the computer game each participant was tested in order to measure his or her level of aggression The maximum score on the test was 50 A high score on the test indicated a high level of aggression a low score indicated a low level of aggressionThe psychologist calculated the mean scores of levels of aggression These are shown in Table 1 below
Table 1 Mean aggression score for participants who played Game 1 (aggressive) and participants who played Game 2 (neutral)
3 (a) What do the mean scores suggest about the effects of the computer games in this study (2 marks)3 (b) Draw a bar chart to display the data presented in Table 1 Correctly label your bar chart3 (c) (i) Identify the independent variable (IV) in this study (1 mark)3 (c) (ii) Identify the dependent variable (DV) in this study (1 mark)3 (d) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist used random sampling to select the participants for this studyWhat is meant by random sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Explain why random sampling might be a better method to use than opportunity sampling(2marks)3 (f) (i) Identify the type of experimental design used in this study (1 mark)3 (f) (ii) Give one advantage of the experimental design that you have identified in your answer to (f)(i)
(1 mark)3 (g) (i) What is meant by an extraneous variable (1 mark)3 (g) (ii) Explain how one extraneous variable might have confounded the results in this study (3 marks)3 (h) Before the study the psychologist assessed the computer games as either aggressive or neutralOutline how the psychologist might have carried out this assessment (2 marks)
Jun 2009
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 and state what it shows about the relationship between stress and number of days absent from work (2 marks)3 (b) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) Identify two differences between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (d) Outline one advantage of conducting a correlational study (2 marks)3 (e) The psychologist obtained the thirty nurses for this study by random sampling How might the psychologist have obtained the random sample of nurses (2 marks)3 (f) The psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress3 (f) (i) What is meant by a pilot study (1 mark)3 (f) (ii) Give one reason why the psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress in this study (1 mark)3 (g) The interviews that the psychologist carried out were structured interviews Outline one strength of using structured interviews (2 marks)3 (h) Identify and explain one ethical issue that the psychologist should have considered in this study
(3 marks)3 (i) The psychologist decided to conduct a case study of one nurse who showed a very high level of stress3 (i) (i) What is meant by a case study (1 mark)3 (i) (ii) Outline one limitation of conducting a case study (2 marks)
Jan 2010
3 (a) What do the mean scores in Table 1 show Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (b) (i) What is meant by standard deviation (1 mark)3 (b) (ii) What do the standard deviations in Table 1 suggest about the performance of the two groups in the recall test Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (c) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (d) Name the experimental design used in this study Identify two advantages of this type of experimental design (3 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist obtained the participants from a school canteen Name the sampling method that the psychologist used in this study (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Identify two disadvantages of the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(i)
(2 marks)3 (f) Identify one extraneous variable that might have confounded the results of this studyExplain how this variable might have affected the recall of Spanish words by participants (3 marks)3 (g) After the experiment the psychologist needed to debrief the participants Write a short debrief that the psychologist could read to the participants (4 marks)
Jun 2010
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 Explain what it shows about the relationship between attitudes towards healthy eating and weight (2 marks)3 (b) Write a suitable hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) The students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating What is meant by a pilot study Give one reason why the students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire
(2 marks)3 (d) One statement the students used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating was lsquoeatinga healthy diet is very important to mersquo3 (d) (i) Write one other statement that could be used to assess a personrsquos attitude towardshealthy eating (1 mark)3 (d) (ii) Explain one disadvantage of using questionnaires in psychological research (2 marks)3 (e) The students used an opportunity sample3 (e) (i) What is meant by opportunity sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Name one other sampling method (1 mark)3 (e) (iii) Explain why the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(ii) mightbe a better method to use than opportunity sampling (2 marks)3 (f) Identify and briefly explain one ethical issue that the students would need to consider when conducting this study (3 marks)3 (g) Explain one difference between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (h) After the initial study the students conducted a case study with the participants who had a very positive attitude towards healthy eatingBriefly discuss the value of conducting case studies in psychological research (2 marks)
Psychology of Gender
January 2006
June 2006
January 2007
(a) Outline what is meant by the term gender (2 marks)
(b) What is meant by androgyny Give an example of how a person might show androgynous behaviour (3 marks)
(c) Discuss the concepts of nature and nurture in relation to gender Refer to at least one study in your answer (10 marks)
(a) Identify one effect that testosterone might have on behaviour (1 mark)
(b) (i) Briefly describe Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex (3 marks)(ii) Outline one limitation of Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex
(2 marks)(c) Philip is seven years old and is going to a fancy dress party He is wearing a dress
Philiprsquos little brother Sydney says ldquoLook mummy Philiprsquos a girl nowrdquo Philip repliesldquoI am still a boy even if I am wearing a dressrdquo(i) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender
development shown by Sydney In your answer refer to comments made by Sydney (2 marks)
(ii) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender development shown by Philip In your answer refer to comments made by Philip
(2 marks)(d) Discuss the social learning theory explanation of gender Refer to at least one other explanation of
gender in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
(a) (i) Give one typical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)(ii) Give one atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)
(b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender developmentRead the following statementsA A child understands that someone stays the same biological sex even though heshe may
change in appearanceB A child understands that people stay the same sex throughout lifeC A child understands that people can change sex by changing their appearanceD A child is able to label hisher own sex correctly
In your answer book write down which statement (A B C or D) is a correct definition of the following(i) gender identity(ii) gender stability(iii) gender constancy (3 marks)
(c) Describe one study in which the social learning theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn
(5 marks)(d) Describe and discuss a psychoanalytic explanation of gender development
(10 marks)
January 2008
(a) In relation to gender describe what is meant by nature and nurture (4 marks)
(a) Julia notices that her friend Ruth goes salsa dancing twice a week so Julia starts going salsa dancing too Julia carries on going to classes because everyone tells her that she is very good at dancingFrom the description above identify an example of the following
(i) modelling(ii) reinforcement (2 marks)
(b) (i) Give a social learning theory explanation of identification (1 mark)(ii) Give a psychoanalytic explanation of identification (1 mark)(iii) State one difference between these two explanations (1 mark)
(c) Describe one study in which the cognitive-developmental theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn (5 marks)
(d) Describe and discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one study of gender in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2009
2 (a) (i) An atypical sex chromosome pattern is XXY Name the syndrome (1 mark)2 (a) (ii) Briefly explain how studying people with atypical sex chromosome patterns can contribute to our understanding of gender (2 marks)2 (b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Write one question that a psychologist might use to assess a childrsquos understanding of the following (3 marks)2 (b) (i) gender identity2 (b) (ii) gender stability2 (b) (iii) gender constancy2 (c) Lulu is six years old One Saturday she goes to play with her friend Emma at Emmarsquos house Lulu notices how Emma helps her mother with the cooking When Emma helps with the cooking her mother praises her When Lulu returns home she helps her mother with the cooking Referring to social learning theory explain why Lulu helps her mother with the cooking (4 marks)2 (d) Discuss a psychodynamic explanation of gender development (10 marks)
Jun 2009
2 (a) Androgyny is a term that is used to describe an individual who possesses both masculine and feminine traits Suggest how a psychologist might measure androgyny (2 marks)2 (b) (i) Briefly describe the social learning theory explanation of gender development (3 marks)2 (b) (ii) Explain one limitation of the social learning theory explanation of gender development (2 marks)2 (c) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Read the following definitionsA a child understands that he or she stays the same sex over timeB a child believes that he or she can change sex by changing their appearanceC a child knows that he is a boy or she is a girlD a child understands that he or she stays the same sex despite external changes in appearanceWrite in the box which letter (A B C or D) is the best definition ofGender identityGender stabilityGender constancy (3 marks)2 (d) Discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to evidence in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2010
2 (a) What is meant by the term androgyny Suggest how a person might show androgynous behaviour (2 marks)
2 (b) (i) Name one syndrome associated with an atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)2 (b) (ii) Give one feature of the syndrome that you have identified in your answer to(b)(i) (1 mark)2 (b) (iii) Explain why psychologists investigating gender study people with atypical sex chromosome patterns (2 marks)2 (c) With reference to one study of gender2 (c) (i) outline the research method used in this study (2 marks)2 (c) (ii) briefly explain either one strength or one limitation of this study (2 marks)2 (d) Discuss a cognitive explanation of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 2010
2 (a) Jemima is playing dressing-up games with her older sister Abbie Jemima puts on a builderrsquos hat and says to Abbie ldquoWhen Irsquom a big girl Irsquom going to be a builderrdquo Abbie replies ldquoNo you canrsquot be a builder silly Only boys can be builders Girls donrsquot do that sort of jobrdquo What is meant by sex-role stereotyping Refer to the conversation above in your answer (3 marks)2 (b) How have cognitive psychologists investigated gender schema (3 marks)2 (c) (i) Identify one study in which cultural variations in gender-related behaviour were investigated
(1 mark)2 (c) (ii) Briefly evaluate the study that you have identified in your answer to (c)(i) (3 marks)2 (d) Describe and evaluate biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
Research Methods
January 2006
June 06
June 2007
A psychologist was interested in conducting a case study of an individual who had been convicted of a criminal offence
To investigate why the offender committed the crime the psychologist used various methods of data collection including
interviews with the offender and the offenderrsquos family observations of the offenderrsquos behaviour in prison analysis of the offenderrsquos school reports and medical notes psychometric tests on the offender
(a) (i) What is meant by a case study (1 mark)(ii) Explain one strength of the case study method (2 marks)
(b) The psychologist used the offenderrsquos family as a source of information about the offenderrsquos childhoodApart from ethical issues identify and explain one problem of using this source of information
(3 marks)
(c) Distinguish between a structured and an unstructured interview (3 marks)
(d) The psychologist conducted a number of overt observations of the offenderrsquos behaviour in various prison situations(i) What is meant by overt observation (1 mark)(ii) Outline one methodological problem that might arise when just one psychologist observes a
personrsquos behaviour (2 marks)(iii) Explain how the problem you have identified in (d) (ii) can be overcome
(2 marks)(iv) Explain one advantage of conducting an observation in a natural setting compared with an
observation in a laboratory setting (3 marks)
(e) Identify and explain one ethical issue the psychologist should have considered before conducting this study (3 marks)
Jan 2009
3 A psychologist wanted to investigate the effect of computer games on levels of aggression Twenty participants aged 14 to 16 years took part in the experiment The participants were randomly selected from a secondary school In one condition of the experiment ten participants played a computer game which thepsychologist had previously assessed as aggressive for thirty minutes (Game 1)In the other condition of the experiment the other ten participants played a computer gamewhich the psychologist had previously assessed as neutral for thirty minutes The computergame contained no acts of aggressive behaviour (Game 2)After playing the computer game each participant was tested in order to measure his or her level of aggression The maximum score on the test was 50 A high score on the test indicated a high level of aggression a low score indicated a low level of aggressionThe psychologist calculated the mean scores of levels of aggression These are shown in Table 1 below
