AQA A-Level psychology paper 2
What are the five features of science? - Answer - Hypothesis testing, empirical method,
objectivity, replicability, and theory construction.
What is meant by hypothesis testing? - Answer - A prediction is made about what is
believed to be true and then an investigation is carried out to see with that prediction is
right or wrong.
What is meant by empirical method? - Answer - Produces evidence collected via the
sensors, rather than one that collects information based on logical arguments or
assumptions.
What is meant by objectivity? - Answer - Information gathered isn't influenced by the
researcher and there is only one way to interpret information.
What is meant by replicability? - Answer - Studies are repeated to see if other findings
are consistent with the original.
What is meant by theory construction? - Answer - A theory is constructed if a prediction
is tested multiple times and there is the same result.
How did Wundt contribute to the emergence of psychology as a science? - Answer - He
set up the first laboratory devoted to experimental scientific psychology in 1879, and he
published one of the first books on psychology in 1873.
His work with introspection marked a shift towards a more rigorous approach to
psychology.
Describe Wundt's process of introspection. - Answer - Wundt and his co-workers recorded
their own conscious thoughts with the aim of breaking them down into their constituent
parts.
Participants were presented with different sounds of an image or object.
They were asked to say how they perceived it and their inner experiences.
Responses were recorded by an experimenter into sections of thought, sensations and
images. Wundt thought that this would give an insight into the nature of perception.
Why might some say that Wundt did not contribute to the emergence of psychology as a
science? - Answer - Some researchers claim introspection is not scientific.
As Wundt's work is based on this method, it questions whether he contributed to the
emergence of psychology as a science.
,Describe one study that has used introspection. - Answer - Introspection was used in a
study of gambling behaviour by Griffiths. Its proposed that regular gamblers thought
processes are more irrational. Participants thought out loud, whilst playing a fruit machine.
They were told to say everything that they thought, talk continuously and not to justify any
thoughts, and to use fragmented sentences if they need to.
The study found that gamblers used more irrational verbalisations.
Assumptions of the behaviourist approach. - Answer - 1. We are all born as a blank slate.
2. All behaviour is learnt.
3. We are a product of our environment (nurture).
4. All behaviour can be explained through classical and operant conditioning.
5. Behaviour should be investigated using scientific experiments.
Describe the process of classical conditioning. - Answer - Learning through association
2 stimuli are repeatedly paired together to the point where they both present the same
response. The neutral stimulus has the same effect as the unconditioned stimulus.
Describe Pavlov's research. - Answer - Pavlov classically conditioned dogs to salivate on
the sound of a bell ringing instead of seeing food.
Food (UCS) -> Salivation (UCR) bell (NS) -> no response
Food + Bell -> Salivation
Bell (CS) -> Salivation (CR)
Describe the process of operant conditioning. - Answer - Learning by reinforcement
behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences. Reinforcement encourages
that behaviour to be repeated, whereas punishment decreases the chance of behaviour
being repeated.
What is positive reinforcement? - Answer - A certain behaviour is shown in order to
receive a reward.
What is negative reinforcement? - Answer - A certain behaviour is shown in order to avoid
an unpleasant consequence.
Describe Skinner's research. - Answer - Placed a hungry rat in a box called a '*Skinner
Box*'
1) - Rat presses lever
- Rat is rewarded with food
, - Rat presses lever again
- *Positive reinforcement* so lever pressing is strengthened by reward
2) - Rat given electric shock
- Rat presses lever
- Shock stops
- *Negative reinforcement* as lever pressing is strengthened by removing bad effect
Assumptions of social learning theory. - Answer - We learn through direct experience and
observing those around us
Reinforcement of behaviour is important
Cognitive processes do play a role in learning and whether people choose to repeat
behaviour
What is imitation? - Answer - Copying the behaviour of others
What is meant by identification? - Answer - The observer must identify with the role model.
What is vicarious reinforcement? - Answer - Showing a certain behaviour after watching
a role model be rewarded for it.
What is meant by modelling? - Answer - The observer imitating the behaviour.
What are the four mediational processes? - Answer - attention, retention, motor
reproduction, motivation
What is meant by attention? - Answer - The observer must watch the behaviour.
What is meant by retention? - Answer - The observer must remember the behaviour.
What is meant by motor reproduction? - Answer - The observer must believe they are
capable of carrying out the behaviour.
What is meant by motivation? - Answer - The observer's reason for carrying out a
behaviour. They must believe that they are going to be positively reinforced for their
behaviour.
