Edexcel IAL Psychology Topic E Developmental Psychology

Practise Edexcel IAL Psychology questions on development, attachment and early relationships, applying theories and evidence to developmental scenarios.

Exam points

apply attachment and developmental theories to explain behaviour in context
evaluate developmental evidence by comparing studies, methods and explanations

Covered syllabus points

5.1.1 - Attachment theories 5.1.2 - Ainsworth’s attachment research 5.1.3 - Cognitive and language development theories 5.1.4 - Social and emotional development theories 5.2.1 - Van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) attachment meta-analysis 5.2.2 - Cassibba et al. (2013) attachment in Italy 5.2.3 - Ashdown and Bernard (2012) social and emotional learning 5.2.4 - Ding et al. (2014) early infant attachment 5.3.1 - Research methods in developmental psychology 5.3.2 - Cross-cultural research 5.3.3 - Ethics and UNCRC 5.3.4 - Decision making and data interpretation 5.3.5 - Developmental research evaluation 5.4.1 - Ethical issues in research (animal and human)5.4.2 - Practical issues in the design and implementation of research 5.4.3 - Reductionism versus holism when researching human behaviour 5.4.4 - Ways of explaining behaviour using different approaches, models 5.4.5 - The issue of psychology as a science 5.4.6 - Cultural and gender issues in psychological research 5.4.7 - Role of both nature and nurture in psychology 5.4.8 - An understanding of how psychology has developed over time 5.4.9 - Use of psychology in social control 5.4.10 - Use of psychological knowledge in society 5.4.11 - Socially sensitive research

[Maximum number: 8]

Evaluate the 44 Juvenile Thieves study carried out by Bowlby (1944).

AO1 (4 marks), AO3 (4 marks)
AO1
- 88 children were interviewed and a case history was built up for each of
them.
- An independent social worker also conducted interviews and assessments of
the children.
- 14 thieves were identified as having affectionless psychopathy, with 12 of
those having experienced maternal deprivation.
- It was concluded that maternal deprivation affected emotional adjustment as
only 2 of the non-affectionless psychopaths had not suffered maternal
deprivation.
AO3
- Bowlby conducted the interviews himself so there may be researcher bias in
the analysis.
- The use of an independent social worker increases the validity of the data as
it is more likely to be accurate due to the impartial nature of the social
worker.
- The reason for the maternal deprivation could have been the cause of
emotional problems, rather than the separation itself so the study lacks
cause and effect.
- Bowlby's findings led to better hospital policies with regard to parental
visiting of their children, with parents being able to more frequently visit.
Look for other reasonable marking points.

(8)

\begin{tabular}[t]{|l|l|l|}
\hline Level

Mark

Descriptor

AO1 (4 marks), AO3 (4 marks)
Candidates must demonstrate an equal emphasis between knowledge and understanding vs
evaluation/conclusion in their answer.

0

No rewardable material.

Level 1

1-2
Marks

Demonstrates isolated elements of knowledge and understanding. (AO1)
A conclusion may be presented, but will be generic and the supporting
evidence will be limited. Limited attempt to address the question. (AO3)

Level 2

3-4
Marks

Demonstrates mostly accurate knowledge and understanding. (AO1)
Candidates will produce statements with some development in the form of
mostly accurate and relevant factual material, leading to a superficial
conclusion being made. (AO3)

Level 3

5-6
Marks

Demonstrates accurate knowledge and understanding. (AO1)
Arguments developed using mostly coherent chains of reasoning leading to a
conclusion being presented. Candidates will demonstrate a grasp of competing
arguments but evaluation may be imbalanced. (AO3)

Level 4

7-8
Marks

Demonstrates accurate and thorough knowledge and understanding. (AO1)
Displays a well-developed and logical evaluation, containing logical chains of
reasoning throughout. Demonstrates an awareness of competing arguments,
presenting a balanced conclusion. (AO3)

\begin{tabular}[t]{|l|l|l|}
\hline

[Maximum number: 6]

Samad and Amna investigated attachment in infants aged one to two years old using Ainsworth's strange situation procedure. The sample comprised of 20 families where both parents were in full-time employment.
Table 1 shows results for the observed reunion behaviour.

Table 1

(a)

Give one conclusion that could be made from this investigation. (1)

[ 1 ]

(b)

Ainsworth suggested the 'caregiver sensitivity' hypothesis as an explanation for different attachment types.
Define what is meant by 'caregiver sensitivity'. (1)

[ 1 ]

(c)

Describe the research methodology used by Samad and Amna in their investigation. (2)
6

[ 2 ]

(d)

The strange situation procedure has been used cross-culturally.
Explain one reason why cross-cultural research is carried out when studying children.

[ 2 ]

[Maximum number: 5]

Marianne conducted research into the stages of language development in children aged between 2 and 5 years old. She selected 7 participants from each of the following age groups: 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds and 5-year-olds.
Marianne visited each participant once and gathered data about the number of words the children spoke in sentences, and the level of grammatical accuracy in their sentence structure.
She compared her data across each age group to determine how language develops in children aged between 2 and 5 years old.

(a)

Identify the research method Marianne used to determine how language developed across the age groups.

[ 1 ]

(b)

Suggest one reason why Marianne chose not to include children under the age of 12 months old in her research about the development of language.

[ 2 ]

(c)

Marianne used an opportunity sample of children from a single village.
Justify how Marianne could improve the generalisability of her study.

[ 2 ]

All question bank results loaded

Covered syllabus points

Topic E: Developmental psychology question 1

Topic E: Developmental psychology question 2

Question (a)

Question (b)

Question (c)

Question (d)

Topic E: Developmental psychology question 3

Question (a)

Question (b)

Question (c)