Table 1 Mean aggression score for participants who played Game 1 (aggressive) and participants who played Game 2 (neutral)
3 (a) What do the mean scores suggest about the effects of the computer games in this study (2 marks)3 (b) Draw a bar chart to display the data presented in Table 1 Correctly label your bar chart3 (c) (i) Identify the independent variable (IV) in this study (1 mark)3 (c) (ii) Identify the dependent variable (DV) in this study (1 mark)3 (d) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist used random sampling to select the participants for this studyWhat is meant by random sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Explain why random sampling might be a better method to use than opportunity sampling(2marks)3 (f) (i) Identify the type of experimental design used in this study (1 mark)3 (f) (ii) Give one advantage of the experimental design that you have identified in your answer to (f)(i)
(1 mark)3 (g) (i) What is meant by an extraneous variable (1 mark)3 (g) (ii) Explain how one extraneous variable might have confounded the results in this study (3 marks)3 (h) Before the study the psychologist assessed the computer games as either aggressive or neutralOutline how the psychologist might have carried out this assessment (2 marks)
Jun 2009
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 and state what it shows about the relationship between stress and number of days absent from work (2 marks)3 (b) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) Identify two differences between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (d) Outline one advantage of conducting a correlational study (2 marks)3 (e) The psychologist obtained the thirty nurses for this study by random sampling How might the psychologist have obtained the random sample of nurses (2 marks)3 (f) The psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress3 (f) (i) What is meant by a pilot study (1 mark)3 (f) (ii) Give one reason why the psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress in this study (1 mark)3 (g) The interviews that the psychologist carried out were structured interviews Outline one strength of using structured interviews (2 marks)3 (h) Identify and explain one ethical issue that the psychologist should have considered in this study
(3 marks)3 (i) The psychologist decided to conduct a case study of one nurse who showed a very high level of stress3 (i) (i) What is meant by a case study (1 mark)3 (i) (ii) Outline one limitation of conducting a case study (2 marks)
Jan 2010
3 (a) What do the mean scores in Table 1 show Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (b) (i) What is meant by standard deviation (1 mark)3 (b) (ii) What do the standard deviations in Table 1 suggest about the performance of the two groups in the recall test Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (c) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (d) Name the experimental design used in this study Identify two advantages of this type of experimental design (3 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist obtained the participants from a school canteen Name the sampling method that the psychologist used in this study (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Identify two disadvantages of the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(i)
(2 marks)3 (f) Identify one extraneous variable that might have confounded the results of this studyExplain how this variable might have affected the recall of Spanish words by participants (3 marks)3 (g) After the experiment the psychologist needed to debrief the participants Write a short debrief that the psychologist could read to the participants (4 marks)
Jun 2010
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 Explain what it shows about the relationship between attitudes towards healthy eating and weight (2 marks)3 (b) Write a suitable hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) The students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating What is meant by a pilot study Give one reason why the students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire
(2 marks)3 (d) One statement the students used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating was lsquoeatinga healthy diet is very important to mersquo3 (d) (i) Write one other statement that could be used to assess a personrsquos attitude towardshealthy eating (1 mark)3 (d) (ii) Explain one disadvantage of using questionnaires in psychological research (2 marks)3 (e) The students used an opportunity sample3 (e) (i) What is meant by opportunity sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Name one other sampling method (1 mark)3 (e) (iii) Explain why the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(ii) mightbe a better method to use than opportunity sampling (2 marks)3 (f) Identify and briefly explain one ethical issue that the students would need to consider when conducting this study (3 marks)3 (g) Explain one difference between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (h) After the initial study the students conducted a case study with the participants who had a very positive attitude towards healthy eatingBriefly discuss the value of conducting case studies in psychological research (2 marks)
Psychology of Gender
January 2006
June 2006
January 2007
(a) Outline what is meant by the term gender (2 marks)
(b) What is meant by androgyny Give an example of how a person might show androgynous behaviour (3 marks)
(c) Discuss the concepts of nature and nurture in relation to gender Refer to at least one study in your answer (10 marks)
(a) Identify one effect that testosterone might have on behaviour (1 mark)
(b) (i) Briefly describe Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex (3 marks)(ii) Outline one limitation of Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex
(2 marks)(c) Philip is seven years old and is going to a fancy dress party He is wearing a dress
Philiprsquos little brother Sydney says ldquoLook mummy Philiprsquos a girl nowrdquo Philip repliesldquoI am still a boy even if I am wearing a dressrdquo(i) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender
development shown by Sydney In your answer refer to comments made by Sydney (2 marks)
(ii) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender development shown by Philip In your answer refer to comments made by Philip
(2 marks)(d) Discuss the social learning theory explanation of gender Refer to at least one other explanation of
gender in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
(a) (i) Give one typical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)(ii) Give one atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)
(b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender developmentRead the following statementsA A child understands that someone stays the same biological sex even though heshe may
change in appearanceB A child understands that people stay the same sex throughout lifeC A child understands that people can change sex by changing their appearanceD A child is able to label hisher own sex correctly
In your answer book write down which statement (A B C or D) is a correct definition of the following(i) gender identity(ii) gender stability(iii) gender constancy (3 marks)
(c) Describe one study in which the social learning theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn
(5 marks)(d) Describe and discuss a psychoanalytic explanation of gender development
(10 marks)
January 2008
(a) In relation to gender describe what is meant by nature and nurture (4 marks)
(a) Julia notices that her friend Ruth goes salsa dancing twice a week so Julia starts going salsa dancing too Julia carries on going to classes because everyone tells her that she is very good at dancingFrom the description above identify an example of the following
(i) modelling(ii) reinforcement (2 marks)
(b) (i) Give a social learning theory explanation of identification (1 mark)(ii) Give a psychoanalytic explanation of identification (1 mark)(iii) State one difference between these two explanations (1 mark)
(c) Describe one study in which the cognitive-developmental theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn (5 marks)
(d) Describe and discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one study of gender in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2009
2 (a) (i) An atypical sex chromosome pattern is XXY Name the syndrome (1 mark)2 (a) (ii) Briefly explain how studying people with atypical sex chromosome patterns can contribute to our understanding of gender (2 marks)2 (b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Write one question that a psychologist might use to assess a childrsquos understanding of the following (3 marks)2 (b) (i) gender identity2 (b) (ii) gender stability2 (b) (iii) gender constancy2 (c) Lulu is six years old One Saturday she goes to play with her friend Emma at Emmarsquos house Lulu notices how Emma helps her mother with the cooking When Emma helps with the cooking her mother praises her When Lulu returns home she helps her mother with the cooking Referring to social learning theory explain why Lulu helps her mother with the cooking (4 marks)2 (d) Discuss a psychodynamic explanation of gender development (10 marks)
Jun 2009
2 (a) Androgyny is a term that is used to describe an individual who possesses both masculine and feminine traits Suggest how a psychologist might measure androgyny (2 marks)2 (b) (i) Briefly describe the social learning theory explanation of gender development (3 marks)2 (b) (ii) Explain one limitation of the social learning theory explanation of gender development (2 marks)2 (c) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Read the following definitionsA a child understands that he or she stays the same sex over timeB a child believes that he or she can change sex by changing their appearanceC a child knows that he is a boy or she is a girlD a child understands that he or she stays the same sex despite external changes in appearanceWrite in the box which letter (A B C or D) is the best definition ofGender identityGender stabilityGender constancy (3 marks)2 (d) Discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to evidence in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2010
2 (a) What is meant by the term androgyny Suggest how a person might show androgynous behaviour (2 marks)
2 (b) (i) Name one syndrome associated with an atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)2 (b) (ii) Give one feature of the syndrome that you have identified in your answer to(b)(i) (1 mark)2 (b) (iii) Explain why psychologists investigating gender study people with atypical sex chromosome patterns (2 marks)2 (c) With reference to one study of gender2 (c) (i) outline the research method used in this study (2 marks)2 (c) (ii) briefly explain either one strength or one limitation of this study (2 marks)2 (d) Discuss a cognitive explanation of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 2010
2 (a) Jemima is playing dressing-up games with her older sister Abbie Jemima puts on a builderrsquos hat and says to Abbie ldquoWhen Irsquom a big girl Irsquom going to be a builderrdquo Abbie replies ldquoNo you canrsquot be a builder silly Only boys can be builders Girls donrsquot do that sort of jobrdquo What is meant by sex-role stereotyping Refer to the conversation above in your answer (3 marks)2 (b) How have cognitive psychologists investigated gender schema (3 marks)2 (c) (i) Identify one study in which cultural variations in gender-related behaviour were investigated
(1 mark)2 (c) (ii) Briefly evaluate the study that you have identified in your answer to (c)(i) (3 marks)2 (d) Describe and evaluate biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 06
June 2007
A psychologist was interested in conducting a case study of an individual who had been convicted of a criminal offence
To investigate why the offender committed the crime the psychologist used various methods of data collection including
interviews with the offender and the offenderrsquos family observations of the offenderrsquos behaviour in prison analysis of the offenderrsquos school reports and medical notes psychometric tests on the offender
(a) (i) What is meant by a case study (1 mark)(ii) Explain one strength of the case study method (2 marks)
(b) The psychologist used the offenderrsquos family as a source of information about the offenderrsquos childhoodApart from ethical issues identify and explain one problem of using this source of information
(3 marks)
(c) Distinguish between a structured and an unstructured interview (3 marks)
(d) The psychologist conducted a number of overt observations of the offenderrsquos behaviour in various prison situations(i) What is meant by overt observation (1 mark)(ii) Outline one methodological problem that might arise when just one psychologist observes a
personrsquos behaviour (2 marks)(iii) Explain how the problem you have identified in (d) (ii) can be overcome
(2 marks)(iv) Explain one advantage of conducting an observation in a natural setting compared with an
observation in a laboratory setting (3 marks)
(e) Identify and explain one ethical issue the psychologist should have considered before conducting this study (3 marks)
Jan 2009
3 A psychologist wanted to investigate the effect of computer games on levels of aggression Twenty participants aged 14 to 16 years took part in the experiment The participants were randomly selected from a secondary school In one condition of the experiment ten participants played a computer game which thepsychologist had previously assessed as aggressive for thirty minutes (Game 1)In the other condition of the experiment the other ten participants played a computer gamewhich the psychologist had previously assessed as neutral for thirty minutes The computergame contained no acts of aggressive behaviour (Game 2)After playing the computer game each participant was tested in order to measure his or her level of aggression The maximum score on the test was 50 A high score on the test indicated a high level of aggression a low score indicated a low level of aggressionThe psychologist calculated the mean scores of levels of aggression These are shown in Table 1 below
