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Topic B: Cognitive psychology

Syllabus
2026
Topic
Level
AS

- Multi-store model of memory

2.1.1 The multi-store model of memory (Atkinson and Shiffrin, 1968), including information processing, encoding, storage, retrieval, capacity and duration.

Use - multi-store model of memory to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - multi-store model of memory determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - multi-store model of memory to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Multi-store model of memory is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- Working memory model

2.1.2 The working memory model (Baddeley and Hitch, 1974) including the phonological loop, central executive, visual- spatial sketchpad, episodic buffer.

Use - working memory model to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - working memory model determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - working memory model to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Working memory model is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- Reconstructive memory

2.1.3 Reconstructive memory (Bartlett, 1932), including schema theory.

Use - reconstructive memory to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - reconstructive memory determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - reconstructive memory to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Reconstructive memory is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- Experiment design and conduct

2.2.1 Designing and conducting experiments, including field and laboratory experiments.

Use - experiment design and conduct to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - experiment design and conduct determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - experiment design and conduct to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Experiment design and conduct is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- Independent and dependent variables

2.2.2 Independent and dependent variables.

Use - independent and dependent variables to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - independent and dependent variables determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - independent and dependent variables to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Independent and dependent variables is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- Experimental and null hypotheses

2.2.3 Experimental and null hypotheses.

Use - experimental and null hypotheses to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - experimental and null hypotheses determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - experimental and null hypotheses to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Experimental and null hypotheses is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- Directional (one-tailed) and non-directional (two-tailed) tests

2.2.4 Directional (one-tailed) and non-directional (two-tailed) tests and hypotheses.

Use - directional (one-tailed) and non-directional (two-tailed) tests to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - directional (one-tailed) and non-directional (two-tailed) tests determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - directional (one-tailed) and non-directional (two-tailed) tests to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Directional (one-tailed) and non-directional (two-tailed) tests is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- Experimental and research designs

2.2.5 Experimental and research designs: repeated measures, independent groups and matched pairs, the issues with each and possible controls.

Use - experimental and research designs to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - experimental and research designs determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - experimental and research designs to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Experimental and research designs is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- Operationalisation and variables

2.2.6 Operationalisation of variables, extraneous variables and confounding variables.

Use - operationalisation and variables to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - operationalisation and variables determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - operationalisation and variables to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Operationalisation and variables is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- Control groups and order controls

2.2.7 The use of control groups, counterbalancing, randomisation and order effects.

Use - control groups and order controls to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - control groups and order controls determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - control groups and order controls to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Control groups and order controls is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- Situational and participant variables

2.2.8 Situational and participant variables.

Use - situational and participant variables to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - situational and participant variables determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - situational and participant variables to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Situational and participant variables is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- Objectivity, reliability and validity

2.2.9 Objectivity, reliability and validity (internal, predictive and ecological).

Use - objectivity, reliability and validity to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - objectivity, reliability and validity determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - objectivity, reliability and validity to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Objectivity, reliability and validity is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- Experimenter effects and demand characteristics

2.2.10 Experimenter effects, demand characteristics and control issues.

Use - experimenter effects and demand characteristics to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - experimenter effects and demand characteristics determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - experimenter effects and demand characteristics to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Experimenter effects and demand characteristics is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- List A quantitative and qualitative data

2.2.11 List A from Topic A. 18.

Use - list a quantitative and qualitative data to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - list a quantitative and qualitative data determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - list a quantitative and qualitative data to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - List A quantitative and qualitative data is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- Inferential statistics decisions

2.2.12 (List B) Decision making and interpretation of inferential statistics:.; levels of measurement.; Wilcoxon signed ranks test of difference (also covering Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (formula) and Spearman's rank (critical values table) and Chi-squared distribution once Unit 2 has been covered).; probability and levels of significance (p≤.10 p≤.05 p≤.01).; observed and critical values, and sense checking of data.; one- or two-tailed regarding inferential testing.; type I and type II errors.

Use - inferential statistics decisions to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - inferential statistics decisions determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - inferential statistics decisions to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Inferential statistics decisions is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- Case studies of brain-damaged patients

2.2.13 Case studies of brain-damaged patients related to research into memory, including the case of Henry Molaison (HM).

Use - case studies of brain-damaged patients to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - case studies of brain-damaged patients determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - case studies of brain-damaged patients to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Case studies of brain-damaged patients is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- Bartlett (1932) War of the Ghosts

2.3.1 Bartlett (1932) War of the Ghosts.; Contemporary study.

Use - bartlett (1932) war of the ghosts to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - bartlett (1932) war of the ghosts determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - bartlett (1932) war of the ghosts to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Bartlett (1932) War of the Ghosts is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- Schmolck et al. (2002) patient HM

2.3.2 Schmolck et al. (2002) Semantic knowledge in patient HM and other patients with bilateral medial and lateral temporal lobe lesions.; One contemporary study from the following two choices:.

Use - schmolck et al. (2002) patient hm to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - schmolck et al. (2002) patient hm determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - schmolck et al. (2002) patient hm to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Schmolck et al. (2002) patient HM is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- Darling et al. (2007) visuospatial working memory

2.3.3 Darling et al. (2007) Behavioural evidence for separating components within visuo-spatial working memory.

Use - darling et al. (2007) visuospatial working memory to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - darling et al. (2007) visuospatial working memory determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - darling et al. (2007) visuospatial working memory to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Darling et al. (2007) visuospatial working memory is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- Sacchi et al. (2007) doctored photographs and memory

2.3.4 Sacchi et al. (2007) Changing history: doctored photographs affect memory for past public events.

Use - sacchi et al. (2007) doctored photographs and memory to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - sacchi et al. (2007) doctored photographs and memory determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - sacchi et al. (2007) doctored photographs and memory to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Sacchi et al. (2007) doctored photographs and memory is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

- Cognitive psychology practical investigation

Conduct one ethical cognitive-psychology practical: design a repeated-measures laboratory experiment that gathers quantitative data. Make decisions about sampling, operationalisation, controls, hypotheses, experimenter effects, demand characteristics and order effects. Present and interpret central tendency, dispersion and appropriate graphs; consider normality where relevant; use the Wilcoxon non-parametric test of difference with significance and critical/observed values; evaluate strengths, weaknesses and improvements; and write the procedure, results and discussion. Suitable contexts include dual-task working-memory studies or acoustic similarity and short-term memory.

Use - cognitive psychology practical investigation to connect the rule to the data and decision in the question.

This matters because - cognitive psychology practical investigation determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply - cognitive psychology practical investigation to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: - Cognitive psychology practical investigation is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.

Objective notes

21 learning objectives
ConceptA-Level Edexcel Psychology AS