[onecrazyassdude]

hi there i was wondering anyone could help me with the evaulating aspect of the AQA spec B psychology unit 4 paper. Like where do i begin, yes i know you have to put in strengths and weakness but i heard this alone wont get you full marks. What is it i have to do to get the remaining marks and how do i do it examples anyone ??

[sammy-lou]

(Original post by onecrazyassdude)
hi there i was wondering anyone could help me with the evaulating aspect of the AQA spec B psychology unit 4 paper. Like where do i begin, yes i know you have to put in strengths and weakness but i heard this alone wont get you full marks. What is it i have to do to get the remaining marks and how do i do it examples anyone ??

For Unit 4, AO2 evaluation marks can come from a wider variety of places than in AS exams, because a higher proportion of the marks are for evaluation.

Describing a supporting study, then leading on to methodological and ethical issues with the study is one place to start.

You could also:

Discuss practical applicatinons e.g. treatments, applications within criminal investigations etc.

Generally applying the subject to a topic that you have studied in psychology, e.g. if the question asks about the biological approach you could talk about drug treatments for phobias or schizophrenia etc.

Comparing with other approaches not mentioned in the question.


Obviously the extent to which you can use these varies according to whether you are answering a comparison of approaches question or a debates question, and also what the individual question asks for.
To get a better idea of this you'd be best prepared by looking at past papers and mark schemes available on the AQA website.

[onecrazyassdude]

Thanks for replying. I took your advice into looking into past exam questions on the AQA website and was wondering if you could hopefully clear up a few more things for me. Firstly in what way would i talk about practical applications ,for example if it’s the biological approach I have to explain would I just list the applications in relation to biological approach like say schizophrenia or memory and leave it as that ?
Also I would like to know how would I bring in these practical application arguments? Is it acceptable to after I mentioned strengths and weaknesses to just say “the biological approach has been also used to explain disorders within people like schizophrenia by….”.
Lastly upon looking at the AQA mark scheme for June 2011 on question 4 it says “up to 8 marks for analysis and evaluation of application of both approaches” it then goes on to say “up to 4 marks can be awarded to analytic description of approaches” what’s the difference between analytic description of approaches and the analysis and evaluation of application of approaches, how does one differ from the other?

[onecrazyassdude]

(Original post by sammy-lou)
For Unit 4, AO2 evaluation marks can come from a wider variety of places than in AS exams, because a higher proportion of the marks are for evaluation.

Describing a supporting study, then leading on to methodological and ethical issues with the study is one place to start.

You could also:

Discuss practical applicatinons e.g. treatments, applications within criminal investigations etc.

Generally applying the subject to a topic that you have studied in psychology, e.g. if the question asks about the biological approach you could talk about drug treatments for phobias or schizophrenia etc.

Comparing with other approaches not mentioned in the question.


Obviously the extent to which you can use these varies according to whether you are answering a comparison of approaches question or a debates question, and also what the individual question asks for.
To get a better idea of this you'd be best prepared by looking at past papers and mark schemes available on the AQA website.

Thanks for replying. I took your advice into looking into past exam questions on the AQA website and was wondering if you could hopefully clear up a few more things for me. Firstly in what way would i talk about practical applications ,for example if it’s the biological approach I have to explain would I just list the applications in relation to biological approach like say schizophrenia or memory and leave it as that ?
Also I would like to know how would I bring in these practical application arguments? Is it acceptable to after I mentioned strengths and weaknesses to just say “the biological approach has been also used to explain disorders within people like schizophrenia by….”.
Lastly upon looking at the AQA mark scheme for June 2011 on question 4 it says “up to 8 marks for analysis and evaluation of application of both approaches” it then goes on to say “up to 4 marks can be awarded to analytic description of approaches” what’s the difference between analytic description of approaches and the analysis and evaluation of application of approaches, how does one differ from the other?

[sammy-lou]

(Original post by onecrazyassdude)
Thanks for replying. I took your advice into looking into past exam questions on the AQA website and was wondering if you could hopefully clear up a few more things for me. Firstly in what way would i talk about practical applications ,for example if it’s the biological approach I have to explain would I just list the applications in relation to biological approach like say schizophrenia or memory and leave it as that ?

