IB Psychology HL Paper 2 – Complete Thematic and Theoretical Review with Study Enhancements ()

IB Psych HL Paper 2
1. DEVELOPMENTAL

2. TO WHAT EXTENT DO BIOLOGICAL, COGNITIVE, AND
SOCIOCULTURAL FACTORS INFLUENCE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT?

 Enhancement: Instead of just stating the question, consider briefly outlining
the interaction of these factors as a central theme in developmental
psychology. You could start with a sentence like: "Human development is a
complex interplay of biological predispositions, cognitive processes, and
sociocultural contexts..."

3. EVALUATE PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH RELEVANT TO
DEVELOPMENTAL THEORIES

 Enhancement: This is a broad statement. When you discuss specific
theories, ensure your evaluation of the research is integrated directly with
the theory it supports or refutes.

4. EVALUATE THEORIES OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT: Piaget
Vygotsky

 Enhancement: Frame this as a comparison. Briefly introduce Piaget's and
Vygotsky's contrasting perspectives before diving into the specifics.

5. Piaget:

 Enhancement:
o Instead of "-child = little scientist, schemas important," phrase it more
formally: "Piaget viewed the child as an active agent in their own
cognitive development, constructing understanding through the
formation of schemas (mental frameworks)."
o For the stages, use a clear table or bulleted list with the age range and
a concise description of the key characteristics. For example:
 Sensorimotor (0-2 years): Infants learn through sensory
experiences and motor actions, developing object permanence.
 Preoperational (2-7 years): Characterized by egocentrism, a
lack of conservation, and prelogical thinking.

,  Concrete Operational (7-11 years): Children develop the
ability to perform mental operations on concrete objects and
understand conservation.
 Formal Operational (11-adolescence): Adolescents can
engage in abstract reasoning, logical thought, and hypothetical
thinking.
o For the tasks, briefly explain why each task is relevant to the stage it's
associated with. For example, "The hiding object task demonstrates
the development of object permanence, a key achievement of the
sensorimotor stage."

6. Anti Piaget Studies:

 Enhancement:
o Introduce this section by stating that while Piaget's theory was
influential, later research has challenged some of its claims,
particularly regarding the timing of certain cognitive abilities.
o For each study (McCarrigle & Donaldson, Baillargeon & Devos),
provide:
 A clear statement of the study's aim.
 A concise description of the methodology (N, age of
participants, key procedures).
 A clear summary of the findings with the key percentages or
conclusions.
 Crucially, explicitly state how these findings challenge
Piaget's original claims. For example, "McCarrigle &
Donaldson's 'Naughty Teddy' study suggests that children may
understand conservation earlier than Piaget proposed,
particularly when the task is framed in a more engaging and
less abstract way."
 Briefly discuss potential limitations of these studies.


7. DISCUSS HOW SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES MAY
AFFECT COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT: Environmental -Bhoomika et al.
social -Farah et al.

 Enhancement: Start with a sentence highlighting the importance of
contextual factors in shaping cognitive development, contrasting with
Piaget's more stage-based approach.