Cambridge International AS & A Level
* 3 9 6 8 9 7 4 8 9 8 *
PSYCHOLOGY 9990/23
Paper 2 Research Methods May/June 2023
1 hour 30 minutes
You must answer on the question paper.
No additional materials are needed.
INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 60.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
This document has 12 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.
DC (KN) 318182/3
© UCLES 2023 [Turn over
, 2
Section A
Answer all questions in this section.
1 (a) Describe what is meant by the term ‘random sampling’.
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [2]
(b) Explain one weakness of random sampling.
...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [1]
2 The study by Yamamoto et al. (chimpanzee helping) followed ethical guidelines relating to the use
of animals.
Describe how two ethical guidelines relating to the use of animals in research were followed in
this study.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[4]
© UCLES 2023 9990/23/M/J/23
, 3
3 In the study by Laney et al. (false memory), standard deviations were calculated.
(a) State what is meant by a ‘measure of spread’.
...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [1]
(b) State one advantage of using the standard deviation compared to one other measure of
spread.
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [2]
4 In the study by Pepperberg (parrot learning), Alex the parrot was tested using the categories of:
• shape
• material
• colour.
(a) Suggest why Pepperberg chose to test the parrot using the categories of ‘shape’ and
‘material’.
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [2]
(b) Suggest one other category that Pepperberg could have used to test the parrot’s
understanding of categories.
...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [1]
© UCLES 2023 9990/23/M/J/23 [Turn over
* 3 9 6 8 9 7 4 8 9 8 *
PSYCHOLOGY 9990/23
Paper 2 Research Methods May/June 2023
1 hour 30 minutes
You must answer on the question paper.
No additional materials are needed.
INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 60.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
This document has 12 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.
DC (KN) 318182/3
© UCLES 2023 [Turn over
, 2
Section A
Answer all questions in this section.
1 (a) Describe what is meant by the term ‘random sampling’.
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [2]
(b) Explain one weakness of random sampling.
...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [1]
2 The study by Yamamoto et al. (chimpanzee helping) followed ethical guidelines relating to the use
of animals.
Describe how two ethical guidelines relating to the use of animals in research were followed in
this study.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[4]
© UCLES 2023 9990/23/M/J/23
, 3
3 In the study by Laney et al. (false memory), standard deviations were calculated.
(a) State what is meant by a ‘measure of spread’.
...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [1]
(b) State one advantage of using the standard deviation compared to one other measure of
spread.
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [2]
4 In the study by Pepperberg (parrot learning), Alex the parrot was tested using the categories of:
• shape
• material
• colour.
(a) Suggest why Pepperberg chose to test the parrot using the categories of ‘shape’ and
‘material’.
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [2]
(b) Suggest one other category that Pepperberg could have used to test the parrot’s
understanding of categories.
...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [1]
© UCLES 2023 9990/23/M/J/23 [Turn over
