IB Psychology SL 3.1.10 Psychological treatment Question Bank

Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks.
The command term "evaluate" requires candidates to make an appraisal by weighing up the strengths and limitations of one individual approach to treatment for one disorder. Although a discussion of both strengths and limitations is required, it does not have to be evenly balanced to gain high marks.

Anxiety disorders, affective disorders and eating disorders will most likely be presented. It is however, acceptable to use other examples of disorders or abnormal behaviours. Candidates are not required to outline the symptoms of the disorder.

Responses may include, but are not limited to:
- the appropriateness of one individual approach to treatment by weighing up the strengths and limitations of that approach for the disorder
- underlying assumptions of a certain approach to treatment
- confirming or refuting empirical findings related to the treatment
- psychological theories that are relevant to the approach to treatment of the disorder
- ethical implications of the approach to treatment.

If a candidate evaluates more than one individual approach to treatment, credit should be given only to the first evaluation. However, candidates may address other approaches to treatment and be awarded marks for these as long as they are clearly used to evaluate the individual treatment addressed in the response (for example, responses may suggest that individual treatment is most often combined with drug treatment and use this discussion of an eclectic approach as part of the evaluation).

If a candidate discusses only strengths or only limitations, the response should be awarded up to a maximum of [5 marks] for criterion B, critical thinking, and up to a maximum of [2 marks] for criterion C, organization. Up to full marks may be awarded for criterion A, knowledge and comprehension.

If a candidate evaluates individual approaches without referring to a specific disorder, the response should be awarded up to a maximum of [4 marks] for criterion A, knowledge and comprehension, up to a maximum of [3 marks] for criterion B, critical thinking, and up to a maximum of [2 marks] for criterion C, organization.

If a candidate evaluates one biomedical or one group approach to treatment then the response should be awarded up to a maximum of [3 marks] for criterion B, critical thinking, and up to a maximum of [2 marks] for criterion C, organization. No marks should be awarded for criterion A, knowledge and comprehension.