Table 1 Mean aggression score for participants who played Game 1 (aggressive) and participants who played Game 2 (neutral)
3 (a) What do the mean scores suggest about the effects of the computer games in this study (2 marks)3 (b) Draw a bar chart to display the data presented in Table 1 Correctly label your bar chart3 (c) (i) Identify the independent variable (IV) in this study (1 mark)3 (c) (ii) Identify the dependent variable (DV) in this study (1 mark)3 (d) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist used random sampling to select the participants for this studyWhat is meant by random sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Explain why random sampling might be a better method to use than opportunity sampling(2marks)3 (f) (i) Identify the type of experimental design used in this study (1 mark)3 (f) (ii) Give one advantage of the experimental design that you have identified in your answer to (f)(i)
(1 mark)3 (g) (i) What is meant by an extraneous variable (1 mark)3 (g) (ii) Explain how one extraneous variable might have confounded the results in this study (3 marks)3 (h) Before the study the psychologist assessed the computer games as either aggressive or neutralOutline how the psychologist might have carried out this assessment (2 marks)
Jun 2009
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 and state what it shows about the relationship between stress and number of days absent from work (2 marks)3 (b) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) Identify two differences between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (d) Outline one advantage of conducting a correlational study (2 marks)3 (e) The psychologist obtained the thirty nurses for this study by random sampling How might the psychologist have obtained the random sample of nurses (2 marks)3 (f) The psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress3 (f) (i) What is meant by a pilot study (1 mark)3 (f) (ii) Give one reason why the psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress in this study (1 mark)3 (g) The interviews that the psychologist carried out were structured interviews Outline one strength of using structured interviews (2 marks)3 (h) Identify and explain one ethical issue that the psychologist should have considered in this study
(3 marks)3 (i) The psychologist decided to conduct a case study of one nurse who showed a very high level of stress3 (i) (i) What is meant by a case study (1 mark)3 (i) (ii) Outline one limitation of conducting a case study (2 marks)
Jan 2010
3 (a) What do the mean scores in Table 1 show Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (b) (i) What is meant by standard deviation (1 mark)3 (b) (ii) What do the standard deviations in Table 1 suggest about the performance of the two groups in the recall test Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (c) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (d) Name the experimental design used in this study Identify two advantages of this type of experimental design (3 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist obtained the participants from a school canteen Name the sampling method that the psychologist used in this study (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Identify two disadvantages of the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(i)
(2 marks)3 (f) Identify one extraneous variable that might have confounded the results of this studyExplain how this variable might have affected the recall of Spanish words by participants (3 marks)3 (g) After the experiment the psychologist needed to debrief the participants Write a short debrief that the psychologist could read to the participants (4 marks)
Jun 2010
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 Explain what it shows about the relationship between attitudes towards healthy eating and weight (2 marks)3 (b) Write a suitable hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) The students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating What is meant by a pilot study Give one reason why the students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire
(2 marks)3 (d) One statement the students used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating was lsquoeatinga healthy diet is very important to mersquo3 (d) (i) Write one other statement that could be used to assess a personrsquos attitude towardshealthy eating (1 mark)3 (d) (ii) Explain one disadvantage of using questionnaires in psychological research (2 marks)3 (e) The students used an opportunity sample3 (e) (i) What is meant by opportunity sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Name one other sampling method (1 mark)3 (e) (iii) Explain why the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(ii) mightbe a better method to use than opportunity sampling (2 marks)3 (f) Identify and briefly explain one ethical issue that the students would need to consider when conducting this study (3 marks)3 (g) Explain one difference between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (h) After the initial study the students conducted a case study with the participants who had a very positive attitude towards healthy eatingBriefly discuss the value of conducting case studies in psychological research (2 marks)
Psychology of Gender
January 2006
June 2006
January 2007
(a) Outline what is meant by the term gender (2 marks)
(b) What is meant by androgyny Give an example of how a person might show androgynous behaviour (3 marks)
(c) Discuss the concepts of nature and nurture in relation to gender Refer to at least one study in your answer (10 marks)
(a) Identify one effect that testosterone might have on behaviour (1 mark)
(b) (i) Briefly describe Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex (3 marks)(ii) Outline one limitation of Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex
(2 marks)(c) Philip is seven years old and is going to a fancy dress party He is wearing a dress
Philiprsquos little brother Sydney says ldquoLook mummy Philiprsquos a girl nowrdquo Philip repliesldquoI am still a boy even if I am wearing a dressrdquo(i) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender
development shown by Sydney In your answer refer to comments made by Sydney (2 marks)
(ii) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender development shown by Philip In your answer refer to comments made by Philip
(2 marks)(d) Discuss the social learning theory explanation of gender Refer to at least one other explanation of
gender in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
(a) (i) Give one typical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)(ii) Give one atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)
(b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender developmentRead the following statementsA A child understands that someone stays the same biological sex even though heshe may
change in appearanceB A child understands that people stay the same sex throughout lifeC A child understands that people can change sex by changing their appearanceD A child is able to label hisher own sex correctly
In your answer book write down which statement (A B C or D) is a correct definition of the following(i) gender identity(ii) gender stability(iii) gender constancy (3 marks)
(c) Describe one study in which the social learning theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn
(5 marks)(d) Describe and discuss a psychoanalytic explanation of gender development
(10 marks)
January 2008
(a) In relation to gender describe what is meant by nature and nurture (4 marks)
(a) Julia notices that her friend Ruth goes salsa dancing twice a week so Julia starts going salsa dancing too Julia carries on going to classes because everyone tells her that she is very good at dancingFrom the description above identify an example of the following
(i) modelling(ii) reinforcement (2 marks)
(b) (i) Give a social learning theory explanation of identification (1 mark)(ii) Give a psychoanalytic explanation of identification (1 mark)(iii) State one difference between these two explanations (1 mark)
(c) Describe one study in which the cognitive-developmental theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn (5 marks)
(d) Describe and discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one study of gender in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2009
2 (a) (i) An atypical sex chromosome pattern is XXY Name the syndrome (1 mark)2 (a) (ii) Briefly explain how studying people with atypical sex chromosome patterns can contribute to our understanding of gender (2 marks)2 (b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Write one question that a psychologist might use to assess a childrsquos understanding of the following (3 marks)2 (b) (i) gender identity2 (b) (ii) gender stability2 (b) (iii) gender constancy2 (c) Lulu is six years old One Saturday she goes to play with her friend Emma at Emmarsquos house Lulu notices how Emma helps her mother with the cooking When Emma helps with the cooking her mother praises her When Lulu returns home she helps her mother with the cooking Referring to social learning theory explain why Lulu helps her mother with the cooking (4 marks)2 (d) Discuss a psychodynamic explanation of gender development (10 marks)
Jun 2009
2 (a) Androgyny is a term that is used to describe an individual who possesses both masculine and feminine traits Suggest how a psychologist might measure androgyny (2 marks)2 (b) (i) Briefly describe the social learning theory explanation of gender development (3 marks)2 (b) (ii) Explain one limitation of the social learning theory explanation of gender development (2 marks)2 (c) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Read the following definitionsA a child understands that he or she stays the same sex over timeB a child believes that he or she can change sex by changing their appearanceC a child knows that he is a boy or she is a girlD a child understands that he or she stays the same sex despite external changes in appearanceWrite in the box which letter (A B C or D) is the best definition ofGender identityGender stabilityGender constancy (3 marks)2 (d) Discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to evidence in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2010
2 (a) What is meant by the term androgyny Suggest how a person might show androgynous behaviour (2 marks)
2 (b) (i) Name one syndrome associated with an atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)2 (b) (ii) Give one feature of the syndrome that you have identified in your answer to(b)(i) (1 mark)2 (b) (iii) Explain why psychologists investigating gender study people with atypical sex chromosome patterns (2 marks)2 (c) With reference to one study of gender2 (c) (i) outline the research method used in this study (2 marks)2 (c) (ii) briefly explain either one strength or one limitation of this study (2 marks)2 (d) Discuss a cognitive explanation of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 2010
2 (a) Jemima is playing dressing-up games with her older sister Abbie Jemima puts on a builderrsquos hat and says to Abbie ldquoWhen Irsquom a big girl Irsquom going to be a builderrdquo Abbie replies ldquoNo you canrsquot be a builder silly Only boys can be builders Girls donrsquot do that sort of jobrdquo What is meant by sex-role stereotyping Refer to the conversation above in your answer (3 marks)2 (b) How have cognitive psychologists investigated gender schema (3 marks)2 (c) (i) Identify one study in which cultural variations in gender-related behaviour were investigated
(1 mark)2 (c) (ii) Briefly evaluate the study that you have identified in your answer to (c)(i) (3 marks)2 (d) Describe and evaluate biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
A psychologist was interested in conducting a case study of an individual who had been convicted of a criminal offence
To investigate why the offender committed the crime the psychologist used various methods of data collection including
interviews with the offender and the offenderrsquos family observations of the offenderrsquos behaviour in prison analysis of the offenderrsquos school reports and medical notes psychometric tests on the offender
(a) (i) What is meant by a case study (1 mark)(ii) Explain one strength of the case study method (2 marks)
(b) The psychologist used the offenderrsquos family as a source of information about the offenderrsquos childhoodApart from ethical issues identify and explain one problem of using this source of information
(3 marks)
(c) Distinguish between a structured and an unstructured interview (3 marks)
(d) The psychologist conducted a number of overt observations of the offenderrsquos behaviour in various prison situations(i) What is meant by overt observation (1 mark)(ii) Outline one methodological problem that might arise when just one psychologist observes a
personrsquos behaviour (2 marks)(iii) Explain how the problem you have identified in (d) (ii) can be overcome
(2 marks)(iv) Explain one advantage of conducting an observation in a natural setting compared with an
observation in a laboratory setting (3 marks)
(e) Identify and explain one ethical issue the psychologist should have considered before conducting this study (3 marks)
Jan 2009
3 A psychologist wanted to investigate the effect of computer games on levels of aggression Twenty participants aged 14 to 16 years took part in the experiment The participants were randomly selected from a secondary school In one condition of the experiment ten participants played a computer game which thepsychologist had previously assessed as aggressive for thirty minutes (Game 1)In the other condition of the experiment the other ten participants played a computer gamewhich the psychologist had previously assessed as neutral for thirty minutes The computergame contained no acts of aggressive behaviour (Game 2)After playing the computer game each participant was tested in order to measure his or her level of aggression The maximum score on the test was 50 A high score on the test indicated a high level of aggression a low score indicated a low level of aggressionThe psychologist calculated the mean scores of levels of aggression These are shown in Table 1 below
Table 1 Mean aggression score for participants who played Game 1 (aggressive) and participants who played Game 2 (neutral)
