35 practice questions (including essay questions) of the social influence topic in AQA Psychology A-level. Mark scheme/example answers included. (Pack 3)
Q1.
In a hospital, you are very likely to obey a nurse. However, if you meet her outside the
hospital, for example in a shop, you are much less likely to obey. Using your knowledge of
how people resist pressures to obey, explain why you are less likely to obey the nurse
outside the hospital.
(Total 4 marks)
Q2.
What are the implications for social change of research into social influence?
(Total 6 marks)
Q3.
Most research into conformity takes place in a laboratory. Outline one strength of
conducting research into conformity in a laboratory.
(Total 2 marks)
Q4.
Apart from ethical issues, give one strength and one limitation of Milgram’s methodology.
(Total 4 marks)
Q5.
Milgram’s work can be criticised for being unethical. Describe one way in which his work
is unethical.
(Total 2 marks)
Q6.
Milgram’s work into obedience provided us with valuable insights into why people obey,
even though it was carried out in a laboratory.
Outline two explanations of why people obey.
(Total 4 marks)
Q7.
When we are in a large group of friends, it is very easy to agree with them and simply go
along with their views. However, sometimes we are able to resist the pressure to conform.
Using what you have learned from studying conformity outline one reason why we might
resist the pressure to conform.
(Total 2 marks)
Q8.
The following statements are all related to conformity.
A Doing what the group does in order to be liked by them.
B Doing what the group does because we do not know what else to do.
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, C Going along with the group, even if we do not really agree with what they are doing.
D Going along with the group because we accept their beliefs and attitudes into our own
cognitions.
In the table below, write which statement, A, B, C or D, describes each type of conformity.
Type of conformity Statement
Internalisation
Compliance
(Total 2 marks)
Q9.
Outline and evaluate one or more explanations of why people obey.
(Total 12 marks)
Q10.
(a) Outline one method that psychologists have used to study conformity.
(2)
(b) Explain one limitation of this method.
(2)
(c) Suggest an appropriate way of overcoming this limitation.
(2)
(Total 6 marks)
Q11.
It is Ani’s first day in a new job and he spends a lot of time watching to see what his
colleagues are doing, so that he will fit in with them and be liked. Explain Ani’s behaviour
in terms of compliance.
(Total 2 marks)
Q12.
Explain what is meant by locus of control.
(Total 4 marks)
Q13.
Describe how social influence research has contributed to our understanding of social
change.
(Total 6 marks)
Q14.
Three students, George, Petra and Dan, have just started in the sixth form. Dan is a
confident person who thinks that his fate lies firmly in his hands. By the end of the first
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, week, Dan has put himself forward to be nominated as the class representative. Petra has
also put her name forward to be nominated. She believes it is just luck whether or not she
will be selected and feels that there is not much she can do about it. George did not put
his name forward because his father told him not to.
(a) (i) What type of locus of control does Petra’s behaviour show?
(ii) What type of locus of control does Dan’s behaviour show?
(iii) George did not put his name forward as the class representative. Use your
knowledge of social influence research to explain this.
(4)
(b) Which one of the three students is most likely to resist pressures to conform?
Use your knowledge of psychology to explain your choice.
(4)
(Total 8 marks)
Q15.
In an experiment into conformity, an experimenter varied both the number of confederates
(stooges) and the ambiguity of the task. The bar chart below shows the findings.
Percentages of conformity for different tasks and size of majority
What does the bar chart show about conformity?
(Total 4 marks)
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