AQA PSYCHOLOGY - PAPER #2 STUDY
GUIDE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Self-report techniques - Answer-Any method involving asking PPs about their feelings,
attitudes, beliefs etc.
Questionnaire - Answer-Questionnaires are a written self-report technique where
participants are given a pre-set number of questions to respond to. Can consist of
either:
• Closed questions - a pre-determined set of answers to choose from
• Open questions - where there is no restriction on how participants make their
response
Strengths of questionnaires - Answer-+ Cost effective
+ Can gather large amounts of data quickly
+ Easy to analyse and generalise
Weaknesses of questionnaires - Answer-- Can produce response bias
- PPs may misunderstand the question or read it incorrectly
- Demand Characteristics / Social Desirability may occur
Advantages & Disadvantages of an Open Question - Answer-+ Allows PPs to elaborate,
greater insight
+ Produces qualitative data - depth and detail
- People can miss them out as they can't be bothered to answer them
- Harder to analyse
Advantages & Disadvantages of a Closed Question - Answer-+ Quick and easy to
answer
+ Quantitative data is easier to analyse
- Not detailed or in depth answers
- Don't find out the meaning behind the answer
Interview - Answer-A live encounter (face to face or on the phone) where one person
asks a set of questions to assess an interviewees thoughts/experiences. They can be
structured, semi structured or unstructured.
Structured Interview - Answer-Made up of pre-determined questions and are asked in a
fixed order.
, Unstructured Interview - Answer-Works like a conversation. There are no set questions.
There is a general aim that a certain topic will be discussed and interaction tends to be
free flowing.
Semi-structured Interview - Answer-There is a list of questions that have been worked
out in advance but interviewers are also free to ask follow up questions or deviate when
they feel it is appropriate.
Double-barreled Questions - Answer-They contain two options within a single question.
Aim - Answer-Identifies the purpose of the investigation
Hypothesis - Answer-A precise, testable statement of what the researcher predicts will
be the the outcome of the study
Directional Hypothesis - Answer-The researcher makes it clear what difference is
anticipated between the 2 conditions or groups.
(One tailed).
Non-directional Hypothesis - Answer-Simply states that there is a difference but not
what the difference will be.
Null Hypothesis - Answer-There will be no relationship between the 2 variables. 'There
will be no significant difference'
Alternative/Experimental Hypothesis - Answer-States that there is a relationship
between the 2 variables. 'There will be a significant difference'
Meta-analysis - Answer-A particular form of research method that uses secondary data.
Data from a large number of studies which have involved the same research question
and method are combined.
Quantitative Data - Answer-Data that focuses on numbers and frequencies which can
be counted. e.g. experiments, questionnaires and psychometric tests.
Qualitative Data - Answer-Data that describes meaning and experiences which is
expresses in words e.g. case studies, interviews and observations.
Primary Data - Answer-Information that has been obtained first hand by the researcher.
It is also known as field research.
Secondary Data - Answer-Information that has already been collected by previous
researchers. It is also known as 'desk research' and can be found in journal articles,
books or websites.
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