3 (a) What do the mean scores suggest about the effects of the computer games in this study (2 marks)3 (b) Draw a bar chart to display the data presented in Table 1 Correctly label your bar chart3 (c) (i) Identify the independent variable (IV) in this study (1 mark)3 (c) (ii) Identify the dependent variable (DV) in this study (1 mark)3 (d) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist used random sampling to select the participants for this studyWhat is meant by random sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Explain why random sampling might be a better method to use than opportunity sampling(2marks)3 (f) (i) Identify the type of experimental design used in this study (1 mark)3 (f) (ii) Give one advantage of the experimental design that you have identified in your answer to (f)(i)
(1 mark)3 (g) (i) What is meant by an extraneous variable (1 mark)3 (g) (ii) Explain how one extraneous variable might have confounded the results in this study (3 marks)3 (h) Before the study the psychologist assessed the computer games as either aggressive or neutralOutline how the psychologist might have carried out this assessment (2 marks)
Jun 2009
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 and state what it shows about the relationship between stress and number of days absent from work (2 marks)3 (b) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) Identify two differences between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (d) Outline one advantage of conducting a correlational study (2 marks)3 (e) The psychologist obtained the thirty nurses for this study by random sampling How might the psychologist have obtained the random sample of nurses (2 marks)3 (f) The psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress3 (f) (i) What is meant by a pilot study (1 mark)3 (f) (ii) Give one reason why the psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress in this study (1 mark)3 (g) The interviews that the psychologist carried out were structured interviews Outline one strength of using structured interviews (2 marks)3 (h) Identify and explain one ethical issue that the psychologist should have considered in this study
(3 marks)3 (i) The psychologist decided to conduct a case study of one nurse who showed a very high level of stress3 (i) (i) What is meant by a case study (1 mark)3 (i) (ii) Outline one limitation of conducting a case study (2 marks)
Jan 2010
3 (a) What do the mean scores in Table 1 show Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (b) (i) What is meant by standard deviation (1 mark)3 (b) (ii) What do the standard deviations in Table 1 suggest about the performance of the two groups in the recall test Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (c) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (d) Name the experimental design used in this study Identify two advantages of this type of experimental design (3 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist obtained the participants from a school canteen Name the sampling method that the psychologist used in this study (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Identify two disadvantages of the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(i)
(2 marks)3 (f) Identify one extraneous variable that might have confounded the results of this studyExplain how this variable might have affected the recall of Spanish words by participants (3 marks)3 (g) After the experiment the psychologist needed to debrief the participants Write a short debrief that the psychologist could read to the participants (4 marks)
Jun 2010
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 Explain what it shows about the relationship between attitudes towards healthy eating and weight (2 marks)3 (b) Write a suitable hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) The students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating What is meant by a pilot study Give one reason why the students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire
(2 marks)3 (d) One statement the students used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating was lsquoeatinga healthy diet is very important to mersquo3 (d) (i) Write one other statement that could be used to assess a personrsquos attitude towardshealthy eating (1 mark)3 (d) (ii) Explain one disadvantage of using questionnaires in psychological research (2 marks)3 (e) The students used an opportunity sample3 (e) (i) What is meant by opportunity sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Name one other sampling method (1 mark)3 (e) (iii) Explain why the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(ii) mightbe a better method to use than opportunity sampling (2 marks)3 (f) Identify and briefly explain one ethical issue that the students would need to consider when conducting this study (3 marks)3 (g) Explain one difference between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (h) After the initial study the students conducted a case study with the participants who had a very positive attitude towards healthy eatingBriefly discuss the value of conducting case studies in psychological research (2 marks)
Psychology of Gender
January 2006
June 2006
January 2007
(a) Outline what is meant by the term gender (2 marks)
(b) What is meant by androgyny Give an example of how a person might show androgynous behaviour (3 marks)
(c) Discuss the concepts of nature and nurture in relation to gender Refer to at least one study in your answer (10 marks)
(a) Identify one effect that testosterone might have on behaviour (1 mark)
(b) (i) Briefly describe Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex (3 marks)(ii) Outline one limitation of Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex
(2 marks)(c) Philip is seven years old and is going to a fancy dress party He is wearing a dress
Philiprsquos little brother Sydney says ldquoLook mummy Philiprsquos a girl nowrdquo Philip repliesldquoI am still a boy even if I am wearing a dressrdquo(i) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender
development shown by Sydney In your answer refer to comments made by Sydney (2 marks)
(ii) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender development shown by Philip In your answer refer to comments made by Philip
(2 marks)(d) Discuss the social learning theory explanation of gender Refer to at least one other explanation of
gender in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
(a) (i) Give one typical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)(ii) Give one atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)
(b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender developmentRead the following statementsA A child understands that someone stays the same biological sex even though heshe may
change in appearanceB A child understands that people stay the same sex throughout lifeC A child understands that people can change sex by changing their appearanceD A child is able to label hisher own sex correctly
In your answer book write down which statement (A B C or D) is a correct definition of the following(i) gender identity(ii) gender stability(iii) gender constancy (3 marks)
(c) Describe one study in which the social learning theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn
(5 marks)(d) Describe and discuss a psychoanalytic explanation of gender development
(10 marks)
January 2008
(a) In relation to gender describe what is meant by nature and nurture (4 marks)
(a) Julia notices that her friend Ruth goes salsa dancing twice a week so Julia starts going salsa dancing too Julia carries on going to classes because everyone tells her that she is very good at dancingFrom the description above identify an example of the following
(i) modelling(ii) reinforcement (2 marks)
(b) (i) Give a social learning theory explanation of identification (1 mark)(ii) Give a psychoanalytic explanation of identification (1 mark)(iii) State one difference between these two explanations (1 mark)
(c) Describe one study in which the cognitive-developmental theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn (5 marks)
(d) Describe and discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one study of gender in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2009
2 (a) (i) An atypical sex chromosome pattern is XXY Name the syndrome (1 mark)2 (a) (ii) Briefly explain how studying people with atypical sex chromosome patterns can contribute to our understanding of gender (2 marks)2 (b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Write one question that a psychologist might use to assess a childrsquos understanding of the following (3 marks)2 (b) (i) gender identity2 (b) (ii) gender stability2 (b) (iii) gender constancy2 (c) Lulu is six years old One Saturday she goes to play with her friend Emma at Emmarsquos house Lulu notices how Emma helps her mother with the cooking When Emma helps with the cooking her mother praises her When Lulu returns home she helps her mother with the cooking Referring to social learning theory explain why Lulu helps her mother with the cooking (4 marks)2 (d) Discuss a psychodynamic explanation of gender development (10 marks)
Jun 2009
2 (a) Androgyny is a term that is used to describe an individual who possesses both masculine and feminine traits Suggest how a psychologist might measure androgyny (2 marks)2 (b) (i) Briefly describe the social learning theory explanation of gender development (3 marks)2 (b) (ii) Explain one limitation of the social learning theory explanation of gender development (2 marks)2 (c) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Read the following definitionsA a child understands that he or she stays the same sex over timeB a child believes that he or she can change sex by changing their appearanceC a child knows that he is a boy or she is a girlD a child understands that he or she stays the same sex despite external changes in appearanceWrite in the box which letter (A B C or D) is the best definition ofGender identityGender stabilityGender constancy (3 marks)2 (d) Discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to evidence in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2010
2 (a) What is meant by the term androgyny Suggest how a person might show androgynous behaviour (2 marks)
2 (b) (i) Name one syndrome associated with an atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)2 (b) (ii) Give one feature of the syndrome that you have identified in your answer to(b)(i) (1 mark)2 (b) (iii) Explain why psychologists investigating gender study people with atypical sex chromosome patterns (2 marks)2 (c) With reference to one study of gender2 (c) (i) outline the research method used in this study (2 marks)2 (c) (ii) briefly explain either one strength or one limitation of this study (2 marks)2 (d) Discuss a cognitive explanation of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 2010
2 (a) Jemima is playing dressing-up games with her older sister Abbie Jemima puts on a builderrsquos hat and says to Abbie ldquoWhen Irsquom a big girl Irsquom going to be a builderrdquo Abbie replies ldquoNo you canrsquot be a builder silly Only boys can be builders Girls donrsquot do that sort of jobrdquo What is meant by sex-role stereotyping Refer to the conversation above in your answer (3 marks)2 (b) How have cognitive psychologists investigated gender schema (3 marks)2 (c) (i) Identify one study in which cultural variations in gender-related behaviour were investigated
(1 mark)2 (c) (ii) Briefly evaluate the study that you have identified in your answer to (c)(i) (3 marks)2 (d) Describe and evaluate biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2009
3 A psychologist wanted to investigate the effect of computer games on levels of aggression Twenty participants aged 14 to 16 years took part in the experiment The participants were randomly selected from a secondary school In one condition of the experiment ten participants played a computer game which thepsychologist had previously assessed as aggressive for thirty minutes (Game 1)In the other condition of the experiment the other ten participants played a computer gamewhich the psychologist had previously assessed as neutral for thirty minutes The computergame contained no acts of aggressive behaviour (Game 2)After playing the computer game each participant was tested in order to measure his or her level of aggression The maximum score on the test was 50 A high score on the test indicated a high level of aggression a low score indicated a low level of aggressionThe psychologist calculated the mean scores of levels of aggression These are shown in Table 1 below
Table 1 Mean aggression score for participants who played Game 1 (aggressive) and participants who played Game 2 (neutral)
3 (a) What do the mean scores suggest about the effects of the computer games in this study (2 marks)3 (b) Draw a bar chart to display the data presented in Table 1 Correctly label your bar chart3 (c) (i) Identify the independent variable (IV) in this study (1 mark)3 (c) (ii) Identify the dependent variable (DV) in this study (1 mark)3 (d) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist used random sampling to select the participants for this studyWhat is meant by random sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Explain why random sampling might be a better method to use than opportunity sampling(2marks)3 (f) (i) Identify the type of experimental design used in this study (1 mark)3 (f) (ii) Give one advantage of the experimental design that you have identified in your answer to (f)(i)
(1 mark)3 (g) (i) What is meant by an extraneous variable (1 mark)3 (g) (ii) Explain how one extraneous variable might have confounded the results in this study (3 marks)3 (h) Before the study the psychologist assessed the computer games as either aggressive or neutralOutline how the psychologist might have carried out this assessment (2 marks)
Jun 2009
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 and state what it shows about the relationship between stress and number of days absent from work (2 marks)3 (b) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) Identify two differences between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (d) Outline one advantage of conducting a correlational study (2 marks)3 (e) The psychologist obtained the thirty nurses for this study by random sampling How might the psychologist have obtained the random sample of nurses (2 marks)3 (f) The psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress3 (f) (i) What is meant by a pilot study (1 mark)3 (f) (ii) Give one reason why the psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress in this study (1 mark)3 (g) The interviews that the psychologist carried out were structured interviews Outline one strength of using structured interviews (2 marks)3 (h) Identify and explain one ethical issue that the psychologist should have considered in this study
(3 marks)3 (i) The psychologist decided to conduct a case study of one nurse who showed a very high level of stress3 (i) (i) What is meant by a case study (1 mark)3 (i) (ii) Outline one limitation of conducting a case study (2 marks)
Jan 2010
3 (a) What do the mean scores in Table 1 show Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (b) (i) What is meant by standard deviation (1 mark)3 (b) (ii) What do the standard deviations in Table 1 suggest about the performance of the two groups in the recall test Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (c) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (d) Name the experimental design used in this study Identify two advantages of this type of experimental design (3 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist obtained the participants from a school canteen Name the sampling method that the psychologist used in this study (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Identify two disadvantages of the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(i)
(2 marks)3 (f) Identify one extraneous variable that might have confounded the results of this studyExplain how this variable might have affected the recall of Spanish words by participants (3 marks)3 (g) After the experiment the psychologist needed to debrief the participants Write a short debrief that the psychologist could read to the participants (4 marks)
Jun 2010
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 Explain what it shows about the relationship between attitudes towards healthy eating and weight (2 marks)3 (b) Write a suitable hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) The students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating What is meant by a pilot study Give one reason why the students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire
(2 marks)3 (d) One statement the students used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating was lsquoeatinga healthy diet is very important to mersquo3 (d) (i) Write one other statement that could be used to assess a personrsquos attitude towardshealthy eating (1 mark)3 (d) (ii) Explain one disadvantage of using questionnaires in psychological research (2 marks)3 (e) The students used an opportunity sample3 (e) (i) What is meant by opportunity sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Name one other sampling method (1 mark)3 (e) (iii) Explain why the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(ii) mightbe a better method to use than opportunity sampling (2 marks)3 (f) Identify and briefly explain one ethical issue that the students would need to consider when conducting this study (3 marks)3 (g) Explain one difference between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (h) After the initial study the students conducted a case study with the participants who had a very positive attitude towards healthy eatingBriefly discuss the value of conducting case studies in psychological research (2 marks)
Psychology of Gender
January 2006
June 2006
January 2007
(a) Outline what is meant by the term gender (2 marks)
(b) What is meant by androgyny Give an example of how a person might show androgynous behaviour (3 marks)
(c) Discuss the concepts of nature and nurture in relation to gender Refer to at least one study in your answer (10 marks)
(a) Identify one effect that testosterone might have on behaviour (1 mark)
(b) (i) Briefly describe Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex (3 marks)(ii) Outline one limitation of Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex
(2 marks)(c) Philip is seven years old and is going to a fancy dress party He is wearing a dress
Philiprsquos little brother Sydney says ldquoLook mummy Philiprsquos a girl nowrdquo Philip repliesldquoI am still a boy even if I am wearing a dressrdquo(i) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender
development shown by Sydney In your answer refer to comments made by Sydney (2 marks)
(ii) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender development shown by Philip In your answer refer to comments made by Philip
(2 marks)(d) Discuss the social learning theory explanation of gender Refer to at least one other explanation of
gender in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
(a) (i) Give one typical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)(ii) Give one atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)
(b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender developmentRead the following statementsA A child understands that someone stays the same biological sex even though heshe may
change in appearanceB A child understands that people stay the same sex throughout lifeC A child understands that people can change sex by changing their appearanceD A child is able to label hisher own sex correctly
In your answer book write down which statement (A B C or D) is a correct definition of the following(i) gender identity(ii) gender stability(iii) gender constancy (3 marks)
(c) Describe one study in which the social learning theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn
(5 marks)(d) Describe and discuss a psychoanalytic explanation of gender development
(10 marks)
January 2008
(a) In relation to gender describe what is meant by nature and nurture (4 marks)
(a) Julia notices that her friend Ruth goes salsa dancing twice a week so Julia starts going salsa dancing too Julia carries on going to classes because everyone tells her that she is very good at dancingFrom the description above identify an example of the following
(i) modelling(ii) reinforcement (2 marks)
(b) (i) Give a social learning theory explanation of identification (1 mark)(ii) Give a psychoanalytic explanation of identification (1 mark)(iii) State one difference between these two explanations (1 mark)
(c) Describe one study in which the cognitive-developmental theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn (5 marks)
(d) Describe and discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one study of gender in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2009
2 (a) (i) An atypical sex chromosome pattern is XXY Name the syndrome (1 mark)2 (a) (ii) Briefly explain how studying people with atypical sex chromosome patterns can contribute to our understanding of gender (2 marks)2 (b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Write one question that a psychologist might use to assess a childrsquos understanding of the following (3 marks)2 (b) (i) gender identity2 (b) (ii) gender stability2 (b) (iii) gender constancy2 (c) Lulu is six years old One Saturday she goes to play with her friend Emma at Emmarsquos house Lulu notices how Emma helps her mother with the cooking When Emma helps with the cooking her mother praises her When Lulu returns home she helps her mother with the cooking Referring to social learning theory explain why Lulu helps her mother with the cooking (4 marks)2 (d) Discuss a psychodynamic explanation of gender development (10 marks)
Jun 2009
2 (a) Androgyny is a term that is used to describe an individual who possesses both masculine and feminine traits Suggest how a psychologist might measure androgyny (2 marks)2 (b) (i) Briefly describe the social learning theory explanation of gender development (3 marks)2 (b) (ii) Explain one limitation of the social learning theory explanation of gender development (2 marks)2 (c) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Read the following definitionsA a child understands that he or she stays the same sex over timeB a child believes that he or she can change sex by changing their appearanceC a child knows that he is a boy or she is a girlD a child understands that he or she stays the same sex despite external changes in appearanceWrite in the box which letter (A B C or D) is the best definition ofGender identityGender stabilityGender constancy (3 marks)2 (d) Discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to evidence in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2010
2 (a) What is meant by the term androgyny Suggest how a person might show androgynous behaviour (2 marks)
2 (b) (i) Name one syndrome associated with an atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)2 (b) (ii) Give one feature of the syndrome that you have identified in your answer to(b)(i) (1 mark)2 (b) (iii) Explain why psychologists investigating gender study people with atypical sex chromosome patterns (2 marks)2 (c) With reference to one study of gender2 (c) (i) outline the research method used in this study (2 marks)2 (c) (ii) briefly explain either one strength or one limitation of this study (2 marks)2 (d) Discuss a cognitive explanation of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 2010
2 (a) Jemima is playing dressing-up games with her older sister Abbie Jemima puts on a builderrsquos hat and says to Abbie ldquoWhen Irsquom a big girl Irsquom going to be a builderrdquo Abbie replies ldquoNo you canrsquot be a builder silly Only boys can be builders Girls donrsquot do that sort of jobrdquo What is meant by sex-role stereotyping Refer to the conversation above in your answer (3 marks)2 (b) How have cognitive psychologists investigated gender schema (3 marks)2 (c) (i) Identify one study in which cultural variations in gender-related behaviour were investigated
(1 mark)2 (c) (ii) Briefly evaluate the study that you have identified in your answer to (c)(i) (3 marks)2 (d) Describe and evaluate biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
Jun 2009
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 and state what it shows about the relationship between stress and number of days absent from work (2 marks)3 (b) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) Identify two differences between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (d) Outline one advantage of conducting a correlational study (2 marks)3 (e) The psychologist obtained the thirty nurses for this study by random sampling How might the psychologist have obtained the random sample of nurses (2 marks)3 (f) The psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress3 (f) (i) What is meant by a pilot study (1 mark)3 (f) (ii) Give one reason why the psychologist conducted a pilot study of the test used to measure stress in this study (1 mark)3 (g) The interviews that the psychologist carried out were structured interviews Outline one strength of using structured interviews (2 marks)3 (h) Identify and explain one ethical issue that the psychologist should have considered in this study
(3 marks)3 (i) The psychologist decided to conduct a case study of one nurse who showed a very high level of stress3 (i) (i) What is meant by a case study (1 mark)3 (i) (ii) Outline one limitation of conducting a case study (2 marks)
Jan 2010
3 (a) What do the mean scores in Table 1 show Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (b) (i) What is meant by standard deviation (1 mark)3 (b) (ii) What do the standard deviations in Table 1 suggest about the performance of the two groups in the recall test Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (c) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (d) Name the experimental design used in this study Identify two advantages of this type of experimental design (3 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist obtained the participants from a school canteen Name the sampling method that the psychologist used in this study (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Identify two disadvantages of the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(i)
(2 marks)3 (f) Identify one extraneous variable that might have confounded the results of this studyExplain how this variable might have affected the recall of Spanish words by participants (3 marks)3 (g) After the experiment the psychologist needed to debrief the participants Write a short debrief that the psychologist could read to the participants (4 marks)
Jun 2010
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 Explain what it shows about the relationship between attitudes towards healthy eating and weight (2 marks)3 (b) Write a suitable hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) The students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating What is meant by a pilot study Give one reason why the students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire
(2 marks)3 (d) One statement the students used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating was lsquoeatinga healthy diet is very important to mersquo3 (d) (i) Write one other statement that could be used to assess a personrsquos attitude towardshealthy eating (1 mark)3 (d) (ii) Explain one disadvantage of using questionnaires in psychological research (2 marks)3 (e) The students used an opportunity sample3 (e) (i) What is meant by opportunity sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Name one other sampling method (1 mark)3 (e) (iii) Explain why the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(ii) mightbe a better method to use than opportunity sampling (2 marks)3 (f) Identify and briefly explain one ethical issue that the students would need to consider when conducting this study (3 marks)3 (g) Explain one difference between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (h) After the initial study the students conducted a case study with the participants who had a very positive attitude towards healthy eatingBriefly discuss the value of conducting case studies in psychological research (2 marks)
Psychology of Gender
January 2006
June 2006
January 2007
(a) Outline what is meant by the term gender (2 marks)
(b) What is meant by androgyny Give an example of how a person might show androgynous behaviour (3 marks)
(c) Discuss the concepts of nature and nurture in relation to gender Refer to at least one study in your answer (10 marks)
(a) Identify one effect that testosterone might have on behaviour (1 mark)
(b) (i) Briefly describe Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex (3 marks)(ii) Outline one limitation of Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex
(2 marks)(c) Philip is seven years old and is going to a fancy dress party He is wearing a dress
Philiprsquos little brother Sydney says ldquoLook mummy Philiprsquos a girl nowrdquo Philip repliesldquoI am still a boy even if I am wearing a dressrdquo(i) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender
development shown by Sydney In your answer refer to comments made by Sydney (2 marks)
(ii) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender development shown by Philip In your answer refer to comments made by Philip
(2 marks)(d) Discuss the social learning theory explanation of gender Refer to at least one other explanation of
gender in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
(a) (i) Give one typical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)(ii) Give one atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)
(b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender developmentRead the following statementsA A child understands that someone stays the same biological sex even though heshe may
change in appearanceB A child understands that people stay the same sex throughout lifeC A child understands that people can change sex by changing their appearanceD A child is able to label hisher own sex correctly
In your answer book write down which statement (A B C or D) is a correct definition of the following(i) gender identity(ii) gender stability(iii) gender constancy (3 marks)
(c) Describe one study in which the social learning theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn
(5 marks)(d) Describe and discuss a psychoanalytic explanation of gender development
(10 marks)
January 2008
(a) In relation to gender describe what is meant by nature and nurture (4 marks)
(a) Julia notices that her friend Ruth goes salsa dancing twice a week so Julia starts going salsa dancing too Julia carries on going to classes because everyone tells her that she is very good at dancingFrom the description above identify an example of the following
(i) modelling(ii) reinforcement (2 marks)
(b) (i) Give a social learning theory explanation of identification (1 mark)(ii) Give a psychoanalytic explanation of identification (1 mark)(iii) State one difference between these two explanations (1 mark)
(c) Describe one study in which the cognitive-developmental theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn (5 marks)
(d) Describe and discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one study of gender in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2009
2 (a) (i) An atypical sex chromosome pattern is XXY Name the syndrome (1 mark)2 (a) (ii) Briefly explain how studying people with atypical sex chromosome patterns can contribute to our understanding of gender (2 marks)2 (b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Write one question that a psychologist might use to assess a childrsquos understanding of the following (3 marks)2 (b) (i) gender identity2 (b) (ii) gender stability2 (b) (iii) gender constancy2 (c) Lulu is six years old One Saturday she goes to play with her friend Emma at Emmarsquos house Lulu notices how Emma helps her mother with the cooking When Emma helps with the cooking her mother praises her When Lulu returns home she helps her mother with the cooking Referring to social learning theory explain why Lulu helps her mother with the cooking (4 marks)2 (d) Discuss a psychodynamic explanation of gender development (10 marks)
Jun 2009
2 (a) Androgyny is a term that is used to describe an individual who possesses both masculine and feminine traits Suggest how a psychologist might measure androgyny (2 marks)2 (b) (i) Briefly describe the social learning theory explanation of gender development (3 marks)2 (b) (ii) Explain one limitation of the social learning theory explanation of gender development (2 marks)2 (c) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Read the following definitionsA a child understands that he or she stays the same sex over timeB a child believes that he or she can change sex by changing their appearanceC a child knows that he is a boy or she is a girlD a child understands that he or she stays the same sex despite external changes in appearanceWrite in the box which letter (A B C or D) is the best definition ofGender identityGender stabilityGender constancy (3 marks)2 (d) Discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to evidence in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2010
2 (a) What is meant by the term androgyny Suggest how a person might show androgynous behaviour (2 marks)
2 (b) (i) Name one syndrome associated with an atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)2 (b) (ii) Give one feature of the syndrome that you have identified in your answer to(b)(i) (1 mark)2 (b) (iii) Explain why psychologists investigating gender study people with atypical sex chromosome patterns (2 marks)2 (c) With reference to one study of gender2 (c) (i) outline the research method used in this study (2 marks)2 (c) (ii) briefly explain either one strength or one limitation of this study (2 marks)2 (d) Discuss a cognitive explanation of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 2010
2 (a) Jemima is playing dressing-up games with her older sister Abbie Jemima puts on a builderrsquos hat and says to Abbie ldquoWhen Irsquom a big girl Irsquom going to be a builderrdquo Abbie replies ldquoNo you canrsquot be a builder silly Only boys can be builders Girls donrsquot do that sort of jobrdquo What is meant by sex-role stereotyping Refer to the conversation above in your answer (3 marks)2 (b) How have cognitive psychologists investigated gender schema (3 marks)2 (c) (i) Identify one study in which cultural variations in gender-related behaviour were investigated
(1 mark)2 (c) (ii) Briefly evaluate the study that you have identified in your answer to (c)(i) (3 marks)2 (d) Describe and evaluate biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2010
3 (a) What do the mean scores in Table 1 show Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (b) (i) What is meant by standard deviation (1 mark)3 (b) (ii) What do the standard deviations in Table 1 suggest about the performance of the two groups in the recall test Explain your answer (2 marks)3 (c) State an appropriate hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (d) Name the experimental design used in this study Identify two advantages of this type of experimental design (3 marks)3 (e) (i) The psychologist obtained the participants from a school canteen Name the sampling method that the psychologist used in this study (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Identify two disadvantages of the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(i)
(2 marks)3 (f) Identify one extraneous variable that might have confounded the results of this studyExplain how this variable might have affected the recall of Spanish words by participants (3 marks)3 (g) After the experiment the psychologist needed to debrief the participants Write a short debrief that the psychologist could read to the participants (4 marks)
Jun 2010
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 Explain what it shows about the relationship between attitudes towards healthy eating and weight (2 marks)3 (b) Write a suitable hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) The students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating What is meant by a pilot study Give one reason why the students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire
(2 marks)3 (d) One statement the students used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating was lsquoeatinga healthy diet is very important to mersquo3 (d) (i) Write one other statement that could be used to assess a personrsquos attitude towardshealthy eating (1 mark)3 (d) (ii) Explain one disadvantage of using questionnaires in psychological research (2 marks)3 (e) The students used an opportunity sample3 (e) (i) What is meant by opportunity sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Name one other sampling method (1 mark)3 (e) (iii) Explain why the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(ii) mightbe a better method to use than opportunity sampling (2 marks)3 (f) Identify and briefly explain one ethical issue that the students would need to consider when conducting this study (3 marks)3 (g) Explain one difference between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (h) After the initial study the students conducted a case study with the participants who had a very positive attitude towards healthy eatingBriefly discuss the value of conducting case studies in psychological research (2 marks)
Psychology of Gender
January 2006
June 2006
January 2007
(a) Outline what is meant by the term gender (2 marks)
(b) What is meant by androgyny Give an example of how a person might show androgynous behaviour (3 marks)
(c) Discuss the concepts of nature and nurture in relation to gender Refer to at least one study in your answer (10 marks)
(a) Identify one effect that testosterone might have on behaviour (1 mark)
(b) (i) Briefly describe Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex (3 marks)(ii) Outline one limitation of Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex
(2 marks)(c) Philip is seven years old and is going to a fancy dress party He is wearing a dress
Philiprsquos little brother Sydney says ldquoLook mummy Philiprsquos a girl nowrdquo Philip repliesldquoI am still a boy even if I am wearing a dressrdquo(i) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender
development shown by Sydney In your answer refer to comments made by Sydney (2 marks)
(ii) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender development shown by Philip In your answer refer to comments made by Philip
(2 marks)(d) Discuss the social learning theory explanation of gender Refer to at least one other explanation of
gender in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
(a) (i) Give one typical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)(ii) Give one atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)
(b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender developmentRead the following statementsA A child understands that someone stays the same biological sex even though heshe may
change in appearanceB A child understands that people stay the same sex throughout lifeC A child understands that people can change sex by changing their appearanceD A child is able to label hisher own sex correctly
In your answer book write down which statement (A B C or D) is a correct definition of the following(i) gender identity(ii) gender stability(iii) gender constancy (3 marks)
(c) Describe one study in which the social learning theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn
(5 marks)(d) Describe and discuss a psychoanalytic explanation of gender development
(10 marks)
January 2008
(a) In relation to gender describe what is meant by nature and nurture (4 marks)
(a) Julia notices that her friend Ruth goes salsa dancing twice a week so Julia starts going salsa dancing too Julia carries on going to classes because everyone tells her that she is very good at dancingFrom the description above identify an example of the following
(i) modelling(ii) reinforcement (2 marks)
(b) (i) Give a social learning theory explanation of identification (1 mark)(ii) Give a psychoanalytic explanation of identification (1 mark)(iii) State one difference between these two explanations (1 mark)
(c) Describe one study in which the cognitive-developmental theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn (5 marks)
(d) Describe and discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one study of gender in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2009
2 (a) (i) An atypical sex chromosome pattern is XXY Name the syndrome (1 mark)2 (a) (ii) Briefly explain how studying people with atypical sex chromosome patterns can contribute to our understanding of gender (2 marks)2 (b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Write one question that a psychologist might use to assess a childrsquos understanding of the following (3 marks)2 (b) (i) gender identity2 (b) (ii) gender stability2 (b) (iii) gender constancy2 (c) Lulu is six years old One Saturday she goes to play with her friend Emma at Emmarsquos house Lulu notices how Emma helps her mother with the cooking When Emma helps with the cooking her mother praises her When Lulu returns home she helps her mother with the cooking Referring to social learning theory explain why Lulu helps her mother with the cooking (4 marks)2 (d) Discuss a psychodynamic explanation of gender development (10 marks)
Jun 2009
2 (a) Androgyny is a term that is used to describe an individual who possesses both masculine and feminine traits Suggest how a psychologist might measure androgyny (2 marks)2 (b) (i) Briefly describe the social learning theory explanation of gender development (3 marks)2 (b) (ii) Explain one limitation of the social learning theory explanation of gender development (2 marks)2 (c) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Read the following definitionsA a child understands that he or she stays the same sex over timeB a child believes that he or she can change sex by changing their appearanceC a child knows that he is a boy or she is a girlD a child understands that he or she stays the same sex despite external changes in appearanceWrite in the box which letter (A B C or D) is the best definition ofGender identityGender stabilityGender constancy (3 marks)2 (d) Discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to evidence in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2010
2 (a) What is meant by the term androgyny Suggest how a person might show androgynous behaviour (2 marks)
2 (b) (i) Name one syndrome associated with an atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)2 (b) (ii) Give one feature of the syndrome that you have identified in your answer to(b)(i) (1 mark)2 (b) (iii) Explain why psychologists investigating gender study people with atypical sex chromosome patterns (2 marks)2 (c) With reference to one study of gender2 (c) (i) outline the research method used in this study (2 marks)2 (c) (ii) briefly explain either one strength or one limitation of this study (2 marks)2 (d) Discuss a cognitive explanation of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 2010
