AQA A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH
METHODS 2024 LATEST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS GRADED A+.
What are reviewers looking for? - ANSWER -- Appropriateness of methodology
e.g the design used, sample, etc.
- Importance of research in a wider context e.g covid
- How original the work is
- Possible improvements to the work
Directional and Non-directional hypothesis - ANSWER -Directional- specific about
whether the change will be an increase or decrease (there's prior research)
Non-directional- certain about difference but no the direction of the difference
between the DV and two conditions (used when there is no prior research)
Examples of directional:
- there will be a significant increase in maths test outcomes when jazz music is
played compared to pop music
Examples of non-directional:
- there will be a significant difference between the test scores when jazz music is
played compared to pop music
What is an experiment? - ANSWER -A research method where the IV is
manipulated in order to measure its effect on the operationalised DV.
Four types:
,1. Lab experiments
2. Natural experiment
3. Field experiment
4. Quasi experiment
Laboratory experiments - ANSWER -- high levels of control
- conducted in an artificial environment
- IV created by the researcher
- IV manipulated to measure its effect on the DV
Strengths of Lab experiments - ANSWER -1. Due to the high levels of control, you
can control extraneous variables which makes it more certain that any changes in
the DV are due to the changes in the IV. We can be certain of the cause and effect
relationship between the IV and DV. Increases validity.
2. The high levels of control also mean that all variables that occurred in the
experiment are controlled and you can make them occur in the exact same way
when repeating the experiment. This means we can establish a standardised
procedure and repeat the experiment to see if findings are consistent. Increases
reliability.
Weaknesses of Lab experiments - ANSWER -1. As the experiment takes place in
an artificial environment, the findings cannot be applied to everyday life. Since
,participants are in an unfamiliar environment, they may display behaviour that is
unnatural and not reflective of everyday life. Decreases ecological validity.
2. Participants are generally aware that their behaviour is being
measured/assessed. As a result, they may show unnatural behaviour due to
demand characteristics. Decreases the validity of findings and conclusions
drawn.
Field experiments - ANSWER -- real life environment
- limited level of control
- IV is still manipulated to observe effects on DV
*Exam tip: must evaluate in comparison to another type of experiment
Strengths of field experiments - ANSWER -1. Behaviour is more natural as
participants are more likely to display natural behaviour than in labs. This means
findings and conclusions can be applied to everyday life. Higher ecological
validity than lab.
Weaknesses of field experiments - ANSWER -1. It has lower levels of control
compared to lab experiments thus we cannot control all variables and make them
occur in the same way when repeating the experiment. This means we can't
establish a standardised procedure and repeat to see if findings are consistent.
Decreases reliability.
, 2. Due to the low levels of control, you cannot control extraneous variables which
means we can't be certain that any changes in the DV are due to the changes in
the IV. We also can't be certain of the cause and effect relationship between the IV
and DV. Decrease validity.
Natural experiments - ANSWER -- IV occurs naturally and is out of control of the
researcher
- limited control
- conducted in a natural environment
Strengths of natural experiments - ANSWER -1. As it takes place in a natural
setting, the findings can be applied to everyday life. Since participants are in
familiar surroundings, they may show behaviour that is natural and reflective of
everyday life. Increases ecological validity.
2. Participants are generally not aware that behaviour is being
measured/assessed. As a result, they may show natural behaviour due to the lack
of demand characteristics. Increases validity.
Weaknesses of natural experiments - ANSWER -1. The lack of control means we
cannot control all variables and make them occur in the same way when
repeating the experiment. This means we can't establish a standardised
procedure and repeat to see if findings are consistent. Decreases reliability.
2. The lack of control also means that extraneous variables may influence the
participants behaviour. Thus, the cause and effect relationship between the IV
and DV is weakened as we cannot be certain that it is only the IV that is affecting
the DV. Furthermore, random allocation cannot take lace as we have no control
METHODS 2024 LATEST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS GRADED A+.
What are reviewers looking for? - ANSWER -- Appropriateness of methodology
e.g the design used, sample, etc.
- Importance of research in a wider context e.g covid
- How original the work is
- Possible improvements to the work
Directional and Non-directional hypothesis - ANSWER -Directional- specific about
whether the change will be an increase or decrease (there's prior research)
Non-directional- certain about difference but no the direction of the difference
between the DV and two conditions (used when there is no prior research)
Examples of directional:
- there will be a significant increase in maths test outcomes when jazz music is
played compared to pop music
Examples of non-directional:
- there will be a significant difference between the test scores when jazz music is
played compared to pop music
What is an experiment? - ANSWER -A research method where the IV is
manipulated in order to measure its effect on the operationalised DV.
Four types:
,1. Lab experiments
2. Natural experiment
3. Field experiment
4. Quasi experiment
Laboratory experiments - ANSWER -- high levels of control
- conducted in an artificial environment
- IV created by the researcher
- IV manipulated to measure its effect on the DV
Strengths of Lab experiments - ANSWER -1. Due to the high levels of control, you
can control extraneous variables which makes it more certain that any changes in
the DV are due to the changes in the IV. We can be certain of the cause and effect
relationship between the IV and DV. Increases validity.
2. The high levels of control also mean that all variables that occurred in the
experiment are controlled and you can make them occur in the exact same way
when repeating the experiment. This means we can establish a standardised
procedure and repeat the experiment to see if findings are consistent. Increases
reliability.
Weaknesses of Lab experiments - ANSWER -1. As the experiment takes place in
an artificial environment, the findings cannot be applied to everyday life. Since
,participants are in an unfamiliar environment, they may display behaviour that is
unnatural and not reflective of everyday life. Decreases ecological validity.
2. Participants are generally aware that their behaviour is being
measured/assessed. As a result, they may show unnatural behaviour due to
demand characteristics. Decreases the validity of findings and conclusions
drawn.
Field experiments - ANSWER -- real life environment
- limited level of control
- IV is still manipulated to observe effects on DV
*Exam tip: must evaluate in comparison to another type of experiment
Strengths of field experiments - ANSWER -1. Behaviour is more natural as
participants are more likely to display natural behaviour than in labs. This means
findings and conclusions can be applied to everyday life. Higher ecological
validity than lab.
Weaknesses of field experiments - ANSWER -1. It has lower levels of control
compared to lab experiments thus we cannot control all variables and make them
occur in the same way when repeating the experiment. This means we can't
establish a standardised procedure and repeat to see if findings are consistent.
Decreases reliability.
, 2. Due to the low levels of control, you cannot control extraneous variables which
means we can't be certain that any changes in the DV are due to the changes in
the IV. We also can't be certain of the cause and effect relationship between the IV
and DV. Decrease validity.
Natural experiments - ANSWER -- IV occurs naturally and is out of control of the
researcher
- limited control
- conducted in a natural environment
Strengths of natural experiments - ANSWER -1. As it takes place in a natural
setting, the findings can be applied to everyday life. Since participants are in
familiar surroundings, they may show behaviour that is natural and reflective of
everyday life. Increases ecological validity.
2. Participants are generally not aware that behaviour is being
measured/assessed. As a result, they may show natural behaviour due to the lack
of demand characteristics. Increases validity.
Weaknesses of natural experiments - ANSWER -1. The lack of control means we
cannot control all variables and make them occur in the same way when
repeating the experiment. This means we can't establish a standardised
procedure and repeat to see if findings are consistent. Decreases reliability.
2. The lack of control also means that extraneous variables may influence the
participants behaviour. Thus, the cause and effect relationship between the IV
and DV is weakened as we cannot be certain that it is only the IV that is affecting
the DV. Furthermore, random allocation cannot take lace as we have no control
