BASELINE ASSESSMENT AQA A Level Psychology Year 2 Baseline Assessment Paper 1 Social, Memory, Attachment and Psychopathology h 30 minutes h The maximum mark for this assessment is 40 Name Centre Name AQA A Level Psychology Year 2 Baseline Assessment: Paper 1 Section A: Social Influence ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN THIS SECTION Molly arrives at school with her Maths homework and finds that her friends have different answers to her; she changes her answers so that they are the same as her friends. When the teacher returns her work, Molly is upset because she discovers that her friends were wrong and her original answers were correct. 1 What explanation for conformity is most appropriate to help us understand why Molly changed her answers? Justify your answer. (2 marks) 2 Which of the following is not a valid criticism of Asch’s conformity research?  A The situation and setting used lacked ecological validity.  B The research lacked population validity.  C The study was poorly controlled.  D The findings may not be relevant in today’s society. (1 mark) 3 In Milgram’s variation conducted in a run-down office building, what percentage of participants administered a shock of 450v? (1 mark) Page 2 AQA A Level Psychology Baseline Assessment www.tutor2u.net/psychology Section C: Attachment ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN THIS SECTION 14 Explain what is meant by the term ‘internal working model’. (2 marks) Table 1: Findings of the meta-analysis by Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988). COUNTRY (NUMBER PERCENTAGE OF EACH ATTACHMENT TYPE OF STUDIES) SECURE COLUMN 2 COLUMN 3 USA (18) 65 21 14 UK (1) 75 22 3 Holland (4) 67 26 7 Germany (3) 57 35 8 Japan (2) 68 5 27 China (1) 50 25 25 Israel (2) 64 7 29 Sweden (1) 74 22 4 15 What types of attachment are represented in columns two and three? (2 marks) Column 2: Column 3: 16 Briefly explain what is believed to be responsible for the difference in attachment patterns between the USA and Japan. (2 marks) Page 6 AQA A Level Psychology Baseline Assessment www.tutor2u.net/psychology Section D: Psychopathology ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN THIS SECTION 8 patients have undergone a course of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in order to treat their depression. A doctor scored their depression before and after the CBT,(out of 10), where the higher the score the greater their depression. The results are as follows: PATIENT DEPRESSION SCORE DEPRESSION SCORE NUMBER BEFORE CBT AFTER CBT 1 8 5 2 8 4 3 10 9 4 7 4 5 7 3 6 5 2 7 6 3 8 9 10 19 What percentage of the patients improved by 3 or more points on the scale? Show your workings out. (2 marks) 20 Identify two criteria found by Jahoda (1958) to indicate ideal mental health. (2 marks) Page 8 AQA A Level Psychology Baseline Assessment www.tutor2u.net/psychology BASELINE ASSESSMENT AQA A Level Psychology Year 2 Baseline Assessment Paper 1 Mark Scheme Social, Memory, Attachment and Psychopathology Molly arrives at school with her Maths homework and finds that her friends have different answers to her; she changes her answers so that they are the same as her friends. When the teacher returns her work, Molly gets upset because she discovers that her friends were wrong and her original answers were correct. 1 What explanation for conformity is most appropriate to help us understand why Molly changed the answers? Justify your answer. (2 marks) Marks for this question: 2 marks 1 mark for identifying the correct explanation: h Informational social influence Plus 1 mark for appropriate justification that is applied to the stem: h For example, because ISI is based on the desire to be right and Molly believes that her friends must have the correct answers. 2 Which of the following is not a valid criticism of Asch’s conformity research?  A The situation and setting used lacked ecological validity.  B The research lacked population validity.  C The study was poorly controlled.  D The findings may not be relevant in today’s society. (1 mark) Marks for this question: 1 mark h Answer = C 3 In Milgram’s variation conducted in a run-down office building, what percentage of participants administered a shock of 450v? (1 mark) Marks for this question: 1 mark h Answer = 47.5% Page 2 AQA A Level Psychology Baseline Assessment www.tutor2u.net/psychology 4 Outline one limitation of the authoritarian personality as an explanation for obedience. Molly arrives at school with her Maths homework and finds that her friends have different answers to (2 marks) her; she changes her answers so that they are the same as her friends. When the teacher returns her work, Molly gets upset because she discovers that her friends were wrong and her original answers Marks for this question: 2 marks were correct. 2 marks for a reasonably elaborated limitation: h For example, there may be individual differences that contribute to the development of the authoritarian personality as research has found that less-educated people are more likely than well- 1 What explanation for conformity is most appropriate to help us understand why Molly changed educated people to display authoritarian personality characteristics. If this is correct, then it is the answers? Justify your answer. possible that it is not authoritarian personality characteristics alone that lead to obedience, but levels (2 marks) of education. Or Marks for this question: 2 marks 1 mark for a briefly stated limitation: 1 mark for identifying the correct explanation: h For example, the development of the authoritarian personality is affected by individual differences h Informational social influence such as level of education). Plus 1 mark for appropriate justification that is applied to the stem: Possible limitations: h For example, because ISI is based on the desire to be right and Molly believes that her friends must h Individual differences may contribute to the development of the authoritarian personality and have the correct answers. obedience may reflect other factors such as education. h It is difficult to explain the obedient behaviour of large populations of people (e.g. large numbers of Germans) in terms of dispositional factors such as the authoritarian personality. 