Q1.
Describe and evaluate two studies of social influence.
(Total 12 marks)
Q2.
Which of the following statements is TRUE? Shade one box only.
According to the Authoritarian Personality explanation for obedience, people who show
unquestioning obedience…
A have little respect for those in power.
B are kind to those they think are less important.
C are very aware of social status.
D are accepting of people from different
backgrounds.
(Total 1 mark)
Q3.
Read the item and then answer the question that follows.
Polly always checks what her friends are going to wear before she gets ready
to go out because she does not like to be the odd one out.
Jed watches his colleagues carefully when he starts a new job so that he can
work out where to put his things and how long to take for lunch.
Discuss two explanations for conformity. Refer to Polly and Jed in your discussion.
(Total 12 marks)
Q4.
Which two of the following statements about Zimbardo's prison study are correct?
The study showed how…
A roles affect behaviour.
B people obey authority.
C unanimity affects behaviour.
D people conform to the majority.
E behaviour is influenced by loss of identity.
(Total 2 marks)
Page 1 of 36
,Q5.
Read the item and then answer the question that follows.
The following article appeared in a newspaper:
Britain’s views on homosexuality – the biggest social change of
the last 30 years?
In the UK, views on homosexuality have changed significantly in recent times.
Thirty years ago, almost two-thirds of the British public opposed same-sex
relationships because they were ‘morally wrong’. These days, homosexuality
is accepted and the majority of British people support recent changes to the
laws on gay marriage and adoption.
With reference to the article above, explain how social influence leads to social change.
(Total 6 marks)
Q6.
(a) Name three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority.
(3)
(b) Marcus wants to persuade his group of friends to go travelling in the summer but the
rest of the group would like to go on a beach holiday.
Briefly suggest how Marcus might use the three behaviours that you have identified
in your answer to part (a) to persuade his friends to go travelling.
(3)
(Total 6 marks)
Q7.
Briefly outline and evaluate the authoritarian personality as an explanation of obedience
to authority.
(Total 4 marks)
Q8.
Outline one alternative explanation for obedience.
(Total 3 marks)
Q9.
Which two of the following are types of conformity?
A Agentic state
B Compliance
C Group size
D Identification
Page 2 of 36
, E Unanimity
(Total 2 marks)
Q10.
Outline Asch’s findings in relation to two variables affecting conformity.
Briefly explain two limitations of Asch’s conformity research.
(Total 8 marks)
Q11.
In an experiment, researchers arranged for participants to complete a very personal and
embarrassing questionnaire in a room with other people. Each participant was tested
individually. The other people were confederates of the experimenter.
In condition 1: the confederates completed the questionnaire.
In condition 2: the confederates refused to complete the questionnaire and asked to leave
the experiment.
The researchers tested 15 participants in condition 1, and 15 different participants in
condition 2.
The researchers recorded the number of participants who completed the questionnaire in
each condition.
(a) Identify the type of data in this experiment. Explain your answer.
(2)
(b) Using your knowledge of social influence, explain the likely outcome of this
experiment.
(3)
(c) For this study, the researchers had to use different participants in each condition and
this could have affected the results.
Outline one way in which the researchers could have addressed this issue.
(4)
(d) In order to analyse the difference in the number of participants who completed the
questionnaire in each condition, the researchers used a chi-squared test.
Apart from reference to the level of measurement, give two reasons why the
researchers used the chi-squared test.
(2)
(e) The calculated value of chi-squared in the experiment described above is 3.97
Critical values for the chi-squared test
Level of significance
df 0.1 0.05 0.02 0.01
Page 3 of 36
, 1 2.71 3.84 5.41 6.64
The calculated value of chi-squared should be equal to or greater than the critical
value to be statistically significant.
With reference to the critical values in the table above, explain whether or not the
calculated value of chi-squared is significant at the 5% level.
(2)
(Total 13 marks)
Q12.
Discuss the authoritarian personality as an explanation for obedience.
(Total 8 marks)
Q13.
Briefly outline and evaluate normative social influence as an explanation for conformity.
(Total 4 marks)
Q14.
Outline research into the effect of situational variables on obedience and discuss what this
tells us about why people obey.
(Total 12 marks)
Q15.
Daniel and Matthew are in the same class at school but have very different views on
success. Daniel is convinced that success is due to hard work and determination, whilst
Matthew believes that luck and fate determine success.
The class is putting on a play and neither Daniel nor Matthew wants to participate. Their
friends are trying to persuade them to take part.
(a) Using your knowledge of locus of control, identify which boy is most likely to resist
the social influence of his friends. Explain why.
(4)
(b) Another boy in the class, Tom, refuses to take part in the play.
Explain how Tom’s refusal to take part might affect Daniel’s and Matthew’s ability to
resist social influence.
(2)
(Total 6 marks)
Q16.
Outline what is meant by ‘agentic state’ as an explanation for obedience.
(Total 2 marks)
Q17.
Select the phrase that best describes internalisation.
