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CAIE A-Level Psychology AS Research Methods Question Bank

CAIE A-Level Psychology AS Research Methods Question Bank
Cambridge International AS & A Level Psychology 9990 syllabus for exams in 2028, 2029 and 20302028–2030

Practise selecting and applying experiments, self-reports, case studies, observations, correlations and longitudinal designs to unfamiliar research scenarios.

Exam points

  • select a research method and justify how its features fit the stated psychological aim
  • specify designs, questions, behavioural measures or paired co-variables before collecting data
  • evaluate validity, reliability, ethics and causality using details from the unfamiliar scenario

Covered syllabus points

ExperimentsSelf-reportsCase studiesObservationsCorrelationsLongitudinal studies

Question 1

Question 1(a)(i)

(a)

State the two main features of a case study.
1
2

[ 2 ]

Question 1(a)(ii)

(b)

Explain why the study by Saavedra and Silverman (button phobia) was a case study, in relation to these two main features.

1

2

[ 2 ]

Question 4

[Maximum number: 4]

Glyn is conducting an experiment with an independent measures design. He is testing the effect of background noise on social learning (learning by imitation). Glyn shows each participant how to build a tower from blocks. Each participant then builds this tower, with either singing or silence in the background.

Question 4(a)

(a)

Explain what is meant by an 'independent measures design', including an example from Glyn's study.

[ 2 ]

Question 4(b)

(b)

Explain what is meant by a 'control condition', including an example from Glyn's study.

[ 2 ]

Question 6

[Maximum number: 6]

Describe participant observation and non-participant observation, using any example(s).

Question 7

[Maximum number: 6]

Chyou is conducting a self-report about students' subject choices. Four of her questions are:

A Describe how much you like maths.
B How much do you enjoy studying science?
0= do not enjoy it at all, 5= enjoy it a lot.
C "I have always known what subjects I want to study."
To what extent do you agree with this statement?
strongly agree / agree / neither agree nor disagree / disagree / strongly disagree.
D Write about whether you would like to be a doctor.

Question 7(a)

(a)

Identify one closed question from A to D.

[ 1 ]

Question 7(b)

(b)

Identify one open question from A to D.

[ 1 ]

Question 7(c)

(c)

Chyou has written two questions to investigate the process of students choosing their subjects.

E How old were you when you decided you did or did not like science?
F Describe how you felt when you made your final decision about subject choices.

[ 2 ]

Question 7(c)(i)

(i)

State one strength of question E.

[ 1 ]

Question 7(c)(ii)

(ii)

State one strength of question F.

[ 1 ]

Question 7(d)

(d)

Suggest two questions Chyou could ask to investigate factors affecting students' subject choices.

1

2

[ 2 ]

Question 10

[Maximum number: 14]

Bhaavik is interested in the relationship between shyness and happiness. He says to his friend Jim that the shy people he knows are really happy, but Jim says he knows lots of happy people who are not shy.

Question 10(a)

(a)

Describe how Bhaavik could conduct a correlational study to investigate the relationship between shyness and happiness.

Do not describe sample/sampling technique or ethical issues/guidelines in your answer.

[ 10 ]

Question 10(b)(i)

(b)

Describe one practical/methodological strength of the procedure you have described in your answer to part (a).

Do not refer to sampling or ethics in your answer.

[ 2 ]

Question 10(b)(ii)

(c)

Describe one practical/methodological weakness of the procedure you have described in your answer to part (a).

Do not refer to sampling or ethics in your answer.

[ 2 ]