2 (a) Jemima is playing dressing-up games with her older sister Abbie Jemima puts on a builderrsquos hat and says to Abbie ldquoWhen Irsquom a big girl Irsquom going to be a builderrdquo Abbie replies ldquoNo you canrsquot be a builder silly Only boys can be builders Girls donrsquot do that sort of jobrdquo What is meant by sex-role stereotyping Refer to the conversation above in your answer (3 marks)2 (b) How have cognitive psychologists investigated gender schema (3 marks)2 (c) (i) Identify one study in which cultural variations in gender-related behaviour were investigated
(1 mark)2 (c) (ii) Briefly evaluate the study that you have identified in your answer to (c)(i) (3 marks)2 (d) Describe and evaluate biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
Jun 2010
3 (a) Identify the type of correlation shown in Figure 1 Explain what it shows about the relationship between attitudes towards healthy eating and weight (2 marks)3 (b) Write a suitable hypothesis for this study (2 marks)3 (c) The students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating What is meant by a pilot study Give one reason why the students conducted a pilot study of the questionnaire
(2 marks)3 (d) One statement the students used to assess attitudes towards healthy eating was lsquoeatinga healthy diet is very important to mersquo3 (d) (i) Write one other statement that could be used to assess a personrsquos attitude towardshealthy eating (1 mark)3 (d) (ii) Explain one disadvantage of using questionnaires in psychological research (2 marks)3 (e) The students used an opportunity sample3 (e) (i) What is meant by opportunity sampling (1 mark)3 (e) (ii) Name one other sampling method (1 mark)3 (e) (iii) Explain why the sampling method that you have named in your answer to (e)(ii) mightbe a better method to use than opportunity sampling (2 marks)3 (f) Identify and briefly explain one ethical issue that the students would need to consider when conducting this study (3 marks)3 (g) Explain one difference between an experiment and a correlational study (2 marks)3 (h) After the initial study the students conducted a case study with the participants who had a very positive attitude towards healthy eatingBriefly discuss the value of conducting case studies in psychological research (2 marks)
Psychology of Gender
January 2006
June 2006
January 2007
(a) Outline what is meant by the term gender (2 marks)
(b) What is meant by androgyny Give an example of how a person might show androgynous behaviour (3 marks)
(c) Discuss the concepts of nature and nurture in relation to gender Refer to at least one study in your answer (10 marks)
(a) Identify one effect that testosterone might have on behaviour (1 mark)
(b) (i) Briefly describe Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex (3 marks)(ii) Outline one limitation of Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex
(2 marks)(c) Philip is seven years old and is going to a fancy dress party He is wearing a dress
Philiprsquos little brother Sydney says ldquoLook mummy Philiprsquos a girl nowrdquo Philip repliesldquoI am still a boy even if I am wearing a dressrdquo(i) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender
development shown by Sydney In your answer refer to comments made by Sydney (2 marks)
(ii) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender development shown by Philip In your answer refer to comments made by Philip
(2 marks)(d) Discuss the social learning theory explanation of gender Refer to at least one other explanation of
gender in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
(a) (i) Give one typical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)(ii) Give one atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)
(b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender developmentRead the following statementsA A child understands that someone stays the same biological sex even though heshe may
change in appearanceB A child understands that people stay the same sex throughout lifeC A child understands that people can change sex by changing their appearanceD A child is able to label hisher own sex correctly
In your answer book write down which statement (A B C or D) is a correct definition of the following(i) gender identity(ii) gender stability(iii) gender constancy (3 marks)
(c) Describe one study in which the social learning theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn
(5 marks)(d) Describe and discuss a psychoanalytic explanation of gender development
(10 marks)
January 2008
(a) In relation to gender describe what is meant by nature and nurture (4 marks)
(a) Julia notices that her friend Ruth goes salsa dancing twice a week so Julia starts going salsa dancing too Julia carries on going to classes because everyone tells her that she is very good at dancingFrom the description above identify an example of the following
(i) modelling(ii) reinforcement (2 marks)
(b) (i) Give a social learning theory explanation of identification (1 mark)(ii) Give a psychoanalytic explanation of identification (1 mark)(iii) State one difference between these two explanations (1 mark)
(c) Describe one study in which the cognitive-developmental theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn (5 marks)
(d) Describe and discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one study of gender in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2009
2 (a) (i) An atypical sex chromosome pattern is XXY Name the syndrome (1 mark)2 (a) (ii) Briefly explain how studying people with atypical sex chromosome patterns can contribute to our understanding of gender (2 marks)2 (b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Write one question that a psychologist might use to assess a childrsquos understanding of the following (3 marks)2 (b) (i) gender identity2 (b) (ii) gender stability2 (b) (iii) gender constancy2 (c) Lulu is six years old One Saturday she goes to play with her friend Emma at Emmarsquos house Lulu notices how Emma helps her mother with the cooking When Emma helps with the cooking her mother praises her When Lulu returns home she helps her mother with the cooking Referring to social learning theory explain why Lulu helps her mother with the cooking (4 marks)2 (d) Discuss a psychodynamic explanation of gender development (10 marks)
Jun 2009
2 (a) Androgyny is a term that is used to describe an individual who possesses both masculine and feminine traits Suggest how a psychologist might measure androgyny (2 marks)2 (b) (i) Briefly describe the social learning theory explanation of gender development (3 marks)2 (b) (ii) Explain one limitation of the social learning theory explanation of gender development (2 marks)2 (c) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Read the following definitionsA a child understands that he or she stays the same sex over timeB a child believes that he or she can change sex by changing their appearanceC a child knows that he is a boy or she is a girlD a child understands that he or she stays the same sex despite external changes in appearanceWrite in the box which letter (A B C or D) is the best definition ofGender identityGender stabilityGender constancy (3 marks)2 (d) Discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to evidence in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2010
2 (a) What is meant by the term androgyny Suggest how a person might show androgynous behaviour (2 marks)
2 (b) (i) Name one syndrome associated with an atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)2 (b) (ii) Give one feature of the syndrome that you have identified in your answer to(b)(i) (1 mark)2 (b) (iii) Explain why psychologists investigating gender study people with atypical sex chromosome patterns (2 marks)2 (c) With reference to one study of gender2 (c) (i) outline the research method used in this study (2 marks)2 (c) (ii) briefly explain either one strength or one limitation of this study (2 marks)2 (d) Discuss a cognitive explanation of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 2010
2 (a) Jemima is playing dressing-up games with her older sister Abbie Jemima puts on a builderrsquos hat and says to Abbie ldquoWhen Irsquom a big girl Irsquom going to be a builderrdquo Abbie replies ldquoNo you canrsquot be a builder silly Only boys can be builders Girls donrsquot do that sort of jobrdquo What is meant by sex-role stereotyping Refer to the conversation above in your answer (3 marks)2 (b) How have cognitive psychologists investigated gender schema (3 marks)2 (c) (i) Identify one study in which cultural variations in gender-related behaviour were investigated
(1 mark)2 (c) (ii) Briefly evaluate the study that you have identified in your answer to (c)(i) (3 marks)2 (d) Describe and evaluate biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
Psychology of Gender
January 2006
June 2006
January 2007
(a) Outline what is meant by the term gender (2 marks)
(b) What is meant by androgyny Give an example of how a person might show androgynous behaviour (3 marks)
(c) Discuss the concepts of nature and nurture in relation to gender Refer to at least one study in your answer (10 marks)
(a) Identify one effect that testosterone might have on behaviour (1 mark)
(b) (i) Briefly describe Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex (3 marks)(ii) Outline one limitation of Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex
(2 marks)(c) Philip is seven years old and is going to a fancy dress party He is wearing a dress
Philiprsquos little brother Sydney says ldquoLook mummy Philiprsquos a girl nowrdquo Philip repliesldquoI am still a boy even if I am wearing a dressrdquo(i) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender
development shown by Sydney In your answer refer to comments made by Sydney (2 marks)
(ii) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender development shown by Philip In your answer refer to comments made by Philip
(2 marks)(d) Discuss the social learning theory explanation of gender Refer to at least one other explanation of
gender in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
(a) (i) Give one typical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)(ii) Give one atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)
(b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender developmentRead the following statementsA A child understands that someone stays the same biological sex even though heshe may
change in appearanceB A child understands that people stay the same sex throughout lifeC A child understands that people can change sex by changing their appearanceD A child is able to label hisher own sex correctly
In your answer book write down which statement (A B C or D) is a correct definition of the following(i) gender identity(ii) gender stability(iii) gender constancy (3 marks)
(c) Describe one study in which the social learning theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn
(5 marks)(d) Describe and discuss a psychoanalytic explanation of gender development
(10 marks)
January 2008
(a) In relation to gender describe what is meant by nature and nurture (4 marks)
(a) Julia notices that her friend Ruth goes salsa dancing twice a week so Julia starts going salsa dancing too Julia carries on going to classes because everyone tells her that she is very good at dancingFrom the description above identify an example of the following
(i) modelling(ii) reinforcement (2 marks)
(b) (i) Give a social learning theory explanation of identification (1 mark)(ii) Give a psychoanalytic explanation of identification (1 mark)(iii) State one difference between these two explanations (1 mark)
(c) Describe one study in which the cognitive-developmental theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn (5 marks)
(d) Describe and discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one study of gender in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2009
2 (a) (i) An atypical sex chromosome pattern is XXY Name the syndrome (1 mark)2 (a) (ii) Briefly explain how studying people with atypical sex chromosome patterns can contribute to our understanding of gender (2 marks)2 (b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Write one question that a psychologist might use to assess a childrsquos understanding of the following (3 marks)2 (b) (i) gender identity2 (b) (ii) gender stability2 (b) (iii) gender constancy2 (c) Lulu is six years old One Saturday she goes to play with her friend Emma at Emmarsquos house Lulu notices how Emma helps her mother with the cooking When Emma helps with the cooking her mother praises her When Lulu returns home she helps her mother with the cooking Referring to social learning theory explain why Lulu helps her mother with the cooking (4 marks)2 (d) Discuss a psychodynamic explanation of gender development (10 marks)
Jun 2009
2 (a) Androgyny is a term that is used to describe an individual who possesses both masculine and feminine traits Suggest how a psychologist might measure androgyny (2 marks)2 (b) (i) Briefly describe the social learning theory explanation of gender development (3 marks)2 (b) (ii) Explain one limitation of the social learning theory explanation of gender development (2 marks)2 (c) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Read the following definitionsA a child understands that he or she stays the same sex over timeB a child believes that he or she can change sex by changing their appearanceC a child knows that he is a boy or she is a girlD a child understands that he or she stays the same sex despite external changes in appearanceWrite in the box which letter (A B C or D) is the best definition ofGender identityGender stabilityGender constancy (3 marks)2 (d) Discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to evidence in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2010
2 (a) What is meant by the term androgyny Suggest how a person might show androgynous behaviour (2 marks)
2 (b) (i) Name one syndrome associated with an atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)2 (b) (ii) Give one feature of the syndrome that you have identified in your answer to(b)(i) (1 mark)2 (b) (iii) Explain why psychologists investigating gender study people with atypical sex chromosome patterns (2 marks)2 (c) With reference to one study of gender2 (c) (i) outline the research method used in this study (2 marks)2 (c) (ii) briefly explain either one strength or one limitation of this study (2 marks)2 (d) Discuss a cognitive explanation of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 2010
