Edexcel A-Level Psychology AS Topic D Learning Theories and Development Questions

AO1 (3 marks), AO3 (3 marks)
Credit up to three marks for accurate identification of each comparison
(AO1)
Credit up to three marks for exemplification of each comparison (AO3)
For example:
- Both operant conditioning and classical conditioning can be
considered scientific (1) as both use animals in laboratory
conditions which are controlled (1).
- One difference is that classical conditioning deals with reflexive
behaviour whilst operant conditioning deals with voluntary
behaviour (1) so operant conditioning could be seen as a more
detailed explanation of how we learn as it looks at more complex
behaviours (1).
- Both can explain how people develop phobias (1) classical
conditioning through association and operant conditioning through
the use of reinforcements (1).
Look for other reasonable marking points.

(6)

AO1 (4 marks), AO2 (4 marks)
AO1
- Systematic desensitisation aims to associate the feeling of calm
with the phobic object to get rid of the fear, as a feeling of calm
and fear cannot exist at the same time.
- The therapist works with the client to create a hierarchy of fear
where the client creates a list of situations that trigger their
phobia from the least scary to the scariest.
- The client is taught relaxation techniques such as deep breathing
or imagining a calm, safe place.
- Starting at the least fearful situation the client moves up the
hierarchy of fear, using the relaxation techniques learnt so they
are totally relaxed at one stage before moving up to the next
stage.
AO2
- Earl's therapist will aim to make Earl feel calm around needles so
that he can have the injections that will enable him to work in
another country.
- Earl will create a hierarchy of fear, with seeing a needle on the
television as the least scary situation and having an injection as
the scariest.
- Earl may be taught how to breathe in deeply for the count of three,
hold it for three and breathe out for three to use when he sees
needles, as this will relax his body.
- Earl will use the relaxation techniques when he sees a needle on
the television and will not see a needle in real life until he is totally
relaxed at this stage.
Look for other reasonable marking points.

(8)

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

Mark

Descriptor

\begin{tabular[t]{l}
AO1 (4 marks), AO2 (4 marks)

Candidates must demonstrate an equal emphasis between knowledge and understanding vs application in their answer.
\end{tabular}}

0

No rewardable material

Level 1

1-2
Marks

\begin{tabular}[t]{l}
Demonstrates isolated elements of knowledge and understanding. (AO1)

Provides little or no reference to relevant evidence from the context (scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures). (AO2)
\end{tabular}

Level 2

3-4
Marks

\begin{tabular}[t]{l}
Demonstrates mostly accurate knowledge and understanding. (AO1)

Discussion is partially developed, but is imbalanced or superficial occasionally supported through the application of relevant evidence from the context (scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures). (AO2)
\end{tabular}

Level 3

5-6
Marks

Demonstrates accurate knowledge and understanding. (AO1)
Arguments developed using mostly coherent chains of reasoning.
Candidates will demonstrate a grasp of competing arguments but
discussion may be imbalanced or contain superficial material
supported by applying relevant evidence from the context
(scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures (AO2)

Level 4

7-8
Marks

\begin{tabular}[t]{l}
Demonstrates accurate and thorough knowledge and understanding. (AO1)

Displays a well-developed and logical balanced discussion, containing logical chains of reasoning. Demonstrates a thorough awareness of competing arguments supported throughout by sustained application of relevant evidence from the context (scientific ideas, processes, techniques or procedures). (AO2)
\end{tabular}

Section C

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

AO2 (3 marks)
Credit up to three marks for accurate description in relation to scenario.
For example:
- She would create a tally chart with her categories to record her data
about who spoke for under 5 minutes and 5 minutes or more (1). Yoko
would note down every time she saw someone speak for under 5
minutes, or for 5 minutes or more as she is event sampling (1). After the
observation Yoko would total the number of times she saw each
behaviour for males and for females (1).
Look for other reasonable marking points.
Generic answers score 0 marks.

(3)

AO2 (4 marks)
Credit up to four marks for an accurate description in relation to the
scenario.
For example:
- Mateo will define what is meant by gender stereotypes, such as
women being used to advertise cleaning products (1). He will then
decide which adverts to watch, such as adverts that are shown
between 7pm and 9pm (1). Mateo may use event sampling so
that every time he sees a behaviour that fits his definitions he will
make a mark on his tally chart (1). Mateo may record the adverts
and then watch them twice to ensure his results are the same
both times (1).
Look for other reasonable marking points.
Generic answers score 0 marks.

