CAIE A-Level Psychology A2 4.4 Organisational Work Conditions Questions
Practise analysing work conditions, from office design and shiftwork to accidents, safety interventions and research planning.
- Syllabus
- 2028–2030
- Course
- Psychology 9990
- Level
- A2
Exam points
- describe shiftwork patterns and link them to health or accident evidence
- plan or evaluate safety interventions using accidents, rewards and workplace controls
Covered syllabus points
Question 1
[Maximum number: 6]
Joseph works on a production line in a car factory. He forgot to use eye protection during his shift and damaged his eye.
Question (a)
(a)
Explain the type of human error made by Joseph.
Joseph works on a production line in a car factory. He forgot to use eye protection during his shift and damaged his eye.
Explain the type of human error made by Joseph.
Award 2 marks for an explanation of the type of error made by Joseph.
Award 1 mark for a basic explanation of the type of error made by Joseph.
Example:
Joseph made an error of omission OR an error where a behaviour should have been performed but is not. (1) He should put on his protection goggles when he is working on the production line, but he forgot to do this. (1)
Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
2
1 mark for identifying/outlining error of omission.
1 mark for link to Jospeh as to why it is an omission.
Question (b)
(b)
Suggest one way the management at this car factory could avoid this type of human error.
Suggest one way the management at this car factory could avoid this type of human error.
For the suggested way:
Award 2 marks for a suggestion of a way to avoid this type of human error.
Award 1 mark for a basic outline of a suggestion of a way to avoid this type of human error.
Suggestions may include:
- Token economy
- SMART target to reduce error of omission
- Safety supervisor
- Safety training
Example:
The management of this car factory could introduce a token economy system. (1) When the workers at the factory remember to put on their safety equipment before starting work, they can be given a token that could be exchanged for goods. (1)
Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
2
1 mark - specific idea
1 mark - why it will reduce error of omission/not wearing eye protection/human error
Question (c)
(c)
For the way you suggested in part (a)(ii):
Explain one weakness of this way to avoid this type of human error.
Award 2 marks for an explanation of the weakness. Award 1 mark for a basic explanation of the weakness.
Weaknesses may include:
- Difficulties in monitoring whether the SMART target has been met.
- Cost of implementing a token economy system.
- The workers may not want the goods that they can exchange for their tokens.
Example:
One weakness of introducing a token economy system/SMART target is that it may be difficult for the manager to monitor whether the target has been met. (1) Car factories are very busy places when there is a shift change and it may be difficult for the manager to see each employee to check that they are wearing all their protective gear. (1)
Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
2
Outline of weakness.
Question 2
[Maximum number: 16]
Question (a)
(a)
Describe what psychologists have discovered about:
- token economy used to reduce accidents at work, and
- monitoring accidents and risk events.
Use Table A: AO1 Knowledge and understanding to mark candidate responses to this question.
Candidates must discuss both token economies and monitoring accidents and risk events, but do not need to use the examples of Fox et al. and Swat study from the syllabus.
Reducing accidents at work:
Token economies are used to reduce accidents in the workplace. Tokens are no value stamps/chips that can be collected as a reward whenever an employee or groups of employees do not have any accidents/follow safety procedures. The tokens are a positive reinforcement for the safety behaviour. Workers can save up their tokens to purchase things at a shop/online store. Can be items of low value (snacks) or high value (BBQ).
Fox et al., 1987
Study carried out in two open-pit mines. Token economy introduced where the workers were awarded stamps for working without lost-time injuries (and in a group without lost-time injury), no equipment-damaging accidents and behaviour that prevented an accident/injury. Stamps could be exchanged for 1000s of items at various stores. Found there was a large reduction in the number of days lost because of injuries, the number of lost time injuries and the costs of accidents and injuries. The reduction in costs far outweighed the cost of the token economies. No deaths or permanent injuries were reported at one of the mines (Navajo Mine) used in the study. These reductions lasted for a number of years. Anecdotal evidence suggests the workers and their families really appreciated the rewards obtained from the token economies system (after an early period of scepticism). Therefore, it was felt morale had improved at both mines used in the study.
6
Award up to 4 marks where the response has described only part of the question even if the response otherwise meets the criteria for Level
3.
16(a)
Monitoring accidents and risk events
Important to monitor accidents and classify the type of accident and its cause in order to put into place procedures (or correct procedures that are leading to accidents) that will lead to fewer accidents. Monitoring accidents that lead to minor injuries can help to prevent more serious accidents in the future. Often serious accidents are preceded by a number of more minor accidents. Many accidents are caused by poor housekeeping so recording these types of accidents is very important so that changes to operational procedures can be implemented to reduce these types of accidents in the future. Accidents should be recorded in terms of the circumstances in which they occurred (e.g. what type of accident was it 'slip and fall' and what was the cause/circumstance of this accident e.g. manual accident).
