Edexcel A-Level Psychology AS 2.3.3 Darling Et Al 2007 Visuospatial Working Memory Questions

(4 marks), AO3 (4 marks)
Darling et al. (2007)
AO1
•
The sample consisted of 44 females and 28 males from a non-
student volunteer participation panel at the University of Aberdeen.
•
Darling et al (2007) randomly allocated their 72 participants into one
of six possible combinations of memory task and interference task.
•
Darling’s study only measured one category of visual information
from a black screen with white squares and a P positioned on it.
•
Each trial was standardised, so all participants experienced the same
presentation to the location and font of the ‘P’ in the visual display.
AO3
•
The volunteer sample may not represent a range of individuals as
not everyone would have time to volunteer in research studies so the
findings may not reflect the memory skills of a wider population.
•
Random allocation is an objective way of allocating participants to
their memory tasks therefore avoiding any experimenter bias
increasing reliability.
•
Visual memory in humans deals with lots of visual stimuli therefore
this task was not a valid measurement of everyday visual
processing.
•
Controlling the trials give the findings about visuo-spatial processing
internal validity as Darling et al. (2007) can be more certain that the
task was the only impact on memory accuracy.
Sacchi et al. (2007)
AO1
•
Sacchi’s task involved using doctored photographs of two famous
events, the Tiananmen Square protest in Beijing and the peaceful
protest near the Coliseum, in Rome.
•
The sample consisted of 187 undergraduates, of which 31 were male
and 156 were female with an age range of 19 to 39 years.
•
Participants viewed one of four possible combinations of the
photographs for the Beijing event and the Rome event which were
counterbalanced and randomised when presented.
•
The photographs and three sets of multiple-choice questions were
presented in a printed questionnaire that participants completed in
classroom settings.
AO3
•
The photographs were of real events that happened in society
therefore increasing task validity as people are often presented with
visual images of events in the media.
•
The sample is unrepresentative of males so findings about memory
reconstruction lack population validity.
•
Random allocation is an objective way of allocating the photograph
combinations to participants therefore avoiding experimenter bias
and increasing reliability.
•
The ratings of the photographs may have been biased as self-report
questionnaires are prone to social desirability so participants may
give socially appropriate attitude scores reducing internal validity.
Look for other reasonable marking points.
(8)

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)

SECTION C