(4)

AO1 (4 marks), AO3 (4 marks)
AO1
- Freud would see his clients individually and would seat himself behind
the client.
- Freud used free association where the clients would talk about
whatever they wanted in the hope something from the unconscious
would reveal itself.
- Freud would use dream analysis to find the unconscious meaning
behind symbols in the client's dreams.
- Slips of the tongue are when the client said something that they did
not mean, and they reveal the unconscious.
AO3
- As each study was on one individual it is hard to generalise the results
to everyone due to each person being unique.
- A lot of detailed, in depth data would be gathered from free association
giving greater understanding of the client's issues.
- Different analysts may find a different meaning behind the dreams, so
the method is subjective.
- By using all these methods to reveal the root cause of a client's issues
the issues can be resolved so the client be cured, unlike other therapies
that deal with the behaviour not the cause of the behaviour.
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)

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

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

AO2 (4 marks)
Credit up to four marks for accurate description in relation to the
scenario.
For example:
- Elijah could take a deductive approach and decide what themes
about stress he will look for in the questionnaires before he reads
through them (1). Elijah could read through the questionnaires
about stress and decide which themes to use if he decides on an
inductive approach (1). When he has the themes for stress Elijah
will decide on what codes go within the themes such as 'not
sleeping' may go in a behavioural theme (1). Once Elijah has
decided on what themes he will use to measure stress he will
calculate how often the themes occur in all the questionnaires (1).
Look for other reasonable marking points.
Generic answers score 0 marks.

(4)

\begin{tabular}[t]{l}
AO2 (4 marks)

Credit one mark for correct completion of O-E column Credit one mark for accurate completion of (O-E) ${ }^{2}$ column two decimal places Credit one mark for accurate completion of (O-E) ${ }^{\mathbf{2}}$ /E column to two decimal places Credit one mark for correct chi-squared to two decimal places =
\begin{tabular}[t]{|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|}
\hline

Observed

Expected

O-E

(O-E) ${ }^{\mathbf{2}}$$\boldsymbol{(} \mathbf{O} \boldsymbol{-} \mathbf{E} \boldsymbol{)}^{\mathbf{2}} \boldsymbol{/} \mathbf{E}$

Condition A males spoke to males

Under 5
minutes

3

5.5

-2.5

6.25

1.14

5 minutes
or over

7

4.5

2.5

6.25

1.39

Condition B females spoke to females

Under 5
minutes

8

5.5

2.5

6.25

1.14

5 minutes
or over

2

4.5

-2.5

6.25

1.39

Chi squared =

5.06

\end{tabular}

Look for other reasonable answers.
\end{tabular}

(4)

(4 marks), AO2 (4 marks)

AO1
•
Animals should be kept in groups if they live in groups naturally.
•
Enclosures for animals need to stimulating, and as natural as
possible.
•
In order to carry out research on animals a licence needs to be
obtained by the institution and by the person responsible for the
research.
•
To gain a licence for a piece of research the benefits of the research
must outweigh the costs to the animals.

AO2
•
As chimpanzees are social animals once they have been used for
Mateo’s research they should be carefully integrated into a group.
•
When creating an enclosure for the chimpanzees Mateo should
provide room for them to climb up and be able to play.
•
Mateo has to apply to the Home Office for a licence for himself as he
has not worked with animals before.
•
To ensure the benefits of his research outweigh the costs Mateo must
keep the pain from the electric shock felt by the chimpanzees to a
minimum.

Look for other reasonable marking points.
(8)
















Level
Mark
Descriptor
AO1 (4 marks), AO2 (4 marks)
Candidates must demonstrate an equal emphasis between knowledge and
understanding vs application in their answer.

0
No rewardable material
Level 1
1–2
Marks
Demonstrates isolated elements of knowledge and understanding. (AO1)
Provides little or no reference to relevant evidence from the context
(scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures). (AO2)
Level 2
3–4
Marks
Demonstrates mostly accurate knowledge and understanding. (AO1)
Discussion is partially developed, but is imbalanced or superficial
occasionally supported through the application of relevant evidence from
the context (scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures).
(AO2)
Level 3
5–6
Marks
Demonstrates accurate knowledge and understanding. (AO1)
Arguments developed using mostly coherent chains of reasoning.
Candidates will demonstrate a grasp of competing arguments but
discussion may be imbalanced or contain superficial material supported
by applying relevant evidence from the context (scientific ideas,
processes, techniques and procedures (AO2)
Level 4
7–8
Marks
Demonstrates accurate and thorough knowledge and understanding.
(AO1)
Displays a well-developed and logical balanced discussion, containing
logical chains of reasoning. Demonstrates a thorough awareness of
competing arguments supported throughout by sustained application of
relevant evidence from the context (scientific ideas, processes,
techniques or procedures). (AO2)






Section C

AO1 (4 marks)
Credit up to four marks for an accurate description.
For example:
- At 11 months and 10 days old Little Albert moved his hand
towards the white rat, but moved it away before he touched the
rat (1). By 11 months and 15 days, when the white rat was
presented, Little Albert leaned away from the rat then crawled
away from it (1). Little Albert also became scared of other objects
such as a white rabbit from which he crawled away whilst crying
(1). When they took Little Albert to a bright well-lit lecture room
and first presented the white rat Little Albert moved his hand
away from the rat but did not cry (1).
Look for other reasonable marking points.

(4)

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