Edexcel Psychology for A Level Yr 2 Revision Guide

Understanding the exam SAQs on AL papers Straight content Describe one symptom of schizophrenia. (2) Explain one weakness of personality as an explanation for crime and anti-social behaviour. (2) Define what is meant by ‘privation’. (2) Compare Compare one biological and one learning explanation for heroin addiction. (4) Application There are examples throughout this guide but note that Paper 3 has some lengthier scenarios where you will be expected to apply everything you have learned to slightly more detailed contexts, for example see the question on page 18. Prompt Rosenhan (1973) questioned the validity of diagnosis. Explain one issue affecting the validity of diagnosis with reference to research evidence. (3) Methods Questions related to research methods may be straight content or comparisons but most often they are application questions. For A level there are one or more methods questions on ‘unseen’ studies (see pages 16 and 17). Individual differences and developmental psychology The specification says ‘Individual differences and developmental psychology must be considered’ when learning about each subtopic. Therefore, there may be questions such as: With reference to Carlsson et al . (2000), explain why there may be individual differences in schizophrenia. (3) Key question You will have learned about a key question from criminological psychology that is relevant to today’s society. Explain this key question using concepts, theories and/or research from criminological psychology. (4) Practical investigation As part of your study of biological psychology, you were required to carry out a practical investigation. (a) State a fully operationalised alternate hypothesis for this practical investigation. (2) (b) Describe how you measured the variables in your investigation. (4) Check it On every spread in this book you will see two SAQ questions for the subtopic covered on the spread – these are provided to give you a feel for the kind of questions you may be asked. There are more examples for each subtopic in our Year 2 Student book. In our Year 1 Revision guide we provide further full-mark answers to both SAQs and ERQs. There are also example SAQ answers on the next spread. On every spread you can see examples of application SAQs related to either concepts or research methods. Apply it Methods Apply it Concepts Illuminate Publishing Illuminate Publishing i ip IP WJEC AS Psychology 55444495blk - matchesLScover jpegblack 554030100blk - deeperblack 372613100blk - matches illuminate logoblack Edexcel Psychology for A Level Year 1 & AS y forALevelYear1&AS -4 y forALevelYear2 0-0 gy forALevelYear1&AS 6-1 gy forALevelYear2 07-8 Edexcel Psychology forA LevelYear 1&AS Flanagan ú Liddle ú Russell ú Wood 55444495blk - matchescover jpegblack 372613100blk - matches illuminate logoblack Revision Guide RevisionGuide CaraFlanagan ú Rob Liddle ú JuliaRussell ú MandyWood e check ys inwhich cts obedience t. (4) im that ffected by eference to ence. (2) say: Evaluate the effect of n obedience. (8) say: Assess the lf-reported data. fer to research affecting n your answer. (8) are as tudies lity and ffect ough tomuddle u could n extended on individual specifically r. llowing tastic’. 33 Revision boosters provide invaluable examhints and tips. Lotsof illustrations and theodd corny joke helpmake thebooks veryuser- friendly! Exam-stylequestions helpyou checkyour knowledgeand understanding. Very predictable description questions with no frills. Make sure you include at least one similarity and one difference. These may look like application questions but are not.The question does not require you to address the context. ‘Describe’ questions require an outline of the relevance of your key question to society, including consideration of pros and cons of exploring/ignoring it. ‘Explain’ questions require you to apply psychological concepts, theories and/or research to your chosen key question. For each study, know the aims, procedure, findings and conclusions plus the evaluation (strengths and weaknesses). 8