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AQA A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY PAPER 3 2026 | Issues &
Options in Psychology | 7182/3 | Mark Scheme Aligned
| Complete Solutions | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section A: Issues & Debates in Psychology (Questions 1-12)
Q1. A researcher conducts a study on moral reasoning using only male participants
and generalises the findings to all humans. Which type of gender bias is
demonstrated?
A. Beta bias
B. Alpha bias
C. Androcentrism
D. Cultural relativism
Correct Answer: C. Androcentrism [CORRECT]
Rationale: Androcentrism occurs when male behaviour is treated as the norm and
female behaviour is viewed as deviant. Using only male participants and generalising
to all humans makes male experience the standard. Alpha bias exaggerates
differences; beta bias minimises differences; cultural relativism is unrelated to gender.
Q2. A cross-cultural study finds that collectivist cultures show higher levels of
conformity than individualistic cultures. The researcher concludes that collectivist
cultures are "less psychologically healthy" because they suppress individual
autonomy. Which issue and debate is demonstrated?
A. Gender bias
B. Culture bias (ethnocentrism)
C. Free will vs determinism
D. Idiographic approach
Correct Answer: B. Culture bias (ethnocentrism) [CORRECT]
,2
Rationale: The researcher judges collectivist cultural practices through the lens of
individualistic cultural values (autonomy as "healthy"), demonstrating
ethnocentrism—the belief that one's own culture is superior. This is a classic example
of culture bias in psychological research.
Q3. A behaviourist argues that all human behaviour, including criminal offending, is
determined by past reinforcement histories and environmental contingencies. No
behaviour is truly "chosen." Which philosophical position is this?
A. Soft determinism
B. Hard determinism
C. Free will
D. Interactionism
Correct Answer: B. Hard determinism [CORRECT]
Rationale: Hard determinism holds that all behaviour is caused by prior events and
no free will exists. The behaviourist view that criminal behaviour is entirely
determined by reinforcement history leaves no room for personal agency. Soft
determinism allows some choice within constraints; free will rejects determinism;
interactionism addresses nature-nurture.
Q4. A cognitive psychologist acknowledges that genetic predispositions influence
intelligence, but argues that educational interventions, enriched environments, and
teaching strategies can significantly modify cognitive outcomes. Which position does
this represent?
A. Nature (nativism)
B. Nurture (empiricism)
C. Interactionism
D. Biological reductionism
Correct Answer: C. Interactionism [CORRECT]
,3
Rationale: Interactionism recognises that behaviour results from the interplay
between genetic predispositions (nature) and environmental influences (nurture). The
psychologist acknowledges both biological factors and environmental modification,
rejecting the either/or dichotomy of pure nature or pure nurture.
Q5. A neuroscientist attempts to explain schizophrenia solely by examining
dopamine receptor dysfunction at the synaptic level, ignoring family dynamics,
cognitive processes, and social context. Which issue and debate is demonstrated?
A. Holism
B. Biological reductionism
C. Cultural relativism
D. Nomothetic approach
Correct Answer: B. Biological reductionism [CORRECT]
Rationale: Biological reductionism attempts to explain complex psychological
phenomena by reducing them to biological mechanisms (neurotransmitters, genes)
without considering higher-level explanations. Holism would consider multiple levels;
cultural relativism addresses cross-cultural perspective; the nomothetic approach
seeks general laws.
Q6. A clinical psychologist conducts an intensive 5-year longitudinal case study of a
single patient with dissociative identity disorder, producing a rich, idiographic
account of that individual's unique experiences, trauma history, and therapeutic
journey. Which approach is demonstrated?
A. Nomothetic approach
B. Idiographic approach
C. Beta bias
D. Ethnocentrism
Correct Answer: B. Idiographic approach [CORRECT]
, 4
Rationale: The idiographic approach focuses on the unique characteristics of
individuals through methods such as case studies, unstructured interviews, and
personal documents. The nomothetic approach seeks general laws through large
samples and quantitative methods. This study's intensive single-case design is
idiographic.
Q7. Sieber and Stanley (1988) identified socially sensitive research as studies that
have potential consequences for the group being studied or for society. Which of the
following is an example of socially sensitive research with significant ethical
implications?
A. A laboratory study of reaction times using undergraduate students
B. Research suggesting a genetic basis for intelligence differences between racial
groups, which could be used to justify discriminatory educational policies
C. A study of consumer preferences for breakfast cereals
D. An investigation of plant growth under different lighting conditions
Correct Answer: B. Research suggesting a genetic basis for intelligence differences
between racial groups, which could be used to justify discriminatory educational
policies [CORRECT]
Rationale: Socially sensitive research has potential social consequences and ethical
implications for the groups studied or society. Intelligence-race research has
historically been misused to support eugenics and discrimination, making it
paradigmatically socially sensitive. Reaction time, cereal preference, and plant studies
lack such implications.
Q8. A researcher studies attachment patterns using the Strange Situation procedure
and applies the findings universally to all cultures, ignoring that in some collectivist
cultures, infants rarely experience separation from caregivers and therefore show
different response patterns. Which issue and debate is demonstrated?
AQA A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY PAPER 3 2026 | Issues &
Options in Psychology | 7182/3 | Mark Scheme Aligned
| Complete Solutions | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section A: Issues & Debates in Psychology (Questions 1-12)
Q1. A researcher conducts a study on moral reasoning using only male participants
and generalises the findings to all humans. Which type of gender bias is
demonstrated?
A. Beta bias
B. Alpha bias
C. Androcentrism
D. Cultural relativism
Correct Answer: C. Androcentrism [CORRECT]
Rationale: Androcentrism occurs when male behaviour is treated as the norm and
female behaviour is viewed as deviant. Using only male participants and generalising
to all humans makes male experience the standard. Alpha bias exaggerates
differences; beta bias minimises differences; cultural relativism is unrelated to gender.
Q2. A cross-cultural study finds that collectivist cultures show higher levels of
conformity than individualistic cultures. The researcher concludes that collectivist
cultures are "less psychologically healthy" because they suppress individual
autonomy. Which issue and debate is demonstrated?
A. Gender bias
B. Culture bias (ethnocentrism)
C. Free will vs determinism
D. Idiographic approach
Correct Answer: B. Culture bias (ethnocentrism) [CORRECT]
,2
Rationale: The researcher judges collectivist cultural practices through the lens of
individualistic cultural values (autonomy as "healthy"), demonstrating
ethnocentrism—the belief that one's own culture is superior. This is a classic example
of culture bias in psychological research.
Q3. A behaviourist argues that all human behaviour, including criminal offending, is
determined by past reinforcement histories and environmental contingencies. No
behaviour is truly "chosen." Which philosophical position is this?
A. Soft determinism
B. Hard determinism
C. Free will
D. Interactionism
Correct Answer: B. Hard determinism [CORRECT]
Rationale: Hard determinism holds that all behaviour is caused by prior events and
no free will exists. The behaviourist view that criminal behaviour is entirely
determined by reinforcement history leaves no room for personal agency. Soft
determinism allows some choice within constraints; free will rejects determinism;
interactionism addresses nature-nurture.
Q4. A cognitive psychologist acknowledges that genetic predispositions influence
intelligence, but argues that educational interventions, enriched environments, and
teaching strategies can significantly modify cognitive outcomes. Which position does
this represent?
A. Nature (nativism)
B. Nurture (empiricism)
C. Interactionism
D. Biological reductionism
Correct Answer: C. Interactionism [CORRECT]
,3
Rationale: Interactionism recognises that behaviour results from the interplay
between genetic predispositions (nature) and environmental influences (nurture). The
psychologist acknowledges both biological factors and environmental modification,
rejecting the either/or dichotomy of pure nature or pure nurture.
Q5. A neuroscientist attempts to explain schizophrenia solely by examining
dopamine receptor dysfunction at the synaptic level, ignoring family dynamics,
cognitive processes, and social context. Which issue and debate is demonstrated?
A. Holism
B. Biological reductionism
C. Cultural relativism
D. Nomothetic approach
Correct Answer: B. Biological reductionism [CORRECT]
Rationale: Biological reductionism attempts to explain complex psychological
phenomena by reducing them to biological mechanisms (neurotransmitters, genes)
without considering higher-level explanations. Holism would consider multiple levels;
cultural relativism addresses cross-cultural perspective; the nomothetic approach
seeks general laws.
Q6. A clinical psychologist conducts an intensive 5-year longitudinal case study of a
single patient with dissociative identity disorder, producing a rich, idiographic
account of that individual's unique experiences, trauma history, and therapeutic
journey. Which approach is demonstrated?
A. Nomothetic approach
B. Idiographic approach
C. Beta bias
D. Ethnocentrism
Correct Answer: B. Idiographic approach [CORRECT]
, 4
Rationale: The idiographic approach focuses on the unique characteristics of
individuals through methods such as case studies, unstructured interviews, and
personal documents. The nomothetic approach seeks general laws through large
samples and quantitative methods. This study's intensive single-case design is
idiographic.
Q7. Sieber and Stanley (1988) identified socially sensitive research as studies that
have potential consequences for the group being studied or for society. Which of the
following is an example of socially sensitive research with significant ethical
implications?
A. A laboratory study of reaction times using undergraduate students
B. Research suggesting a genetic basis for intelligence differences between racial
groups, which could be used to justify discriminatory educational policies
C. A study of consumer preferences for breakfast cereals
D. An investigation of plant growth under different lighting conditions
Correct Answer: B. Research suggesting a genetic basis for intelligence differences
between racial groups, which could be used to justify discriminatory educational
policies [CORRECT]
Rationale: Socially sensitive research has potential social consequences and ethical
implications for the groups studied or society. Intelligence-race research has
historically been misused to support eugenics and discrimination, making it
paradigmatically socially sensitive. Reaction time, cereal preference, and plant studies
lack such implications.
Q8. A researcher studies attachment patterns using the Strange Situation procedure
and applies the findings universally to all cultures, ignoring that in some collectivist
cultures, infants rarely experience separation from caregivers and therefore show
different response patterns. Which issue and debate is demonstrated?
