1. Issues and debates
Paper 3: SPECIMEN 2 & 3

2. STRUCTURE OF PAPER PAPER 3: 14th June (2 hours) Issues/Debates
Cognition and Development
Schizophrenia
Aggression
24 marks for each section
Mix of multiple choice, short and long answer questions
STRUCTURE OF PAPER

3. Issues and debates
SPECIMEN 2

4. C and E
QUESTION 1.1

5. Psychic
Biological
Environmental
Question 1.2

6. Question 2 1 mark for problem 1 mark for elaboration
Need to show you understand meaning of both key terms
Give an example from a topic to show your understanding
Question 2

7. Question 3 Exemplar answer: how many marks?
The problem with alpha biased research is that gender differences are exaggerated and this leads to stereotypes which can be seen in the diagnosis of mental illness.
Beta bias is when gender differences are underplayed but in fact do exist.
Question 3

8. Alpha bias: when differences between males and females are exaggerated, therefore researchers state men and women are more different then they may actually be. For example, Freud argued that because girls do not suffer the same oedipal conflict as boys, they do not identify with their mothers as strongly as boys identify with their fathers, so develop weaker superegos
Beta bias: when differences between male and female behaviour are minimised in research which means that differences may be underestimated - for example Milgram only studied men in his study of obedience but it was assumed that both genders may behave in the same way in terms of following orders from authority figures.
Question 2

9. Question 3 2 marks State and elaborate
Refer to both holism and reductionism in your answer to compare and contrast
An explanation at a low level would be reductionist – focusing on explaining behaviour in its simple, constituent component parts (e.g. a single gene or hormone) whereas explanations at a higher level would focus on holism and look at the whole person and multivariable causes for behaviour (e.g. the humanist approach).
Question 3

10. Question 4 Need to engage with scenario – e.g. offenders
Use specialist terminology
Focus on the question
Show understanding of nomothetic approach
Question 4

11. Question 4 Possible points
taking a nomothetic approach would involve the researcher testing a larger sample of offenders
sampling should involve a method of sample selection to give representativeness of a larger population, e.g. random sample of prison population
the researcher would probably use a testable hypothesis, e.g. violent offenders have more negative thoughts about childhood than non-violent offenders
taking a nomothetic approach would involve collection of a large amount of data
analysis would probably involve quantitative methods, e.g. statistical testing and the drawing of conclusions in relation to a wider population
Idiographic investigations gather information that is rich, in-depth (journals inform about the precise nature of the negative thoughts enabling greater insight) whereas nomothetic investigations enable the formulation of general laws, e.g. offenders have a more negative view of their childhood.
Question 4

12. Question 4 Exemplar answer
A nomothetic approach requires the study of a reasonably large representative sample of the target population in order to be able to find out general ‘laws of behaviour’. The researcher could approach the authorities in a range of male and female prisons involving different levels of offence to gain approval to use offenders in an investigation. The researcher could then select a random sample of offenders, willing to assist in the study, from each institution to give a sample of, for example, 100 offenders reflecting the relative numbers of male and female offenders in prison. A standardised set of instructions would be devised and a questionnaire created, with closed and open questions, concerning the two issues under research, namely, ‘childhood time spent with families’ and ‘offending behaviour’. When the completed questionnaires are received, the answers would be analysed. Closed questions would produce quantitative data. The open questions could undergo content analysis to produce useful data about key recurrent features. For this analysis it should be possible to develop generalisations about the two aspects of the study.
Question 4

13. Question 5 How many marks?
The nature nurture debate attempts an explanation in terms of whether something is inherited/ genetic (nature) or due to environmental factors such as learning.
No reference to how each may contribute
Question 5

14. The nature-nurture debate refers to the fact that either our genetic inheritance/innate factors may influence our behaviour OR that behaviour may be caused by our experience/the environment such as our parents. The debate states that either or both of these factors may contribute to our behaviour.
Question 5

15. Question 6.1 Exemplar answer
Results supportive of the impact of nature on mathematical reasoning, since concordance for identical twins (shared genes) is higher than for non identical twins (50% shared genes) – 58% v 14%.
Also offers some support for nurture since identical twins concordance is not 100%. Therefore nurture may account for remaining 42%. If only nature responsible concordance for identical twins should be 100%.
Question 6.1

16. Question 6.2 4 marks: make 4 points Define concurrent validity
State a specific test
Question 6.2

17. Concurrent validity refers to whether the results of the Maths test correlates with a standardised/pre-existing measure
This would involve correlating the results on the maths test with results for the same group of people on an established maths reasoning test
The results would be plotted on a scatter graph and the correlation co-efficient calculated
A Spearman’s Rho test should be used for the two sets of test results
If the mathematical ability test is valid then there should be a significant positive correlation between the two sets of test scores at the 5% level.
Question 6.2

18. ISSUES AND DEBATES
SPECIMEN 3

19. Question 1 1 mark for each of the following:
All variables are controlled except for light conditions (the IV)
A change in the no of details correctly recalled must be due to manipulation of the IV (Light intensity)
Controlling extraneous variables means researcher can be certain that manipulation of IV caused change in DV
Question 1

20. Question 2 4 marks: explain terminology AND refer to the scenario
Holism: focus on the whole person/system
Reductionsism: focus on a single, simple constituent component (i.e. a specific chemical or gene)
Dr Grant: reductionist approach as focuses on biological mechanism of neurochemistry
Dr Austin: more holistic approach, focussing on broader experiences and circumstances
Question 2

21. Question 3 ONE suggestion only Keep it very brief; 1 mark
Possible answers
Confidentiality
Respect for patients
Protection from harm
Question 3

22. Question 4 A01: 6, A03: 10 Description: nature and nurture
Nature: what we think of as pre-wiring and is influenced by genetic inheritance and other biological factors. Those who adopt an extreme hereditary position are known as nativists, believing that human characteristics are innate
Basic assumption is characteristics of human species as a whole are a product of evolution and that individual differences are due to each person’s unique genetic code.
Nurture: generally taken as the influence of external factors after conception e.g. the product of exposure, experience and learning on an individual. Basic assumption: at birth human mind is a tabula rasa (a blank slate) and that this is gradually “filled” as a result of experience (e.g. behaviourism)
Psychological characteristics and behavioural differences emerge through infancy and childhood as a result of learning. How you are brought up (nurture) governs the psychologically significant aspects of child development 
Question 4

23. Mark scheme: ‘discussion is thorough with effective use of topics’
Examples from topics:
Attachment: Bowlby’s evolutionary theory vs. learning theory
Aggression: biological explanations (testosterone) vs. SLT
Schizophrenia: dopamine hypothesis vs. double bind (diathesis stress model)
QUESTION 4

24. Question 4 A03: how many evaluation points? 3/4 well evidenced
Possible A03 points
Twin study concordance rates
Evidence for influence of nurture (e.g. SLT)
Links with approaches
Use of examples from topics
Dichotomous view vs. interactionist approach
Question 4

25. Question 4 Example A03 paragraph
It could be stated that trying to explain human behaviour as being caused by either nature or nurture is overly simplistic. For example, stating that SZ is caused by the inheritance of a specific gene/brain chemistry such as enlarged ventricles would not account for the fact that upbringing and family experience may play a part in developing SZ (double bind theory). It may therefore be more appropriate to look at the interaction of nature and nurture in terms of the diathesis stress model; a diathesis is a biological vulnerability (e.g. being born with a certain gene/biological factors that predispose a person to developing SZ). Research shows that not everyone with enlarged ventricles would develop SZ; expression of the predisposition depends on experience in the form of a ‘stressor’ which would trigger SZ. Therefore, simply looking at only one end of each spectrum (nature or nurture) is overly simplistic and instead we need to investigate whether a person’s nature is expressed only under certain conditions.
Question 4

26. A further problem with emphasising the ‘nature’ side of the debate is that the methodology of the research into twin studies that supports the genetic (nativist) explanation of aggression is limited. This is because it is assumed that all twins share a similar environment and that the only difference between MZ and DZ twins is that MZ twins share the same genetic inheritance. However, it could be argued that MZ twins may form closer relationships than DZ twins and so are more likely to influence each other and copy each other than DZ twins. Furthermore, MZ twins may be treated more similarly than DZ twins. This suggests that there may be stronger environmental influences on the similarities between MZ twins and that their higher concordance rates for aggression are not solely due to their genetic inheritance.
Question 4

27. Another problem with explanations that focus solely on nature is that looking only at biological/innate mechanisms is highly reductionist. Research into aggression shows that not only may other biological mechanisms be involved (e.g. the Y chromosome or MAOA gene) in addition to brain chemistry imbalances such as testosterone, but reducing aggressive behaviour down to one, single component such as a hormone ignores the role of environmental circumstances which have been found to affect the expression of aggression. For example, research has found that children may learn aggression vicariously through observing role models (Social learning Theory). This suggests that nurture may play a significant role in aggression. Ultimately, aggression is more complex than a single gene that is inherited and it is highly unlikely that aggressive behaviour can be reduced to a genetic destiny; aggressive behaviour must be viewed within the context of the social and environmental factors within which it occurs.
Question 4

28. 1. Read and re-read the question CAREFULLY and highlight key words
2. Allocate timing appropriately: 30 minutes per section
3. Write appropriate amounts for each question: 16 marks= 20mins, 12 marks = 15 mins, 8 marks = 10 mins
4. Stay calm if you don’t understand a question; re-read, move on and come back
5. Scenarios: highlight carefully and quote directly if the Q asks
6. Review key words: outline, describe, evaluate, discuss
advice

29. Be prepared Eat well beforehand and sleep Arrive in plenty of time
Remember your seat number and lanyard
Bring water
Appropriate materials: pencil, calculator, ruler, black pen
Avoid people being negative
Remind yourself of all your hard work and preparation
Focus less on your grade, more on your exam strategy
Take deep breaths and be calm before you write anything
Be prepared

30. advice GOOD LUCK! Do your best Do NOT leave any time unused
You have worked hard so will succeed!
advice