2 (a) Jemima is playing dressing-up games with her older sister Abbie Jemima puts on a builderrsquos hat and says to Abbie ldquoWhen Irsquom a big girl Irsquom going to be a builderrdquo Abbie replies ldquoNo you canrsquot be a builder silly Only boys can be builders Girls donrsquot do that sort of jobrdquo What is meant by sex-role stereotyping Refer to the conversation above in your answer (3 marks)2 (b) How have cognitive psychologists investigated gender schema (3 marks)2 (c) (i) Identify one study in which cultural variations in gender-related behaviour were investigated
(1 mark)2 (c) (ii) Briefly evaluate the study that you have identified in your answer to (c)(i) (3 marks)2 (d) Describe and evaluate biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
January 2007
(a) Outline what is meant by the term gender (2 marks)
(b) What is meant by androgyny Give an example of how a person might show androgynous behaviour (3 marks)
(c) Discuss the concepts of nature and nurture in relation to gender Refer to at least one study in your answer (10 marks)
(a) Identify one effect that testosterone might have on behaviour (1 mark)
(b) (i) Briefly describe Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex (3 marks)(ii) Outline one limitation of Freudrsquos theory of the Oedipus complex
(2 marks)(c) Philip is seven years old and is going to a fancy dress party He is wearing a dress
Philiprsquos little brother Sydney says ldquoLook mummy Philiprsquos a girl nowrdquo Philip repliesldquoI am still a boy even if I am wearing a dressrdquo(i) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender
development shown by Sydney In your answer refer to comments made by Sydney (2 marks)
(ii) With reference to Kohlbergrsquos cognitive-developmental theory identify the stage of gender development shown by Philip In your answer refer to comments made by Philip
(2 marks)(d) Discuss the social learning theory explanation of gender Refer to at least one other explanation of
gender in your answer (10 marks)
June 2007
(a) (i) Give one typical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)(ii) Give one atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)
(b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender developmentRead the following statementsA A child understands that someone stays the same biological sex even though heshe may
change in appearanceB A child understands that people stay the same sex throughout lifeC A child understands that people can change sex by changing their appearanceD A child is able to label hisher own sex correctly
In your answer book write down which statement (A B C or D) is a correct definition of the following(i) gender identity(ii) gender stability(iii) gender constancy (3 marks)
(c) Describe one study in which the social learning theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn
(5 marks)(d) Describe and discuss a psychoanalytic explanation of gender development
(10 marks)
January 2008
(a) In relation to gender describe what is meant by nature and nurture (4 marks)
(a) Julia notices that her friend Ruth goes salsa dancing twice a week so Julia starts going salsa dancing too Julia carries on going to classes because everyone tells her that she is very good at dancingFrom the description above identify an example of the following
(i) modelling(ii) reinforcement (2 marks)
(b) (i) Give a social learning theory explanation of identification (1 mark)(ii) Give a psychoanalytic explanation of identification (1 mark)(iii) State one difference between these two explanations (1 mark)
(c) Describe one study in which the cognitive-developmental theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn (5 marks)
(d) Describe and discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one study of gender in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2009
2 (a) (i) An atypical sex chromosome pattern is XXY Name the syndrome (1 mark)2 (a) (ii) Briefly explain how studying people with atypical sex chromosome patterns can contribute to our understanding of gender (2 marks)2 (b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Write one question that a psychologist might use to assess a childrsquos understanding of the following (3 marks)2 (b) (i) gender identity2 (b) (ii) gender stability2 (b) (iii) gender constancy2 (c) Lulu is six years old One Saturday she goes to play with her friend Emma at Emmarsquos house Lulu notices how Emma helps her mother with the cooking When Emma helps with the cooking her mother praises her When Lulu returns home she helps her mother with the cooking Referring to social learning theory explain why Lulu helps her mother with the cooking (4 marks)2 (d) Discuss a psychodynamic explanation of gender development (10 marks)
Jun 2009
2 (a) Androgyny is a term that is used to describe an individual who possesses both masculine and feminine traits Suggest how a psychologist might measure androgyny (2 marks)2 (b) (i) Briefly describe the social learning theory explanation of gender development (3 marks)2 (b) (ii) Explain one limitation of the social learning theory explanation of gender development (2 marks)2 (c) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Read the following definitionsA a child understands that he or she stays the same sex over timeB a child believes that he or she can change sex by changing their appearanceC a child knows that he is a boy or she is a girlD a child understands that he or she stays the same sex despite external changes in appearanceWrite in the box which letter (A B C or D) is the best definition ofGender identityGender stabilityGender constancy (3 marks)2 (d) Discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to evidence in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2010
2 (a) What is meant by the term androgyny Suggest how a person might show androgynous behaviour (2 marks)
2 (b) (i) Name one syndrome associated with an atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)2 (b) (ii) Give one feature of the syndrome that you have identified in your answer to(b)(i) (1 mark)2 (b) (iii) Explain why psychologists investigating gender study people with atypical sex chromosome patterns (2 marks)2 (c) With reference to one study of gender2 (c) (i) outline the research method used in this study (2 marks)2 (c) (ii) briefly explain either one strength or one limitation of this study (2 marks)2 (d) Discuss a cognitive explanation of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 2010
2 (a) Jemima is playing dressing-up games with her older sister Abbie Jemima puts on a builderrsquos hat and says to Abbie ldquoWhen Irsquom a big girl Irsquom going to be a builderrdquo Abbie replies ldquoNo you canrsquot be a builder silly Only boys can be builders Girls donrsquot do that sort of jobrdquo What is meant by sex-role stereotyping Refer to the conversation above in your answer (3 marks)2 (b) How have cognitive psychologists investigated gender schema (3 marks)2 (c) (i) Identify one study in which cultural variations in gender-related behaviour were investigated
(1 mark)2 (c) (ii) Briefly evaluate the study that you have identified in your answer to (c)(i) (3 marks)2 (d) Describe and evaluate biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
January 2008
(a) In relation to gender describe what is meant by nature and nurture (4 marks)
(a) Julia notices that her friend Ruth goes salsa dancing twice a week so Julia starts going salsa dancing too Julia carries on going to classes because everyone tells her that she is very good at dancingFrom the description above identify an example of the following
(i) modelling(ii) reinforcement (2 marks)
(b) (i) Give a social learning theory explanation of identification (1 mark)(ii) Give a psychoanalytic explanation of identification (1 mark)(iii) State one difference between these two explanations (1 mark)
(c) Describe one study in which the cognitive-developmental theory of gender was investigated Indicate in your answer why the study was conducted the method used results obtained and conclusion drawn (5 marks)
(d) Describe and discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one study of gender in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2009
2 (a) (i) An atypical sex chromosome pattern is XXY Name the syndrome (1 mark)2 (a) (ii) Briefly explain how studying people with atypical sex chromosome patterns can contribute to our understanding of gender (2 marks)2 (b) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Write one question that a psychologist might use to assess a childrsquos understanding of the following (3 marks)2 (b) (i) gender identity2 (b) (ii) gender stability2 (b) (iii) gender constancy2 (c) Lulu is six years old One Saturday she goes to play with her friend Emma at Emmarsquos house Lulu notices how Emma helps her mother with the cooking When Emma helps with the cooking her mother praises her When Lulu returns home she helps her mother with the cooking Referring to social learning theory explain why Lulu helps her mother with the cooking (4 marks)2 (d) Discuss a psychodynamic explanation of gender development (10 marks)
Jun 2009
2 (a) Androgyny is a term that is used to describe an individual who possesses both masculine and feminine traits Suggest how a psychologist might measure androgyny (2 marks)2 (b) (i) Briefly describe the social learning theory explanation of gender development (3 marks)2 (b) (ii) Explain one limitation of the social learning theory explanation of gender development (2 marks)2 (c) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Read the following definitionsA a child understands that he or she stays the same sex over timeB a child believes that he or she can change sex by changing their appearanceC a child knows that he is a boy or she is a girlD a child understands that he or she stays the same sex despite external changes in appearanceWrite in the box which letter (A B C or D) is the best definition ofGender identityGender stabilityGender constancy (3 marks)2 (d) Discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to evidence in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2010
2 (a) What is meant by the term androgyny Suggest how a person might show androgynous behaviour (2 marks)
2 (b) (i) Name one syndrome associated with an atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)2 (b) (ii) Give one feature of the syndrome that you have identified in your answer to(b)(i) (1 mark)2 (b) (iii) Explain why psychologists investigating gender study people with atypical sex chromosome patterns (2 marks)2 (c) With reference to one study of gender2 (c) (i) outline the research method used in this study (2 marks)2 (c) (ii) briefly explain either one strength or one limitation of this study (2 marks)2 (d) Discuss a cognitive explanation of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 2010
2 (a) Jemima is playing dressing-up games with her older sister Abbie Jemima puts on a builderrsquos hat and says to Abbie ldquoWhen Irsquom a big girl Irsquom going to be a builderrdquo Abbie replies ldquoNo you canrsquot be a builder silly Only boys can be builders Girls donrsquot do that sort of jobrdquo What is meant by sex-role stereotyping Refer to the conversation above in your answer (3 marks)2 (b) How have cognitive psychologists investigated gender schema (3 marks)2 (c) (i) Identify one study in which cultural variations in gender-related behaviour were investigated
(1 mark)2 (c) (ii) Briefly evaluate the study that you have identified in your answer to (c)(i) (3 marks)2 (d) Describe and evaluate biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
Jun 2009
2 (a) Androgyny is a term that is used to describe an individual who possesses both masculine and feminine traits Suggest how a psychologist might measure androgyny (2 marks)2 (b) (i) Briefly describe the social learning theory explanation of gender development (3 marks)2 (b) (ii) Explain one limitation of the social learning theory explanation of gender development (2 marks)2 (c) Kohlberg proposed three stages of gender development Read the following definitionsA a child understands that he or she stays the same sex over timeB a child believes that he or she can change sex by changing their appearanceC a child knows that he is a boy or she is a girlD a child understands that he or she stays the same sex despite external changes in appearanceWrite in the box which letter (A B C or D) is the best definition ofGender identityGender stabilityGender constancy (3 marks)2 (d) Discuss biological explanations of gender development Refer to evidence in your answer (10 marks)
Jan 2010
2 (a) What is meant by the term androgyny Suggest how a person might show androgynous behaviour (2 marks)
2 (b) (i) Name one syndrome associated with an atypical sex chromosome pattern (1 mark)2 (b) (ii) Give one feature of the syndrome that you have identified in your answer to(b)(i) (1 mark)2 (b) (iii) Explain why psychologists investigating gender study people with atypical sex chromosome patterns (2 marks)2 (c) With reference to one study of gender2 (c) (i) outline the research method used in this study (2 marks)2 (c) (ii) briefly explain either one strength or one limitation of this study (2 marks)2 (d) Discuss a cognitive explanation of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
June 2010
2 (a) Jemima is playing dressing-up games with her older sister Abbie Jemima puts on a builderrsquos hat and says to Abbie ldquoWhen Irsquom a big girl Irsquom going to be a builderrdquo Abbie replies ldquoNo you canrsquot be a builder silly Only boys can be builders Girls donrsquot do that sort of jobrdquo What is meant by sex-role stereotyping Refer to the conversation above in your answer (3 marks)2 (b) How have cognitive psychologists investigated gender schema (3 marks)2 (c) (i) Identify one study in which cultural variations in gender-related behaviour were investigated
(1 mark)2 (c) (ii) Briefly evaluate the study that you have identified in your answer to (c)(i) (3 marks)2 (d) Describe and evaluate biological explanations of gender development Refer to at least one other explanation of gender development in your answer (10 marks)
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