AQA Psychology Paper 2 Past Paper
Questions
(June 2022) 1. Describe psychosexual stages as outlined in the psychodynamic
v v v v v v v v v v
vapproach. [6 marks] - answer-Possible content: v v v v v v
• there are 5 developmental stages (oral, anal, phallic, latency and genital)
v v v v v v v v v v v v
• oral (0-1yr) - focus of pleasure is the mouth and the mother's breast is the focus of
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vdesire v
• anal (1-3yrs) - focus of pleasure is the anus and child focuses on withholding and
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vexpelling faeces v v
• phallic (3-5yrs) - focus of pleasure is genitals and children experience the
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vOedipus/Electra complex v v
• latency (6-12yrs) - previous conflicts are resolved/repressed and early years are largely
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vforgotten v
• genital (12yrs/puberty-adulthood) - sexual desires become conscious with the onset of
v v v v v v v v v v v
vpuberty v
Credit other relevant material, eg fixation. Note: not all stages need to be described for
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
full marks to be awarded.
v v v v v
(June 2022) 2.At a local school, teachers took part in Active Lifestyle Week to encourage
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vstudents to become more active. The week involved daily staff netball matches during
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vbreaktimes and a step count challenge. Two of the teachers were talking at the end of
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vthe week. Miss Honey said, "That was such a great week! I felt proud to win the staff
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vstep count challenge and receive the medal in assembly and demonstrate the joy of
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vsport. My students loved watching us compete, I really think it will inspire them to be
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vmore active themselves!" Mrs Wilson replied, "It's alright for you, you're young and the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vstudents like you. My students were so embarrassed to see me tripping over in netball. I
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vthink I may have put them off sport forever!"
v v v v v v v v v
Apart from mediational processes, use your knowledge of social learning theory to
v v v v v v v v v v v
explain Miss Honey's and Mrs Wilson's comments. [6 marks] - answer-Possible content
v v v v v v v v v v v v
(Banded Q):
v v v
• observational learning - both teachers' comments suggest that they believe their
v v v v v v v v v v v
behaviour will influence their students' behaviour, eg, Miss Honey says, "I think it will
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
inspire them to be more active themselves!".
v v v v v v v v
• imitation - Mrs Wilson does not feel students will want to imitate her - "I think I may
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
have put them off sport forever!", whereas Miss Honey feels students will want to imitate
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
her - "I really think it will inspire them to be more active themselves!"
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
,• modelling - the teachers will act as role models for their students as they have higher
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
status in school
v v v v
• identification - students are more likely to identify with Miss Honey (than Mrs Wilson) as
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
Mrs Wilson said to Miss Honey, "you're young and the students like you".
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
• vicarious reinforcement - when students see Miss Honey rewarded for adopting a more
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
active lifestyle, eg, Miss Honey says, "I felt proud to win the staff step count challenge
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
and receive the medal in assembly". When students see Mrs Wilson "tripping over" in
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
netball they will not want to imitate her and so will not adopt a more active lifestyle.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
(June 2022) 3. Whether or not students learn to be more active box could depend on
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vmediational processes. Explain how mediational processes might be involved in the
v v v v v v v v v v
vstudents becoming more active. [4 marks] - answer-Possible content:
v v v v v v v v v
• attention - students will notice their teachers demonstrating a more active lifestyle, eg
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vcompeting in staff netball matches during breaktime/Miss Honey receiving the medal for
v v v v v v v v v v v
vthe step count challenge in assembly/Mrs Wilson falling over, etc
v v v v v v v v v v
• retention - students' memories will be strengthened through seeing repetition of the
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vactivities, eg daily netball matches and/or emotional/funny event, eg Mrs Wilson tripping
v v v v v v v v v v v
vover in netball v v v
• reproduction - the active behaviours being modelled can be reproduced by the
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vstudents, eg step count challenge is a simple activity that does not require inaccessible
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vequipment/fitness to be able to perform v v v v v v
• motivation - students are more likely to adopt the demonstrated active lifestyle if the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vperceived rewards (eg winning the st v v v v v
(June 2022) 7. Describe the divisions of the nervous system box . [6 marks] - answer-
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
Possible content: v v
• the nervous system is divided into the central and peripheral nervous systems
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
• the CNS comprises the brain and spinal cord
v v v v v v v v v
• the peripheral nervous system is further divided into the somatic nervous system and
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vthe autonomic nervous system (ANS)
v v v v v
• the somatic nervous system consists of sensory and motor neurons to carry sensory
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vand motor information to and from the CNS and also enables reflex actions
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
• the ANS acts largely unconsciously/involuntary
v v v v v v
• the ANS is divided into the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vparasympathetic nervous system (PNS) v v v v
• the SNS prepares us for flight or fight
v v v v v v v v v
• the PNS balances the sympathetic nervous system providing 'rest and digest'
v v v v v v v v v v v
vfunctions.
(June 2022) RM STEM: A controlled observation was designed to compare the social
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vbehaviours of pre-school children of working parents and pre-school children of stay-at-
v v v v v v v v v v v
home parents. The sample consisted of 100 children aged three, who were observed
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vseparately. Half of the children had working parents and the other half had stay-at-home
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vparents. The observation took place in a room which looked like a nursery, with a variety
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vof toys available. In the room, there were four children and one supervising adult. Their
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vbehaviour was not recorded. Each child participant was brought into the room and
v v v v v v v v v v v v
, vsettled by their parent. The parent then left to sit outside. Each child participant's
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vbehaviour was observed covertly for five minutes while they played in the room. The
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vobservation was conducted in a controlled environment and a standardised script was
v v v v v v v v v v v
vused when the children and their parents arrived. - answer-Use the stem to answer the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vQuestions!
(June 2022) 9. Explain why the researcher used a controlled observation and a
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vstandardised script in this study. [4 marks] - answer-Possible content: v v v v v v v v v v
• a standardised script would ensure the same greeting was given to the children and
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vtheir parents when they arrived, providing a high level of control
v v v v v v v v v v v
• without using a standardised script, the researcher's welcome may vary causing
v v v v v v v v v v v
vunintentional bias, eg may use more child-friendly vocabulary which may make the child
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vless anxious and thus more sociable, etc
v v v v v v v
• using a controlled observation helps to reduce extraneous variables which may have
v v v v v v v v v v v v
van impact on the social behaviour of the children, affecting the validity of the study.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
(June 2022) 11. The researcher used two trained observers to record the social
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vbehaviours of each child box during the observation. v v v v v v v v
Give TWO behavioural categories that the observers could have used in the observation
v v v v v v v v v v v v
to assess the pre-school children's social behaviour. Explain why your chosen
v v v v v v v v v v v
categories are appropriate. [4 marks] - answer-Possible behavioural categories:
v v v v v v v v v v
• child smiles at another child
v v v v v v
• child shares toys
v v v v
• child talks to another child
v v v v v v
• child snatches a toy from another child.
v v v v v v v
Possible points: v v
• behavioural categories are appropriate because they focus on social behaviours/are
v v v v v v v v v v
objective/visible/mutually exclusive/not ambiguous/not overlapping
v v v v
(June 2022) 10. Identify ONE limitation of controlled observations [1 marks] - answer-
v v v v v v v v v v v v
Possible content: v v
• they lack ecological validity/cannot be applied to everyday life/less natural behaviour
v v v v v v v v v v v v
• effects of demand characteristics are more likely (Hawthorne effect).
