Cognitive psychology Research methods

Worked examples (9)

• 1Decide whether a study is an experiment (3 marks)
• 2Identify the type of experiment and justify it (3 marks)
• 3Explain why a procedure must be standardised (4 marks)
• 4Design a laboratory experiment from an aim (6 marks)
• 5Evaluate a laboratory experiment in context (4 marks)
• 6Suggest an improvement to a described study (4 marks)
• 7Assess case studies of brain damage (6 marks)
• 8Compare experiments with self-report methods (6 marks)
• 9Explain the ethical problem specific to field experiments (4 marks)

Model answers (9)

• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 extended open-response style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style

Worked examples (9)

• 1Identify the IV and DV from a description (2 marks)
• 2Count the conditions of the IV (2 marks)
• 3Operationalise an IV and a DV (4 marks)
• 4Identify variables in a named study (3 marks)
• 5Explain why operationalisation matters (4 marks)
• 6Recognise co-variables in a correlation (4 marks)
• 7Extract the variables from a hypothesis (3 marks)
• 8Diagnose and repair a poorly defined DV (4 marks)
• 9Explain why the same variable can be an IV or a DV (4 marks)

Model answers (9)

• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 extended open-response style

Worked examples (9)

• 1Identify the type of hypothesis and justify it (2 marks)
• 2Convert a directional hypothesis to a non-directional one (2 marks)
• 3Justify choosing a directional hypothesis (3 marks)
• 4Justify choosing a non-directional hypothesis (3 marks)
• 5Find the critical value from the Appendix 7 table (3 marks)
• 6Explain how tail type changes the verdict (4 marks)
• 7Explain the advantage and disadvantage of a one-tailed test (4 marks)
• 8Write all three hypotheses for one study (5 marks)
• 9Work a one-tailed decision from raw information (4 marks)

Model answers (9)

• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 quantitative skills style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 quantitative skills style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style

Worked examples (9)

• 1Distinguish an aim from a hypothesis (2 marks)
• 2Write an experimental hypothesis (3 marks)
• 3Write the matching null hypothesis (2 marks)
• 4Diagnose and repair a faulty hypothesis (4 marks)
• 5State the conclusion from a significance decision (3 marks)
• 6Interpret a non-significant result correctly (4 marks)
• 7Write hypotheses for a correlational study (4 marks)
• 8Explain why the null hypothesis is tested (4 marks)
• 9Write both hypotheses for a named study (5 marks)

Model answers (9)

• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style

Worked examples (9)

• 1Identify the design from a description (2 marks)
• 2Explain order effects and their control (4 marks)
• 3Explain participant variables in independent groups (3 marks)
• 4Design a counterbalanced procedure (4 marks)
• 5Explain how to run a matched pairs design (4 marks)
• 6Choose and justify a design for a scenario (4 marks)
• 7Link the design to the statistical test (4 marks)
• 8Evaluate repeated measures for a specific study (6 marks)
• 9Compare all three designs (6 marks)

Model answers (9)

• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 extended open-response style

Worked examples (9)

• 1Distinguish extraneous from confounding (3 marks)
• 2Define extraneous and confounding variables (2 marks)
• 3Use the four sources to identify variables (4 marks)
• 4Match the control to the problem (4 marks)
• 5Diagnose a vaguely described study (4 marks)
• 6Identify a confound in a named study (4 marks)
• 7Redesign a confounded study (5 marks)
• 8Explain why a confound is worse than noise (4 marks)
• 9Discuss the cost of controlling variables (6 marks)

Model answers (9)

• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 extended open-response style

Worked examples (9)

• 1Explain why a control group was used (3 marks)
• 2Distinguish the three 'controls' (3 marks)
• 3Describe a randomisation procedure (3 marks)
• 4Choose between counterbalancing and randomising order (4 marks)
• 5Explain the use of a placebo control (4 marks)
• 6Randomise the order of materials (3 marks)
• 7Explain when a control group is not possible (4 marks)
• 8Evaluate counterbalancing as a control (5 marks)
• 9Build a full set of controls for a study (6 marks)

Model answers (9)

• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 extended open-response style

Worked examples (9)

• 1Classify variables into the two families (3 marks)
• 2Match each control to the right family (4 marks)
• 3Explain how a design handles participant variables (3 marks)
• 4Explain Milgram's variations as situational manipulations (4 marks)
• 5Recognise a participant variable used as the comparison (4 marks)
• 6Spot a situational confound and fix it (4 marks)
• 7Link participant variables to generalisability (4 marks)
• 8Build the asymmetry argument for the debate (5 marks)
• 9Audit a study for both families (6 marks)

Model answers (9)

• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 extended open-response style

Worked examples (9)

• 1Identify which problem is which (3 marks)
• 2Explain demand characteristics in context (3 marks)
• 3Control an experimenter effect (3 marks)
• 4Explain social desirability and control it (4 marks)
• 5Apply single and double blind correctly (4 marks)
• 6Handle Orne and Holland's criticism (4 marks)
• 7Design demand characteristics out of a study (5 marks)
• 8Evaluate the trade-off in blind procedures (5 marks)
• 9Identify all the control issues in a scenario (6 marks)

Model answers (9)

• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 extended open-response style

Worked examples (9)

• 1Judge whether a measure is objective (3 marks)
• 2Choose the right reliability check (3 marks)
• 3Name the right type of validity (3 marks)
• 4Explain reliable but not valid (4 marks)
• 5Improve the reliability of a measure (4 marks)
• 6Assess the validity of a described study (5 marks)
• 7Compare methods on reliability and validity (5 marks)
• 8Run the five-concept audit (6 marks)
• 9Improve a study's validity without wrecking it (5 marks)

Model answers (9)

• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 research methods style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 extended open-response style

Worked examples (9)

• 1Identify the level of measurement (3 marks)
• 2Choose and justify a statistical test (3 marks)
• 3Work out N correctly (2 marks)
• 4Run a Wilcoxon test from raw data (5 marks)
• 5Complete the decision from the table (4 marks)
• 6Sense check a set of results (4 marks)
• 7Apply Type I and Type II errors (4 marks)
• 8Take a study from data to conclusion (6 marks)
• 9Evaluate what a significant result establishes (5 marks)

Model answers (9)

• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 quantitative skills style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 quantitative skills style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 quantitative skills style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 quantitative skills style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 quantitative skills style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 quantitative skills style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 quantitative skills style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 quantitative skills style
• ✓Model answer — Edexcel WPS01 extended open-response style