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CAIE A-Level Psychology AS Issues and Debates

CAIE A-Level Psychology AS Issues and Debates
Cambridge International AS & A Level Psychology 9990 syllabus for exams in 2028, 2029 and 20302028–2030

Practise applying AS debates to named studies, using precise evidence to judge everyday applications, individual or situational explanations and research ethics.

Exam points

  • define the issue or debate, then anchor the explanation in a named procedure, result or participant group
  • for everyday applications, propose an ethical action and explain how the study finding makes it useful
  • when judging research with children or animals, link the specific risk or validity problem to the study task

Covered syllabus points

Application of psychology to everyday lifeIndividual and situational explanationsNature versus nurtureUse of children in psychological researchUse of animals in psychological research

Question 7

[Maximum number: 4]

Suggest two problems that could arise if children were used as participants in the study by Hölzel et al. (mindfulness and brain scans).

1
2

Question 8

[Maximum number: 4]

Two friends, Luis and Ava, are discussing the application to everyday life of the study by Milgram (obedience). Luis says the study does have application to everyday life, but Ava says the study does not have application to everyday life.

Explain why you think either Luis or Ava is correct, using evidence from this study in your answer. The friend who I think is correct is because: