AQA A-Level Psychology – A-level Psychology
(7182) Practice Exam 2026 Practice Questions
& Study Guide | Complete Exam-Style
Questions with Correct Detailed Answers &
Rationales (Reliable Answers) | Latest
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Question 1
A student takes part in a conformity study. The majority of the
group gives an obviously incorrect answer to a simple
perceptual task. The student initially gives the same incorrect
answer but later reports that they privately believed the
majority was wrong.
Which type of conformity is most clearly demonstrated?
A. Internalisation
B. Identification
C. Compliance
D. Informational social influence
Answer: C. Compliance
,Compliance occurs when a person publicly conforms to a group
position while privately disagreeing with it. In this example, the
student gives the majority's answer but privately believes it is
incorrect, showing that the outward behaviour has changed
without a corresponding change in private belief. Internalisation
would involve genuine private acceptance of the majority's
position. Identification involves adopting behaviour or attitudes
because of an association with a valued group or person.
Question 2
A researcher wants to investigate whether background noise
affects memory for a list of words. Participants are randomly
allocated to either a silent condition or a condition in which
instrumental music is played.
What is the independent variable?
A. The number of words recalled
B. The presence or absence of background music
C. The participants' memory ability
D. The number of participants
Answer: B. The presence or absence of background music
The independent variable is the variable deliberately
manipulated by the researcher. Here, the researcher changes
whether participants complete the memory task in silence or
,with music. The number of words recalled is the dependent
variable because it is the outcome being measured. Random
allocation is a method of controlling participant variables rather
than a variable itself.
Question 3
Which feature of the multi-store model of memory
distinguishes short-term memory from long-term memory?
A. Short-term memory uses mainly semantic encoding, whereas
long-term memory uses mainly acoustic encoding
B. Short-term memory is unlimited, whereas long-term memory
has a duration of approximately 20 seconds
C. Short-term memory has limited capacity and duration,
whereas long-term memory has potentially very large capacity
and duration
D. Short-term memory stores procedural information, whereas
long-term memory stores only episodic information
Answer: C. Short-term memory has limited capacity and
duration, whereas long-term memory has potentially very
large capacity and duration
The multi-store model proposes separate short-term and long-
term memory stores with different characteristics. Short-term
memory has limited capacity and relatively brief duration, while
, long-term memory is described as having potentially very large
capacity and very long duration. The model also proposes
differences in encoding, with acoustic encoding associated
particularly with short-term memory and semantic encoding
associated particularly with long-term memory.
Question 4
A researcher observes children playing in a school playground
without participating in their activities. The children know they
are being observed.
Which combination of observation types is correct?
A. Covert and participant
B. Overt and non-participant
C. Covert and non-participant
D. Overt and participant
Answer: B. Overt and non-participant
The observation is overt because the children know that they
are being observed. It is non-participant because the researcher
does not join the children's activities. These dimensions describe
different features of observation and can therefore be
combined. A participant observer would become involved in the
behaviour or social setting being studied.
(7182) Practice Exam 2026 Practice Questions
& Study Guide | Complete Exam-Style
Questions with Correct Detailed Answers &
Rationales (Reliable Answers) | Latest
Updated Version | Instant Download PDf
Question 1
A student takes part in a conformity study. The majority of the
group gives an obviously incorrect answer to a simple
perceptual task. The student initially gives the same incorrect
answer but later reports that they privately believed the
majority was wrong.
Which type of conformity is most clearly demonstrated?
A. Internalisation
B. Identification
C. Compliance
D. Informational social influence
Answer: C. Compliance
,Compliance occurs when a person publicly conforms to a group
position while privately disagreeing with it. In this example, the
student gives the majority's answer but privately believes it is
incorrect, showing that the outward behaviour has changed
without a corresponding change in private belief. Internalisation
would involve genuine private acceptance of the majority's
position. Identification involves adopting behaviour or attitudes
because of an association with a valued group or person.
Question 2
A researcher wants to investigate whether background noise
affects memory for a list of words. Participants are randomly
allocated to either a silent condition or a condition in which
instrumental music is played.
What is the independent variable?
A. The number of words recalled
B. The presence or absence of background music
C. The participants' memory ability
D. The number of participants
Answer: B. The presence or absence of background music
The independent variable is the variable deliberately
manipulated by the researcher. Here, the researcher changes
whether participants complete the memory task in silence or
,with music. The number of words recalled is the dependent
variable because it is the outcome being measured. Random
allocation is a method of controlling participant variables rather
than a variable itself.
Question 3
Which feature of the multi-store model of memory
distinguishes short-term memory from long-term memory?
A. Short-term memory uses mainly semantic encoding, whereas
long-term memory uses mainly acoustic encoding
B. Short-term memory is unlimited, whereas long-term memory
has a duration of approximately 20 seconds
C. Short-term memory has limited capacity and duration,
whereas long-term memory has potentially very large capacity
and duration
D. Short-term memory stores procedural information, whereas
long-term memory stores only episodic information
Answer: C. Short-term memory has limited capacity and
duration, whereas long-term memory has potentially very
large capacity and duration
The multi-store model proposes separate short-term and long-
term memory stores with different characteristics. Short-term
memory has limited capacity and relatively brief duration, while
, long-term memory is described as having potentially very large
capacity and very long duration. The model also proposes
differences in encoding, with acoustic encoding associated
particularly with short-term memory and semantic encoding
associated particularly with long-term memory.
Question 4
A researcher observes children playing in a school playground
without participating in their activities. The children know they
are being observed.
Which combination of observation types is correct?
A. Covert and participant
B. Overt and non-participant
C. Covert and non-participant
D. Overt and participant
Answer: B. Overt and non-participant
The observation is overt because the children know that they
are being observed. It is non-participant because the researcher
does not join the children's activities. These dimensions describe
different features of observation and can therefore be
combined. A participant observer would become involved in the
behaviour or social setting being studied.