OK, so practical applications come under the evaluation marks (description - 4 marks, evaluation - 8 marks). Here's an example I found which might help explain:

"discuss how the biological perspective helps psychologists understand human behaviour. In your answer, refer to at least two topics that you have studied"

So start by doing your basic description of the biological approach (include the assumptions - genes, evolution, hormones, brain structure etc. only needs to be brief). Then I'd mention a study or two IN RELATION TO the topics, so you could do schizophrenia and one other, whatever your comfortable with.

Your practical applications will come in to it around here, where you talk about how the biological approach has helped treat people with Schizophrenia. I didn't study Schizophrenia myself so can't give you any examples - I assume drug treatments would come in to it somewhere? So bring in whatever you know about drug treatments in connection to Schizophrenia. Remember to describe it briefly (still counts as AO2) and also evaluate it, e.g. you could talk about addiction, side effects etc. You could, if you want, briefly compare it to a different treatment for Schizophrenia e.g. cognitive/behavioural?

Practical applications will always include treatments.

Other examples of practical applications, not linked to the example of Schizophrenia, might be:
-Token economies (behaviourist) in treating criminal offenders in prisons
-systematic desensitisation for phobias
-dream therapy/free association for phobias (psychodynamic).

When you mention practical applications, you don't just want to list. Remember to evaluate the practical application, be as detailed as you can in the time allowed.

(Original post by onecrazyassdude)
Lastly upon looking at the AQA mark scheme for June 2011 on question 4 it says “up to 8 marks for analysis and evaluation of application of both approaches” it then goes on to say “up to 4 marks can be awarded to analytic description of approaches” what’s the difference between analytic description of approaches and the analysis and evaluation of application of approaches, how does one differ from the other?

analytic description is your AO1. ignore the word analytic if that is confusing you. it just means describing the assumptions of the approach.

evaluation is your AO2 - strengths, weaknesses, practical applications, supporting (or contrary) studies.

[onecrazyassdude]

(Original post by sammy-lou)
OK, so practical applications come under the evaluation marks (description - 4 marks, evaluation - 8 marks). Here's an example I found which might help explain:

"discuss how the biological perspective helps psychologists understand human behaviour. In your answer, refer to at least two topics that you have studied"

So start by doing your basic description of the biological approach (include the assumptions - genes, evolution, hormones, brain structure etc. only needs to be brief). Then I'd mention a study or two IN RELATION TO the topics, so you could do schizophrenia and one other, whatever your comfortable with.

Your practical applications will come in to it around here, where you talk about how the biological approach has helped treat people with Schizophrenia. I didn't study Schizophrenia myself so can't give you any examples - I assume drug treatments would come in to it somewhere? So bring in whatever you know about drug treatments in connection to Schizophrenia. Remember to describe it briefly (still counts as AO2) and also evaluate it, e.g. you could talk about addiction, side effects etc. You could, if you want, briefly compare it to a different treatment for Schizophrenia e.g. cognitive/behavioural?

Practical applications will always include treatments.

Other examples of practical applications, not linked to the example of Schizophrenia, might be:
-Token economies (behaviourist) in treating criminal offenders in prisons
-systematic desensitisation for phobias
-dream therapy/free association for phobias (psychodynamic).

When you mention practical applications, you don't just want to list. Remember to evaluate the practical application, be as detailed as you can in the time allowed.



analytic description is your AO1. ignore the word analytic if that is confusing you. it just means describing the assumptions of the approach.

evaluation is your AO2 - strengths, weaknesses, practical applications, supporting (or contrary) studies.

All i can say is I LOVE YOU SAMMY-LOU lol thank you very much your help it cleared up a lot for me

[sammy-lou]

(Original post by onecrazyassdude)
All i can say is I LOVE YOU SAMMY-LOU lol thank you very much your help it cleared up a lot for me

haha, your welcome, good luck!