2025 AQA A-level PSYCHOLOGY Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology Combined Question Paper and Final Marking Scheme
A-level
PSYCHOLOGY
Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology
Monday 9 June 2025 Morning Time allowed: 2 hours
Materials
For this paper you must have:
an AQA 16-page Answer Book.
You may use a calculator.
Instructions
Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7182/3.
In Section A, you should answer all questions.
In Section B, choose one topic. Answer all questions on the topic you choose.
In Section C, choose one topic. Answer all questions on the topic you choose.
In Section D, choose one topic. Answer all questions on the topic you choose.
Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked.
Information
The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
The maximum mark for this paper is 96.
You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
IB/G/Jun25/G4006/V8
7182/3
, 2
There are no questions printed on this page
IB/G/Jun25/7182/3
, 3
Section A
Issues and debates in psychology
Answer all questions in this section.
0 1 A researcher tested the musical ability of two groups of children. The parents of children
in Group 1 were professional musicians. The parents of children in Group 2 did not play
a musical instrument.
The researcher found that the children in Group 1 had significantly higher musical ability
scores than the children in Group 2.
Use your knowledge of two different types of determinism to explain the findings in
Group 1 and Group 2.
[4 marks]
0 2 The researcher also tested the motor (movement) skills of the children in Group 1 using
a newly devised test.
The measures of central tendency for the motor skills test were as follows:
Mean = 20.5, Mode = 30, Median = 25.5
Use the measures of central tendency to identify the type of distribution of scores in the
motor skills test. Explain your answer.
[2 marks]
0 3 Explain how the researcher could modify the motor skills test so that it would be more
likely to produce a set of scores that is normally distributed.
[2 marks]
0 4 The researcher noticed that a lot of the children who did well on the musical ability test
also seemed to do well on the motor skills test.
Suggest how the researcher could use the existing data to investigate the relationship
between musical ability and motor skills.
[4 marks]
0 5 Explain what is meant by cultural relativism in psychology. Use one topic you have
studied in psychology as part of your explanation.
[4 marks]
0 6 Discuss the idiographic approach to psychological investigation.
[8 marks]
Turn over ►
IB/G/Jun25/7182/3
, 4
Section B
Relationships or Gender or Cognition and development
Choose one topic from Section B. Answer all questions on the topic you choose.
Topic: Relationships
0 7 Mike and Dan are talking about their 10-year relationship. Dan says, “I’d hate to start
again with someone new. It could never be the same with anyone else. We’ve had some
great holidays and fun with our friends.” Mike agrees: “Just look at the lovely home we
have built together and the things we’ve saved up for and chosen together. Also, who
would have the cats?”
Explain how Rusbult’s investment model of romantic relationships can be applied to the
conversation between Mike and Dan.
[4 marks]
0 8 Briefly evaluate absence of gating as a factor in virtual relationships.
[4 marks]
0 9 A relationship psychologist studied what people say about themselves in descriptions on
dating websites. Here is one description.
“My name is Joy. I am a teacher and I have a degree in economics. I live in Essex.
I cycle to work because I care about the environment. I enjoy walking and like to cook in
my spare time. I am looking for a partner who enjoys good food and is good at doing
repairs around the house because I’m not very practical.”
Discuss the filter theory of romantic relationships. Refer to Joy in your answer.
[16 marks]
IB/G/Jun25/7182/3
A-level
PSYCHOLOGY
Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology
Monday 9 June 2025 Morning Time allowed: 2 hours
Materials
For this paper you must have:
an AQA 16-page Answer Book.
You may use a calculator.
Instructions
Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7182/3.
In Section A, you should answer all questions.
In Section B, choose one topic. Answer all questions on the topic you choose.
In Section C, choose one topic. Answer all questions on the topic you choose.
In Section D, choose one topic. Answer all questions on the topic you choose.
Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked.
Information
The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
The maximum mark for this paper is 96.
You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
IB/G/Jun25/G4006/V8
7182/3
, 2
There are no questions printed on this page
IB/G/Jun25/7182/3
, 3
Section A
Issues and debates in psychology
Answer all questions in this section.
0 1 A researcher tested the musical ability of two groups of children. The parents of children
in Group 1 were professional musicians. The parents of children in Group 2 did not play
a musical instrument.
The researcher found that the children in Group 1 had significantly higher musical ability
scores than the children in Group 2.
Use your knowledge of two different types of determinism to explain the findings in
Group 1 and Group 2.
[4 marks]
0 2 The researcher also tested the motor (movement) skills of the children in Group 1 using
a newly devised test.
The measures of central tendency for the motor skills test were as follows:
Mean = 20.5, Mode = 30, Median = 25.5
Use the measures of central tendency to identify the type of distribution of scores in the
motor skills test. Explain your answer.
[2 marks]
0 3 Explain how the researcher could modify the motor skills test so that it would be more
likely to produce a set of scores that is normally distributed.
[2 marks]
0 4 The researcher noticed that a lot of the children who did well on the musical ability test
also seemed to do well on the motor skills test.
Suggest how the researcher could use the existing data to investigate the relationship
between musical ability and motor skills.
[4 marks]
0 5 Explain what is meant by cultural relativism in psychology. Use one topic you have
studied in psychology as part of your explanation.
[4 marks]
0 6 Discuss the idiographic approach to psychological investigation.
[8 marks]
Turn over ►
IB/G/Jun25/7182/3
, 4
Section B
Relationships or Gender or Cognition and development
Choose one topic from Section B. Answer all questions on the topic you choose.
Topic: Relationships
0 7 Mike and Dan are talking about their 10-year relationship. Dan says, “I’d hate to start
again with someone new. It could never be the same with anyone else. We’ve had some
great holidays and fun with our friends.” Mike agrees: “Just look at the lovely home we
have built together and the things we’ve saved up for and chosen together. Also, who
would have the cats?”
Explain how Rusbult’s investment model of romantic relationships can be applied to the
conversation between Mike and Dan.
[4 marks]
0 8 Briefly evaluate absence of gating as a factor in virtual relationships.
[4 marks]
0 9 A relationship psychologist studied what people say about themselves in descriptions on
dating websites. Here is one description.
“My name is Joy. I am a teacher and I have a degree in economics. I live in Essex.
I cycle to work because I care about the environment. I enjoy walking and like to cook in
my spare time. I am looking for a partner who enjoys good food and is good at doing
repairs around the house because I’m not very practical.”
Discuss the filter theory of romantic relationships. Refer to Joy in your answer.
[16 marks]
IB/G/Jun25/7182/3
