Psychology AQA A PSYA3 11th June 2012!

Time to get cracking ha.

The exam covers 8 topics, and you are required to answer questions from just 3 of them. The majority of questions will be full essays worth 24 marks, but sometimes the section will be split into two 12 (4+8 each) mark essays, or one 4 mark question and a 20 mark (4+16) question.

Good luck with th enext five days ha

Relationships, aggression and eating disorders

I checked grade boundaries over the last few years, you need about 15-17 on each essay for an A

How important is remembering the names of researchers? I often find that I can name a few and then my mind will go blank, but I'll know what the results of the study showed. Is it ok to just put 'However, contradictory findings show that * insert results of study*'?

How important is remembering the names of researchers? I often find that I can name a few and then my mind will go blank, but I'll know what the results of the study showed. Is it ok to just put 'However, contradictory findings show that * insert results of study*'?

Named researchers do not gain marks. However, we are expected to know the names of key researchers (depending what topics you are doing) so the names of the main theorist [eg bandura, buss, duck, etc] are fairly important.

But beyond that, named researchers only demonstrate a more precise learned understanding on your behalf, and can make a vague statement (eg "some psychologists suggest that such and such is bad") seem more accurate and scientific. This will lend you favour in the examiners eyes, and maybe push an essay up by one or two marks simply by creating an impression that you are a knowledgeable booklearnt ****.

Right now, I think that thoroughly revising an extra two paragraphs of content for an essay is much better than being able to remember so-and-so's name in the exam by just spending time looking over and over at lists of names

Remembering the researchers names just makes it obvious to the examiner that you know what you're talking about. You don't have to include the names, they just have to identify that you are actually talking about a real study, so as long as you know what they did and what they found you'll be fine.

This has been discussed a lot during the thread. My two cents a few pages back was:

does anyone have any notes on either perception, aggression or relationships?
i'm doing those 3 topics and having a panic for the exam on monday! ive made some notes but would be good to compare with other peoples..

thanks

Just wondering, if we have to write an essay on genetic influence in aggression, do we need to include genes for aggression e.g. DRD4/DRD3 or would just writing about twin and adoption studies be ok?

Hey, I'll do it simplistically

Stages 1 & 2 - Relaxed state, easily woken. Alpha and Theta waves, heart rate slows, temperature drops.

Stages 3 & 4 (SWS) - Delta waves, metabolic rate slowest, growth hormone produced.

Stage 5 (REM) - Called paradoxical sleep because the brain and eyes active but body is paralysed.

I'd try and cover as many different gene-related topics as possible - I'm doing adoption/twin studies, selective breeding with animals, XYY syndrome, and the MAOA gene (though DRD4/3 would be fine instead as it's the same jist). Gives more opportunities for A02! Like selective breeding = use of animals etc
hope I helped!

does anyone else find that there is not enough research for a 24 marker on SLT (aggression)

Hey!

I'm confused about what topics to choose Well I'm being taught aggression and then if I want I can be taught eating behaviour too but then I don't know what to choose for my 3rd topic - gender, perception of cognition?! I think cognition looks the easiest but might not be as interesting. hmmm

For aggression deindividuation may come up as it hasn't been up recently