Swat (1997)
3 year study which aimed to create a useful way of recording and reducing accidents at work. 4 industrial plants in Lodz, Poland were used as sample with 2964 employees. All of the plants were old. 83 accidents were analysed in terms of frequency, severity and direct and indirect causes. Data collected via collective accident reports provided by safety supervisors, the researcher's investigation of individual accident protocols, and interviews with the safety supervisors and line managers. 45.8% of accidents were due to violation of housekeeping. Large differences in types of accidents in the 4 plants. For example, fall and slip was low in the furniture plant but high in the meat processing plant. Additional study in 1994 at a meat processing plant found that 95\% of accidents were not reported. Conclusions - accidents should be recorded according to circumstances in which they occur and the type of accident needs to be recorded. Minor injuries, especially those requiring first aid should be recorded. Housekeeping controls should be incorporated into safety monitoring system as these types of accidents are the most common. 4 causes of accidents - insufficient organisation, poor workplace organisation, technical factors and worker inadvertence (individual error of the worker). Accidents due to poor housekeeping are easy to resolve as due to safety management faults which can be fixed. In factories with highest accident rates, poor operating factors were higher. Again, this is something which can be resolved/fixed.
Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
Question (b)
(b)
Evaluate what psychologists have discovered about:
- token economy used to reduce accidents at work, and
- monitoring accidents and risk events, including a discussion about objective and subjective data.
Evaluation in your answer can include strengths, weaknesses and a discussion of issues and debates.
Use Table B: AO3 Analysis and evaluation to mark candidate responses to this question.
Depending on the examples studied by candidates their answers may vary. A range of issues could be used for evaluation.
These include:
- Named issue - objective and subjective data
Data collected in both Fox et al. and Swat studies were somewhat objective as it is the records the plants/mines have on the accidents in the workplace. The organisations will have procedures in place for recording accidents and this will be done in a systematic way. However, the data is also subjective as it requires the employee to record the accident (and it has been noted in Swat study that many accidents are not recorded) as well as record it accurately from the employee's memory of the accident which is open to inaccuracy and social desirability.
10
16(b)
- Individual and situational explanations
These both offer situational explanations as it is the token economy which is reducing the accidents at work. The positive reinforcement in the environment is what is causing the reduction in accidents. There will be an individual element as the type of products that the tokens can be exchanged for will be valued by some employees more than others. Also certain types of jobs may lead to more accidents and some employees are more accident prone than others. Swat identified many situational factors that lead to increased accidents (e.g. poor procedures for housekeeping, not recording minor accidents and correcting what led to these accidents to prevent more serious accidents in the future).
- Idiographic versus nomothetic
Both provide general laws of behaviour (accidents). Token economies lead to reduction in accidents and recording of type and situation that led to accident can lead to changes in procedures in the workplace and therefore prevent accidents in future.
Longitudinal studies
Evaluation of this method used by both Fox et al. and Swat.
- Generalisations from findings
Evaluation of samples used - two open pit mines in Fox et al. and four plants (five including follow up study) in Poland. Large sample sizes but issues with generalising to other types of organisations and other cultures.
Additional issues/debates candidates may include:
- Ethics
- Validity
- Reliability
- Applications to everyday life
- Determinism versus free will
Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
Question 3
[Maximum number: 6]
Joseph works on a production line in a car factory. He forgot to use eye protection during his shift and damaged his eye.
Question (a)
(a)
Explain the type of human error made by Joseph.
Joseph works on a production line in a car factory. He forgot to use eye protection during his shift and damaged his eye.
Explain the type of human error made by Joseph.
Award 2 marks for an explanation of the type of error made by Joseph.
Award 1 mark for a basic explanation of the type of error made by Joseph.
Example:
Joseph made an error of omission OR an error where a behaviour should have been performed but is not. (1) He should put on his protection goggles when he is working on the production line, but he forgot to do this. (1)
Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
2
1 mark for identifying/outlining error of omission.
1 mark for link to Jospeh as to why it is an omission.
Question (b)
(b)
Suggest one way the management at this car factory could avoid this type of human error.
Suggest one way the management at this car factory could avoid this type of human error.
For the suggested way:
Award 2 marks for a suggestion of a way to avoid this type of human error.
Award 1 mark for a basic outline of a suggestion of a way to avoid this type of human error.
Suggestions may include:
- Token economy
- SMART target to reduce error of omission
- Safety supervisor
- Safety training
Example:
The management of this car factory could introduce a token economy system. (1) When the workers at the factory remember to put on their safety equipment before starting work, they can be given a token that could be exchanged for goods. (1)
Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
2
1 mark - specific idea
1 mark - why it will reduce error of omission/not wearing eye protection/human error
Question (c)
(c)
For the way you suggested in part (a)(ii):
Explain one weakness of this way to avoid this type of human error.
Award 2 marks for an explanation of the weakness. Award 1 mark for a basic explanation of the weakness.
Weaknesses may include:
- Difficulties in monitoring whether the SMART target has been met.
- Cost of implementing a token economy system.
- The workers may not want the goods that they can exchange for their tokens.
Example:
One weakness of introducing a token economy system/SMART target is that it may be difficult for the manager to monitor whether the target has been met. (1) Car factories are very busy places when there is a shift change and it may be difficult for the manager to see each employee to check that they are wearing all their protective gear. (1)
Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
2
Outline of weakness.
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