v v v v v v v v v
(June 2022) 12. Describe how the observers could use time sampling to record the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vsocial behaviour of each child during the five-minute period. [4 marks] - answer-Possible
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vcontent: v
• record the child's behaviour at set time intervals during the five-minute period, eg every
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
v20 seconds v v
• at the specified time intervals, tick/mark one or more categories from the behavioural
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vchecklist according to the behaviour exhibited by the observed child, eg if the child is
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vsmiling and chatting to another child the observer should tick 'smiling at another child'
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vand 'talking to another child' from the list of behaviours
v v v v v v v v v v
Questions
(June 2022) 1. Describe psychosexual stages as outlined in the psychodynamic
v v v v v v v v v v
vapproach. [6 marks] - answer-Possible content: v v v v v v
• there are 5 developmental stages (oral, anal, phallic, latency and genital)
v v v v v v v v v v v v
• oral (0-1yr) - focus of pleasure is the mouth and the mother's breast is the focus of
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vdesire v
• anal (1-3yrs) - focus of pleasure is the anus and child focuses on withholding and
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vexpelling faeces v v
• phallic (3-5yrs) - focus of pleasure is genitals and children experience the
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vOedipus/Electra complex v v
• latency (6-12yrs) - previous conflicts are resolved/repressed and early years are largely
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vforgotten v
• genital (12yrs/puberty-adulthood) - sexual desires become conscious with the onset of
v v v v v v v v v v v
vpuberty v
Credit other relevant material, eg fixation. Note: not all stages need to be described for
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
full marks to be awarded.
v v v v v
(June 2022) 2.At a local school, teachers took part in Active Lifestyle Week to encourage
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vstudents to become more active. The week involved daily staff netball matches during
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vbreaktimes and a step count challenge. Two of the teachers were talking at the end of
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vthe week. Miss Honey said, "That was such a great week! I felt proud to win the staff
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vstep count challenge and receive the medal in assembly and demonstrate the joy of
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vsport. My students loved watching us compete, I really think it will inspire them to be
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vmore active themselves!" Mrs Wilson replied, "It's alright for you, you're young and the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vstudents like you. My students were so embarrassed to see me tripping over in netball. I
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vthink I may have put them off sport forever!"
v v v v v v v v v
Apart from mediational processes, use your knowledge of social learning theory to
v v v v v v v v v v v
explain Miss Honey's and Mrs Wilson's comments. [6 marks] - answer-Possible content
v v v v v v v v v v v v
(Banded Q):
v v v
• observational learning - both teachers' comments suggest that they believe their
v v v v v v v v v v v
behaviour will influence their students' behaviour, eg, Miss Honey says, "I think it will
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
inspire them to be more active themselves!".
v v v v v v v v
• imitation - Mrs Wilson does not feel students will want to imitate her - "I think I may
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
have put them off sport forever!", whereas Miss Honey feels students will want to imitate
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
her - "I really think it will inspire them to be more active themselves!"
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
,• modelling - the teachers will act as role models for their students as they have higher
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
status in school
v v v v
• identification - students are more likely to identify with Miss Honey (than Mrs Wilson) as
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
Mrs Wilson said to Miss Honey, "you're young and the students like you".
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
• vicarious reinforcement - when students see Miss Honey rewarded for adopting a more
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
active lifestyle, eg, Miss Honey says, "I felt proud to win the staff step count challenge
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
and receive the medal in assembly". When students see Mrs Wilson "tripping over" in
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
netball they will not want to imitate her and so will not adopt a more active lifestyle.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
(June 2022) 3. Whether or not students learn to be more active box could depend on
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vmediational processes. Explain how mediational processes might be involved in the
v v v v v v v v v v
vstudents becoming more active. [4 marks] - answer-Possible content:
v v v v v v v v v
• attention - students will notice their teachers demonstrating a more active lifestyle, eg
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vcompeting in staff netball matches during breaktime/Miss Honey receiving the medal for
v v v v v v v v v v v
vthe step count challenge in assembly/Mrs Wilson falling over, etc
v v v v v v v v v v
• retention - students' memories will be strengthened through seeing repetition of the
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vactivities, eg daily netball matches and/or emotional/funny event, eg Mrs Wilson tripping
v v v v v v v v v v v
vover in netball v v v
• reproduction - the active behaviours being modelled can be reproduced by the
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vstudents, eg step count challenge is a simple activity that does not require inaccessible
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vequipment/fitness to be able to perform v v v v v v
• motivation - students are more likely to adopt the demonstrated active lifestyle if the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vperceived rewards (eg winning the st v v v v v
(June 2022) 7. Describe the divisions of the nervous system box . [6 marks] - answer-
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
Possible content: v v
• the nervous system is divided into the central and peripheral nervous systems
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
• the CNS comprises the brain and spinal cord
v v v v v v v v v
• the peripheral nervous system is further divided into the somatic nervous system and
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vthe autonomic nervous system (ANS)
v v v v v
• the somatic nervous system consists of sensory and motor neurons to carry sensory
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vand motor information to and from the CNS and also enables reflex actions
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
• the ANS acts largely unconsciously/involuntary
v v v v v v
• the ANS is divided into the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vparasympathetic nervous system (PNS) v v v v
• the SNS prepares us for flight or fight
v v v v v v v v v
• the PNS balances the sympathetic nervous system providing 'rest and digest'
v v v v v v v v v v v
vfunctions.
(June 2022) RM STEM: A controlled observation was designed to compare the social
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vbehaviours of pre-school children of working parents and pre-school children of stay-at-
v v v v v v v v v v v
home parents. The sample consisted of 100 children aged three, who were observed
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vseparately. Half of the children had working parents and the other half had stay-at-home
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vparents. The observation took place in a room which looked like a nursery, with a variety
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vof toys available. In the room, there were four children and one supervising adult. Their
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vbehaviour was not recorded. Each child participant was brought into the room and
v v v v v v v v v v v v
, vsettled by their parent. The parent then left to sit outside. Each child participant's
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vbehaviour was observed covertly for five minutes while they played in the room. The
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vobservation was conducted in a controlled environment and a standardised script was
v v v v v v v v v v v
vused when the children and their parents arrived. - answer-Use the stem to answer the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vQuestions!
(June 2022) 9. Explain why the researcher used a controlled observation and a
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vstandardised script in this study. [4 marks] - answer-Possible content: v v v v v v v v v v
• a standardised script would ensure the same greeting was given to the children and
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vtheir parents when they arrived, providing a high level of control
v v v v v v v v v v v
• without using a standardised script, the researcher's welcome may vary causing
v v v v v v v v v v v
vunintentional bias, eg may use more child-friendly vocabulary which may make the child
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vless anxious and thus more sociable, etc
v v v v v v v
• using a controlled observation helps to reduce extraneous variables which may have
v v v v v v v v v v v v
van impact on the social behaviour of the children, affecting the validity of the study.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
(June 2022) 11. The researcher used two trained observers to record the social
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vbehaviours of each child box during the observation. v v v v v v v v
Give TWO behavioural categories that the observers could have used in the observation
v v v v v v v v v v v v
to assess the pre-school children's social behaviour. Explain why your chosen
v v v v v v v v v v v
categories are appropriate. [4 marks] - answer-Possible behavioural categories:
v v v v v v v v v v
• child smiles at another child
v v v v v v
• child shares toys
v v v v
• child talks to another child
v v v v v v
• child snatches a toy from another child.
v v v v v v v
Possible points: v v
• behavioural categories are appropriate because they focus on social behaviours/are
v v v v v v v v v v
objective/visible/mutually exclusive/not ambiguous/not overlapping
v v v v
(June 2022) 10. Identify ONE limitation of controlled observations [1 marks] - answer-
v v v v v v v v v v v v
Possible content: v v
• they lack ecological validity/cannot be applied to everyday life/less natural behaviour
v v v v v v v v v v v v
• effects of demand characteristics are more likely (Hawthorne effect).
v v v v v v v v v
(June 2022) 12. Describe how the observers could use time sampling to record the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vsocial behaviour of each child during the five-minute period. [4 marks] - answer-Possible
v v v v v v v v v v v v
vcontent: v
• record the child's behaviour at set time intervals during the five-minute period, eg every
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
v20 seconds v v
• at the specified time intervals, tick/mark one or more categories from the behavioural
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vchecklist according to the behaviour exhibited by the observed child, eg if the child is
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vsmiling and chatting to another child the observer should tick 'smiling at another child'
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
vand 'talking to another child' from the list of behaviours
v v v v v v v v v v