Page 4 of 36
Describe and evaluate two studies of social influence.
(Total 12 marks)
Q2.
Which of the following statements is TRUE? Shade one box only.
According to the Authoritarian Personality explanation for obedience, people who show
unquestioning obedience…
A have little respect for those in power.
B are kind to those they think are less important.
C are very aware of social status.
D are accepting of people from different
backgrounds.
(Total 1 mark)
Q3.
Read the item and then answer the question that follows.
Polly always checks what her friends are going to wear before she gets ready
to go out because she does not like to be the odd one out.
Jed watches his colleagues carefully when he starts a new job so that he can
work out where to put his things and how long to take for lunch.
Discuss two explanations for conformity. Refer to Polly and Jed in your discussion.
(Total 12 marks)
Q4.
Which two of the following statements about Zimbardo's prison study are correct?
The study showed how…
A roles affect behaviour.
B people obey authority.
C unanimity affects behaviour.
D people conform to the majority.
E behaviour is influenced by loss of identity.
(Total 2 marks)
Page 1 of 36
,Q5.
Read the item and then answer the question that follows.
The following article appeared in a newspaper:
Britain’s views on homosexuality – the biggest social change of
the last 30 years?
In the UK, views on homosexuality have changed significantly in recent times.
Thirty years ago, almost two-thirds of the British public opposed same-sex
relationships because they were ‘morally wrong’. These days, homosexuality
is accepted and the majority of British people support recent changes to the
laws on gay marriage and adoption.
With reference to the article above, explain how social influence leads to social change.
(Total 6 marks)
Q6.
(a) Name three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority.
(3)
(b) Marcus wants to persuade his group of friends to go travelling in the summer but the
rest of the group would like to go on a beach holiday.
Briefly suggest how Marcus might use the three behaviours that you have identified
in your answer to part (a) to persuade his friends to go travelling.
(3)
(Total 6 marks)
Q7.
Briefly outline and evaluate the authoritarian personality as an explanation of obedience
to authority.
(Total 4 marks)
Q8.
Outline one alternative explanation for obedience.
(Total 3 marks)
Q9.
Which two of the following are types of conformity?
A Agentic state
B Compliance
C Group size
D Identification
Page 2 of 36
, E Unanimity
(Total 2 marks)
Q10.
Outline Asch’s findings in relation to two variables affecting conformity.
Briefly explain two limitations of Asch’s conformity research.
(Total 8 marks)
Q11.
In an experiment, researchers arranged for participants to complete a very personal and
embarrassing questionnaire in a room with other people. Each participant was tested
individually. The other people were confederates of the experimenter.
In condition 1: the confederates completed the questionnaire.
In condition 2: the confederates refused to complete the questionnaire and asked to leave
the experiment.
The researchers tested 15 participants in condition 1, and 15 different participants in
condition 2.
The researchers recorded the number of participants who completed the questionnaire in
each condition.
(a) Identify the type of data in this experiment. Explain your answer.
(2)
(b) Using your knowledge of social influence, explain the likely outcome of this
experiment.
(3)
(c) For this study, the researchers had to use different participants in each condition and
this could have affected the results.
Outline one way in which the researchers could have addressed this issue.
(4)
(d) In order to analyse the difference in the number of participants who completed the
questionnaire in each condition, the researchers used a chi-squared test.
Apart from reference to the level of measurement, give two reasons why the
researchers used the chi-squared test.
(2)
(e) The calculated value of chi-squared in the experiment described above is 3.97
Critical values for the chi-squared test
Level of significance
df 0.1 0.05 0.02 0.01
Page 3 of 36
, 1 2.71 3.84 5.41 6.64
The calculated value of chi-squared should be equal to or greater than the critical
value to be statistically significant.
With reference to the critical values in the table above, explain whether or not the
calculated value of chi-squared is significant at the 5% level.
(2)
(Total 13 marks)
Q12.
Discuss the authoritarian personality as an explanation for obedience.
(Total 8 marks)
Q13.
Briefly outline and evaluate normative social influence as an explanation for conformity.
(Total 4 marks)
Q14.
Outline research into the effect of situational variables on obedience and discuss what this
tells us about why people obey.
(Total 12 marks)
Q15.
Daniel and Matthew are in the same class at school but have very different views on
success. Daniel is convinced that success is due to hard work and determination, whilst
Matthew believes that luck and fate determine success.
The class is putting on a play and neither Daniel nor Matthew wants to participate. Their
friends are trying to persuade them to take part.
(a) Using your knowledge of locus of control, identify which boy is most likely to resist
the social influence of his friends. Explain why.
(4)
(b) Another boy in the class, Tom, refuses to take part in the play.
Explain how Tom’s refusal to take part might affect Daniel’s and Matthew’s ability to
resist social influence.
(2)
(Total 6 marks)
Q16.
Outline what is meant by ‘agentic state’ as an explanation for obedience.
(Total 2 marks)
Q17.
Select the phrase that best describes internalisation.
Page 4 of 36
