2026 AQA A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY UPDATED
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS FULL SOLUTION GRADED A+
◉ Origins of Psychology. Answer: Wundt founded first ever
psychological lab in Germany in 1879.
Aimed to document and describe the nature of human consciousness.
Developed *introspection*
◉ Introspection. Answer: Involved recording own conscious thoughts.
Aim was to break these thoughts down into their constituent parts.
Isolating the structure of consciousness in this way is known as
*Structuralism*
◉ Origins of psychology - Evaluation. Answer: -Wundt's methods
were unreliable:
- non observable responses
- hard to reproduce
,-Introspection is inaccurate
+Scientific approach
- Brought objective systematic methods
-Lab studies produce low ecological results
◉ Assumption of the behaviourist approach. Answer: Blank slate
All behavior is learnt other than survival instincts
Animals can be used in research
No difference between man and brute
Rejection of introspection
Reliant upon lab experiments to maintain control and objectivity
2 forms of learning: classical and operant conditioning.
◉ Classical conditioning. Answer: Learning through association
, Pavlov research - dogs associate sound of bell with food if bell is rung
consistently before feeding.
◉ Classical conditioning procedure. Answer: Before conditioning:
Unconditioned stimulus (Food) = unconditioned response
(Salivation).
Neutral stimulus (Bell) = no conditioned response (No salivation).
During conditioning:
Neutral stimulus (Bell) + Unconditioned stimulus (Food) =
Unconditioned response (Salivation).
After Conditioning:
Conditioned stimulus (Bell) = Conditioned Response (Salivation)
◉ Operant conditioning. Answer: Learning through consequences
Skinner (1953) suggested that learning is an active process where
humans and animals operate in their environment.
There are 3 types of consequences of behaviour: Positive
reinforcement, Negative reinforcement, punishment.
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS FULL SOLUTION GRADED A+
◉ Origins of Psychology. Answer: Wundt founded first ever
psychological lab in Germany in 1879.
Aimed to document and describe the nature of human consciousness.
Developed *introspection*
◉ Introspection. Answer: Involved recording own conscious thoughts.
Aim was to break these thoughts down into their constituent parts.
Isolating the structure of consciousness in this way is known as
*Structuralism*
◉ Origins of psychology - Evaluation. Answer: -Wundt's methods
were unreliable:
- non observable responses
- hard to reproduce
,-Introspection is inaccurate
+Scientific approach
- Brought objective systematic methods
-Lab studies produce low ecological results
◉ Assumption of the behaviourist approach. Answer: Blank slate
All behavior is learnt other than survival instincts
Animals can be used in research
No difference between man and brute
Rejection of introspection
Reliant upon lab experiments to maintain control and objectivity
2 forms of learning: classical and operant conditioning.
◉ Classical conditioning. Answer: Learning through association
, Pavlov research - dogs associate sound of bell with food if bell is rung
consistently before feeding.
◉ Classical conditioning procedure. Answer: Before conditioning:
Unconditioned stimulus (Food) = unconditioned response
(Salivation).
Neutral stimulus (Bell) = no conditioned response (No salivation).
During conditioning:
Neutral stimulus (Bell) + Unconditioned stimulus (Food) =
Unconditioned response (Salivation).
After Conditioning:
Conditioned stimulus (Bell) = Conditioned Response (Salivation)
◉ Operant conditioning. Answer: Learning through consequences
Skinner (1953) suggested that learning is an active process where
humans and animals operate in their environment.
There are 3 types of consequences of behaviour: Positive
reinforcement, Negative reinforcement, punishment.