2 Which of the following is not a valid criticism of Asch’s conformity research? h It is based on research that is flawed and politically biased. For example, Adorno’s F scale measures  A The situation and setting used lacked ecological validity. extreme forms of right wing ideology, when left-wing authoritarianism also exists.  B The research lacked population validity.  C The study was poorly controlled. Credit other relevant limitations. D The findings may not be relevant in today’s society.  (1 mark) 5 Briefly explain the effect of locus of control on resistance to obedience and/or conformity. (2 marks) Marks for this question: 1 mark h Answer = C Marks for this question: 2 marks 2 marks for a clear, coherent explanation of the effect of locus of control on resistance to obedience and/or conformity. 3 In Milgram’s variation conducted in a run-down office building, what percentage of participants Or administered a shock of 450v? 1 mark for a very brief, limited or muddled explanation. (1 mark) Possible content: Marks for this question: 1 mark h h People with an internal locus of control believe that what happens in their life is largely the result of Answer = 47.5% their own behaviour and that they have control compared to those with an external locus of control who believe that what happens to them is controlled by external factors. h This means that individuals with an internal locus of control are more independent and find it easier to resist pressure to conform or obey. www.tutor2u.net/psychology AQA A Level Psychology Baseline Assessment Page 3 Table 1: Findings of the meta-analysis by Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988). COUNTRY (NUMBER PERCENTAGE OF EACH ATTACHMENT TYPE OF STUDIES) SECURE COLUMN 2 COLUMN 3 USA (18) 65 21 14 UK (1) 75 22 3 Holland (4) 67 26 7 Germany (3) 57 35 8 Japan (2) 68 5 27 China (1) 50 25 25 Israel (2) 64 7 29 Sweden (1) 74 22 4 15 What types of attachment are represented in columns two and three? (2 marks) Marks for this question: 2 marks h Column 2 = Insecure avoidant h Column 3 = Insecure resistant or Ambivalent 16 Briefly explain what is believed to be responsible for the difference in attachment patterns between the USA and Japan. (2 marks) Marks for this question: 2 marks 2 marks for a clear and coherent explanation. Or 1 mark for a very brief, limited or muddled explanation. Possible content: h The differences are believed to occur because of cultural variations in child-rearing styles. h Japanese mothers encourage dependence in their children more than mothers in the USA, which has led to a larger proportion being assessed as insecure resistant. Page 8 AQA A Level Psychology Baseline Assessment www.tutor2u.net/psychology 18 Briefly discuss one strength of Romanian orphan research. 8 patients have undergone a course of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in order to treat their (2 marks) depression. A doctor scored their depression (out of 10), where the higher the score the greater their depression, before and after the CBT. The results are as follows: Marks for this question: 2 marks PATIENT DEPRESSION SCORE DEPRESSION SCORE 2 marks for a reasonably elaborated strength: NUMBER BEFORE CBT AFTER CBT h For example, one strength is that the research has had useful practical applications as it has led to 1 8 5 improvements in the way children are cared for in institutions. For example, where orphanages do 2 8 4 still exist they aim to have a much smaller number of key workers looking after each child to allow 3 10 9 children to develop normal attachments. Or 4 7 4 1 mark for a briefly stated strength: 5 7 3 h For example, a strength of the research is that it has led to improvements in the ways children are 6 5 2 cared for in institutions. 7 6 3 8 9 10 Possible strengths: h The research has had useful practical applications as it has led to improvements in the way children are cared for in institutions. 19 What percentage of the patients improved by 3 or more points on the scale? Show your h The studies have provided the opportunity to study the effects of privation and institutionalisation in workings out. a large sample, rather than case studies of children who had often experienced neglect and abuse as (2 marks) well. h The studies are longitudinal meaning that the children continue to be followed up. This means that Marks for this question: 2 marks h the long-term effects of institutionalisation can be assessed. 6 patients improved by 3 or more points h 6/8 x 100 =75% Credit other relevant strengths. 20 Identify two criteria identified by Jahoda (1958) as indicating ideal mental health. (2 marks) Marks for this question: 2 marks 1 mark for any of the following criteria: h Positive attitude towards the self h Self-actualisation h Autonomy h Resistance to stress h Environmental mastery h Accurate perception of reality www.tutor2u.net/psychology AQA A Level Psychology Baseline Assessment Page 11 BASELINE ASSESSMENT AQA A Level Psychology Year 2 Baseline Assessment Paper 2 Approaches in Psychology, Biopsychology & Research Methods h 30 minutes h The maximum mark for this assessment is 40 Name Centre Name