Describe Bandura's research. - Answer - Study one: Children watched either an
aggressive or non aggressive adult play with a Bobo doll. Those who watched the
What are the five features of science? - Answer - Hypothesis testing, empirical method,
objectivity, replicability, and theory construction.
What is meant by hypothesis testing? - Answer - A prediction is made about what is
believed to be true and then an investigation is carried out to see with that prediction is
right or wrong.
What is meant by empirical method? - Answer - Produces evidence collected via the
sensors, rather than one that collects information based on logical arguments or
assumptions.
What is meant by objectivity? - Answer - Information gathered isn't influenced by the
researcher and there is only one way to interpret information.
What is meant by replicability? - Answer - Studies are repeated to see if other findings
are consistent with the original.
What is meant by theory construction? - Answer - A theory is constructed if a prediction
is tested multiple times and there is the same result.
How did Wundt contribute to the emergence of psychology as a science? - Answer - He
set up the first laboratory devoted to experimental scientific psychology in 1879, and he
published one of the first books on psychology in 1873.
His work with introspection marked a shift towards a more rigorous approach to
psychology.
Describe Wundt's process of introspection. - Answer - Wundt and his co-workers recorded
their own conscious thoughts with the aim of breaking them down into their constituent
parts.
Participants were presented with different sounds of an image or object.
They were asked to say how they perceived it and their inner experiences.
Responses were recorded by an experimenter into sections of thought, sensations and
images. Wundt thought that this would give an insight into the nature of perception.
Why might some say that Wundt did not contribute to the emergence of psychology as a
science? - Answer - Some researchers claim introspection is not scientific.
As Wundt's work is based on this method, it questions whether he contributed to the
emergence of psychology as a science.
,Describe one study that has used introspection. - Answer - Introspection was used in a
study of gambling behaviour by Griffiths. Its proposed that regular gamblers thought
processes are more irrational. Participants thought out loud, whilst playing a fruit machine.
They were told to say everything that they thought, talk continuously and not to justify any
thoughts, and to use fragmented sentences if they need to.
The study found that gamblers used more irrational verbalisations.
Assumptions of the behaviourist approach. - Answer - 1. We are all born as a blank slate.
2. All behaviour is learnt.
3. We are a product of our environment (nurture).
4. All behaviour can be explained through classical and operant conditioning.
5. Behaviour should be investigated using scientific experiments.
Describe the process of classical conditioning. - Answer - Learning through association
2 stimuli are repeatedly paired together to the point where they both present the same
response. The neutral stimulus has the same effect as the unconditioned stimulus.
Describe Pavlov's research. - Answer - Pavlov classically conditioned dogs to salivate on
the sound of a bell ringing instead of seeing food.
Food (UCS) -> Salivation (UCR) bell (NS) -> no response
Food + Bell -> Salivation
Bell (CS) -> Salivation (CR)
Describe the process of operant conditioning. - Answer - Learning by reinforcement
behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences. Reinforcement encourages
that behaviour to be repeated, whereas punishment decreases the chance of behaviour
being repeated.
What is positive reinforcement? - Answer - A certain behaviour is shown in order to
receive a reward.
What is negative reinforcement? - Answer - A certain behaviour is shown in order to avoid
an unpleasant consequence.
Describe Skinner's research. - Answer - Placed a hungry rat in a box called a '*Skinner
Box*'
1) - Rat presses lever
- Rat is rewarded with food
, - Rat presses lever again
- *Positive reinforcement* so lever pressing is strengthened by reward
2) - Rat given electric shock
- Rat presses lever
- Shock stops
- *Negative reinforcement* as lever pressing is strengthened by removing bad effect
Assumptions of social learning theory. - Answer - We learn through direct experience and
observing those around us
Reinforcement of behaviour is important
Cognitive processes do play a role in learning and whether people choose to repeat
behaviour
What is imitation? - Answer - Copying the behaviour of others
What is meant by identification? - Answer - The observer must identify with the role model.
What is vicarious reinforcement? - Answer - Showing a certain behaviour after watching
a role model be rewarded for it.
What is meant by modelling? - Answer - The observer imitating the behaviour.
What are the four mediational processes? - Answer - attention, retention, motor
reproduction, motivation
What is meant by attention? - Answer - The observer must watch the behaviour.
What is meant by retention? - Answer - The observer must remember the behaviour.
What is meant by motor reproduction? - Answer - The observer must believe they are
capable of carrying out the behaviour.
What is meant by motivation? - Answer - The observer's reason for carrying out a
behaviour. They must believe that they are going to be positively reinforced for their
behaviour.
Describe Bandura's research. - Answer - Study one: Children watched either an
aggressive or non aggressive adult play with a Bobo doll. Those who watched the
