Total marks: 100 · Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
Instructions to candidates
• Answer all questions. • Use black ink or black ball-point pen. • The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ]. • You should answer the extended-response questions in continuous prose, and you will be assessed on the quality of your written communication in these. • The total number of marks for this paper is 100. • This paper assesses Memory, Perception, Development and Research methods. • All information you need is contained within the questions; no insert is required.
Paper
Section A — Memory (24 marks)
1. (a) Identify the three stores in the multi-store model of memory, in the order that information passes through them. [3]
(b) State the capacity and duration of short-term memory according to the multi-store model. [2]
(c) Explain how information is transferred from short-term memory to long-term memory according to the multi-store model. [2]
(d) Memory is described as an "active process" that can reconstruct information rather than record it exactly. Describe one piece of evidence that memory can be inaccurate or reconstructed. [3]
2. A teacher notices that students remember the start and end of a list of key terms better than the middle.
(a) Name this effect. [1]
(b) Using the multi-store model, explain why the items at the start of a list are often remembered well. [3]
3. Explain two factors that can affect the accuracy of a person's memory. [6]
4. Briefly evaluate the multi-store model of memory. [4]
Section B — Perception (24 marks)
5. (a) Explain the difference between sensation and perception. [2]
(b) Depth perception allows us to judge how far away objects are. Identify two monocular depth cues and explain how each helps us to judge distance. [4]
6. Two explanations of perception are Gibson's direct theory and Gregory's constructivist theory.
(a) Outline one difference between Gibson's and Gregory's theories of perception. [3]
(b) Gregory's theory says perception is influenced by our expectations. Describe one study or example that supports the idea that expectation affects perception. [3]
7. Visual illusions show that perception is not always accurate.
(a) Name one visual illusion and briefly describe what people see. [2]
(b) Explain one reason why visual illusions occur. [3]
8. Explain two factors, other than expectation, that can affect a person's perception. [7]
Section C — Development (28 marks)
9. (a) State what is meant by a schema. [1]
(b) According to Piaget, explain the difference between assimilation and accommodation. [4]
10. Piaget proposed that children pass through stages of cognitive development.
(a) Name the four stages in the correct order. [4]
(b) A four-year-old child watches water being poured from a short, wide glass into a tall, thin glass and says there is now "more water". What does this show about the child's thinking? Explain your answer. [3]
11. (a) Explain one criticism of Piaget's theory of cognitive development. [3]
(b) Understanding cognitive development has influenced education. Explain one way that Piaget's ideas have been applied to how children are taught. [3]
12. Dweck's theory describes fixed and growth mindsets.
(a) Explain the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. [4]
(b) Discuss how understanding of development, including the role of mindset, can help learners succeed. [6]
Section D — Research methods (24 marks)
13. A psychologist investigates whether background music affects how well students remember a list of words. One group learns the list in silence; another group learns it with music playing. Both groups are then tested on how many words they recall.
(a) Write a suitable hypothesis for this investigation. [2]
(b) Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable in this study. [2]
(c) Identify one variable that should be controlled in this study, and explain why controlling it is important. [3]
(d) The psychologist uses an opportunity sample. Explain one disadvantage of using an opportunity sample. [2]
14. (a) The recall scores for the "silence" group are: 8, 6, 7, 9, 5, 7. Calculate the mean recall score for this group. [2]
(b) State one advantage of using the mean rather than the mode as a measure of central tendency. [1]
(c) Another group had recall scores of 7, 8, 6, 7, 2 and 8. Explain why the median might be a more suitable measure of central tendency than the mean for this group's scores. [2]
15. Psychologists must follow ethical guidelines when carrying out research.
(a) Explain what is meant by informed consent. [2]
(b) Explain one other ethical issue the psychologist should consider in the music-and-memory study, and how they could deal with it. [4]
16. Explain one strength and one weakness of carrying out research in a laboratory experiment. [4]