AQA PSYCHOLOGY PAPER 2
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 FULL QUESTIONS
AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
⩥ Questionnaire. Answer: Questionnaires are a written self-report
technique where participants are given a pre-set number of questions to
respond to. Can consist of either:
• Closed questions - a pre-determined set of answers to choose from
• Open questions - where there is no restriction on how participants
make their response
⩥ Strengths of questionnaires. Answer: + Cost effective
+ Can gather large amounts of data quickly
+ Easy to analyse and generalise
⩥ Weaknesses of questionnaires. Answer: - Can produce response bias
- PPs may misunderstand the question or read it incorrectly
- Demand Characteristics / Social Desirability may occur
⩥ Advantages & Disadvantages of an Open Question. Answer: + Allows
PPs to elaborate, greater insight
+ Produces qualitative data - depth and detail
,- People can miss them out as they can't be bothered to answer them
- Harder to analyse
⩥ Advantages & Disadvantages of a Closed Question. Answer: + Quick
and easy to answer
+ Quantitative data is easier to analyse
- Not detailed or in depth answers
- Don't find out the meaning behind the answer
⩥ Interview. Answer: A live encounter (face to face or on the phone)
where one person asks a set of questions to assess an interviewees
thoughts/experiences. They can be structured, semi structured or
unstructured.
⩥ Structured Interview. Answer: Made up of pre-determined questions
and are asked in a fixed order.
⩥ Unstructured Interview. Answer: Works like a conversation. There are
no set questions. There is a general aim that a certain topic will be
discussed and interaction tends to be free flowing.
⩥ Semi-structured Interview. Answer: There is a list of questions that
have been worked out in advance but interviewers are also free to ask
follow up questions or deviate when they feel it is appropriate.
, ⩥ Double-barreled Questions. Answer: They contain two options within
a single question.
⩥ Aim. Answer: Identifies the purpose of the investigation
⩥ Hypothesis. Answer: A precise, testable statement of what the
researcher predicts will be the the outcome of the study
⩥ Directional Hypothesis. Answer: The researcher makes it clear what
difference is anticipated between the 2 conditions or groups.
(One tailed).
⩥ Non-directional Hypothesis. Answer: Simply states that there is a
difference but not what the difference will be.
⩥ Null Hypothesis. Answer: There will be no relationship between the 2
variables. 'There will be no significant difference'
⩥ Alternative/Experimental Hypothesis. Answer: States that there is a
relationship between the 2 variables. 'There will be a significant
difference'
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 FULL QUESTIONS
AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
⩥ Questionnaire. Answer: Questionnaires are a written self-report
technique where participants are given a pre-set number of questions to
respond to. Can consist of either:
• Closed questions - a pre-determined set of answers to choose from
• Open questions - where there is no restriction on how participants
make their response
⩥ Strengths of questionnaires. Answer: + Cost effective
+ Can gather large amounts of data quickly
+ Easy to analyse and generalise
⩥ Weaknesses of questionnaires. Answer: - Can produce response bias
- PPs may misunderstand the question or read it incorrectly
- Demand Characteristics / Social Desirability may occur
⩥ Advantages & Disadvantages of an Open Question. Answer: + Allows
PPs to elaborate, greater insight
+ Produces qualitative data - depth and detail
,- People can miss them out as they can't be bothered to answer them
- Harder to analyse
⩥ Advantages & Disadvantages of a Closed Question. Answer: + Quick
and easy to answer
+ Quantitative data is easier to analyse
- Not detailed or in depth answers
- Don't find out the meaning behind the answer
⩥ Interview. Answer: A live encounter (face to face or on the phone)
where one person asks a set of questions to assess an interviewees
thoughts/experiences. They can be structured, semi structured or
unstructured.
⩥ Structured Interview. Answer: Made up of pre-determined questions
and are asked in a fixed order.
⩥ Unstructured Interview. Answer: Works like a conversation. There are
no set questions. There is a general aim that a certain topic will be
discussed and interaction tends to be free flowing.
⩥ Semi-structured Interview. Answer: There is a list of questions that
have been worked out in advance but interviewers are also free to ask
follow up questions or deviate when they feel it is appropriate.
, ⩥ Double-barreled Questions. Answer: They contain two options within
a single question.
⩥ Aim. Answer: Identifies the purpose of the investigation
⩥ Hypothesis. Answer: A precise, testable statement of what the
researcher predicts will be the the outcome of the study
⩥ Directional Hypothesis. Answer: The researcher makes it clear what
difference is anticipated between the 2 conditions or groups.
(One tailed).
⩥ Non-directional Hypothesis. Answer: Simply states that there is a
difference but not what the difference will be.
⩥ Null Hypothesis. Answer: There will be no relationship between the 2
variables. 'There will be no significant difference'
⩥ Alternative/Experimental Hypothesis. Answer: States that there is a
relationship between the 2 variables. 'There will be a significant
difference'
