AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY PAPER 2 UPDATED 2025 WITH
QUESTIONS AND 100% ANSWERS GRADED A+
What are the five features of science? VERIFIED ANSWER Hypothesis
testing, empirical method, objectivity, replicability, and theory
construction.
What is meant by hypothesis testing? VERIFIED 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? VERIFIED ANSWER Produces
evidence collected via the sensors, rather than one that collects
information based on logical arguments or assumptions.
What is meant by objectivity? VERIFIED ANSWER Information
gathered isn't influenced by the researcher and there is only one way to
interpret information.
What is meant by replicability? VERIFIED ANSWER Studies are
repeated to see if other findings are consistent with the original.
What is meant by theory construction? VERIFIED 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?
VERIFIED 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. VERIFIED 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? VERIFIED 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. VERIFIED 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. VERIFIED 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. VERIFIED 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. VERIFIED 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. VERIFIED 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? VERIFIED ANSWER A certain
behaviour is shown in order to receive a reward.
What is negative reinforcement? VERIFIED ANSWER A certain
behaviour is shown in order to avoid an unpleasant consequence.
Describe Skinner's research. VERIFIED 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
QUESTIONS AND 100% ANSWERS GRADED A+
What are the five features of science? VERIFIED ANSWER Hypothesis
testing, empirical method, objectivity, replicability, and theory
construction.
What is meant by hypothesis testing? VERIFIED 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? VERIFIED ANSWER Produces
evidence collected via the sensors, rather than one that collects
information based on logical arguments or assumptions.
What is meant by objectivity? VERIFIED ANSWER Information
gathered isn't influenced by the researcher and there is only one way to
interpret information.
What is meant by replicability? VERIFIED ANSWER Studies are
repeated to see if other findings are consistent with the original.
What is meant by theory construction? VERIFIED 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?
VERIFIED 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. VERIFIED 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? VERIFIED 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. VERIFIED 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. VERIFIED 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. VERIFIED 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. VERIFIED 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. VERIFIED 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? VERIFIED ANSWER A certain
behaviour is shown in order to receive a reward.
What is negative reinforcement? VERIFIED ANSWER A certain
behaviour is shown in order to avoid an unpleasant consequence.
Describe Skinner's research. VERIFIED 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
