AQA A2 Psychology PSYA3/PSYA4 Revision Thread 2016

Could you link me an examiners report cause looking at them i cant find any that says anything specifically about reductionism being biological.

Give me a second, I'll try and find it

Reductionist’ is still being used inaccurately by many students. It does not mean ‘narrow’, it means fragmenting behaviour into smaller and basic units, and is best reserved for the biological approach.
Thats the only thing ive found but it says "best used" so surely still applies to other theories if appropriate?

Nooo. If you read all reports you'll understand it only gains credit. In one of them it states if it's not biological to use LIMITED VIEW. Limited view means it only considers that theory and nothing else. Reductionism means it only consider that BIOLOGICAL theory and nothing else.

If you use reductionism, you won't be credited and you'll actually lose marks as your answer will not be accurate

reductionismrɪˈdʌkʃ(ə)nɪz(ə)m/

the practice of analysing and describing a complex phenomenon in terms of its simple or fundamental constituents, especially when this is said to provide a sufficient explanation.


just thought i'd throw in the definition of reductionism.. i don't understand why you wouldn't gain credit for using it alongside other approaches?

Okay okay you guys clearly don't believe me which is fine. Having had s teacher as an examiner and plenty of resources from my college directly from the board I know when to use reductionism and limited view.

I was just trying to help, as you will lose marks

no no don't take it the wrong way, i'm just genuinely interested as i've never been marked down for it before?

Nooo. If you read all reports you'll understand it only gains credit. In one of them it states if it's not biological to use LIMITED VIEW. Limited view means it only considers that theory and nothing else. Reductionism means it only consider that BIOLOGICAL theory and nothing else.

If you use reductionism, you won't be credited and you'll actually lose marks as your answer will not be accurate

No problem I'll use that from now on, does that still count as an IDA point? And is it marked as A03?

That's the problem, the examiners reports are increasingly frustrated over it as they keep saying "students continue to use reductionism" inappropriately. It's just what the exam board say, unfortunately. Limited view means the same thing so just use that if it's not a biological theory. It's quite disheartening some schools/colleges aren't aware, it's all over the reports

that's fair enough! i'll definitely remember that from now on so thank you

No problem, it's such a common thing and can really change what banding your essay is put in.

Although I do agree, I don't see why it can't be used, just picky examiners

Hey anyone that's doing Bio rhythms/sleep, I'm a bit confused as to the definitions of ultradian and infradian rhythms, different websites and books/recourses say different things? So is ultradian 'less than a day' or 'more than a day but less than a year'? (And same for infradian)


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Is it possible to get an A* overall in psychology this year?

No problem, it's such a common thing and can really change what banding your essay is put in.

Although I do agree, I don't see why it can't be used, just picky examiners

Since your teacher is an examiner, do you have any other tips? I have no teacher so I could really use any advice you have!!!!

I mean the teachers in our college really only gave us general advice! We just trusted their marking haha!

Always try and link studies together, this will increase your marks. So state a study and the findings, link it to the theory and then link in another study using discourse markers (additionally/more over/similarly/in contrast) that either supports the same thing or opposes it.

Similarly, link your IDA points. So if it's deterministic, "if we accept it as true we can impose practical applications such as..."

Point, explain, evaluate, elaborate is the structure to do for each paragraph!