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AQA A2 Psychology PSYA3/PSYA4 Revision Thread 2015
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Hey guys,
Thought I would start this thread as I've found looking through last year's revision thread quite helpful in writing my essays already!
We've started with PSYA3 and are studying Relationships, Aggression and Eating Behaviour. What's everyone else doing?
Edit: I'm finding the Loopa books super helpful at the moment - they've really helped with structuring my essays to complement the notes I already have. If anyone's interested head to loopa.co.uk - there are books for most of the topics!
Thought I would start this thread as I've found looking through last year's revision thread quite helpful in writing my essays already!
We've started with PSYA3 and are studying Relationships, Aggression and Eating Behaviour. What's everyone else doing?
Edit: I'm finding the Loopa books super helpful at the moment - they've really helped with structuring my essays to complement the notes I already have. If anyone's interested head to loopa.co.uk - there are books for most of the topics!
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I was just interested to find out how everyone has been told to write their essays? I find writing all the AO1 and then all the AO2 in two blocks a lot more effective with the time limit, and easier to memorise. And surely it's easier for the examiner to mark essays like this?? But my teacher keeps telling me I should "interweave" the theory and evaluation and marks me down because I don't.
Also, is it ok to write each paragraph as separate points which don't necessarily link? For example, I'll write about Reward-Need Satisfaction Theory. Then for the evaluation I might write a paragraph about Hays' study, and evaluate his methodology. Then in the next paragraph I'll move on and write about Griffit and Guay. I've been getting marked down for this, but from model essays I've read online I get the impression this is an ok way to do it.
I'm finding it quite difficult as I do slightly doubt what my teacher tells me, as when you ask her a direct question she can never really explain exactly HOW I'm supposed to link all my evaluation points
Any advice much appreciated!
Also, is it ok to write each paragraph as separate points which don't necessarily link? For example, I'll write about Reward-Need Satisfaction Theory. Then for the evaluation I might write a paragraph about Hays' study, and evaluate his methodology. Then in the next paragraph I'll move on and write about Griffit and Guay. I've been getting marked down for this, but from model essays I've read online I get the impression this is an ok way to do it.
I'm finding it quite difficult as I do slightly doubt what my teacher tells me, as when you ask her a direct question she can never really explain exactly HOW I'm supposed to link all my evaluation points
Any advice much appreciated!
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#3
(Original post by MollyMcFly1)
I was just interested to find out how everyone has been told to write their essays? I find writing all the AO1 and then all the AO2 in two blocks a lot more effective with the time limit, and easier to memorise. And surely it's easier for the examiner to mark essays like this?? But my teacher keeps telling me I should "interweave" the theory and evaluation and marks me down because I don't.
Also, is it ok to write each paragraph as separate points which don't necessarily link? For example, I'll write about Reward-Need Satisfaction Theory. Then for the evaluation I might write a paragraph about Hays' study, and evaluate his methodology. Then in the next paragraph I'll move on and write about Griffit and Guay. I've been getting marked down for this, but from model essays I've read online I get the impression this is an ok way to do it.
I'm finding it quite difficult as I do slightly doubt what my teacher tells me, as when you ask her a direct question she can never really explain exactly HOW I'm supposed to link all my evaluation points
Any advice much appreciated!
I was just interested to find out how everyone has been told to write their essays? I find writing all the AO1 and then all the AO2 in two blocks a lot more effective with the time limit, and easier to memorise. And surely it's easier for the examiner to mark essays like this?? But my teacher keeps telling me I should "interweave" the theory and evaluation and marks me down because I don't.
Also, is it ok to write each paragraph as separate points which don't necessarily link? For example, I'll write about Reward-Need Satisfaction Theory. Then for the evaluation I might write a paragraph about Hays' study, and evaluate his methodology. Then in the next paragraph I'll move on and write about Griffit and Guay. I've been getting marked down for this, but from model essays I've read online I get the impression this is an ok way to do it.
I'm finding it quite difficult as I do slightly doubt what my teacher tells me, as when you ask her a direct question she can never really explain exactly HOW I'm supposed to link all my evaluation points
Any advice much appreciated!
Normally, at AS, you would write 1 A01 paragraph and 4 A02 paragraphs but at A2, you write the theory (A01) and as much A02 you can until your 30mins is over for the first question. That being said, you should be spending at least 30mins on each section.
With how you evaluate, if you use a study, you do not evaluate the study, you evaluate how the study corresponds to the theory. Is it valid in regards to the theory? The essays you've read must have been A02 with evaluating the theory.
With linking, I think your teacher may mean talk about a specific IDA and then link that to another.
Hope I helped, i did psychology for a level
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#4
If you struggle with anything Molly drop me a message on Loopa and I'll help too but as I have said in my videos - writing theory first is best followed by evaluation after keeping them distinctively different (leaving a single line of space). Examiners are humans too and sitting there trying to decipher paragraphs and where the theory is and where the evaluation is will only make them turn off their concentration towards your essays.
Saj
Saj
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#5
We're doing relationships, aggression, intelligence, media, schizophrenia and research methods. My teachers also tell us to interweave all the AOs, and I got marked down for blocking it too. But surely it's easier for examiners to mark if we block them?
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#6
hey, im doing Relationships, Aggression and Eating Behaviour too. We've been told to write the AO1 first, then as much evaluation and IDA points (Issues, Debates, and Real Life Application) as possible. My teachers are pushing us to write more for AO3 (IDA) as we don't write enough.
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(Original post by maymuyt)
That is essentially, the right way to write an essay. With a typical psychology question, there are a lot of theories and concepts and you can choose one or two depending on the question itself.
Normally, at AS, you would write 1 A01 paragraph and 4 A02 paragraphs but at A2, you write the theory (A01) and as much A02 you can until your 30mins is over for the first question. That being said, you should be spending at least 30mins on each section.
With how you evaluate, if you use a study, you do not evaluate the study, you evaluate how the study corresponds to the theory. Is it valid in regards to the theory? The essays you've read must have been A02 with evaluating the theory.
With linking, I think your teacher may mean talk about a specific IDA and then link that to another.
Hope I helped, i did psychology for a level
That is essentially, the right way to write an essay. With a typical psychology question, there are a lot of theories and concepts and you can choose one or two depending on the question itself.
Normally, at AS, you would write 1 A01 paragraph and 4 A02 paragraphs but at A2, you write the theory (A01) and as much A02 you can until your 30mins is over for the first question. That being said, you should be spending at least 30mins on each section.
With how you evaluate, if you use a study, you do not evaluate the study, you evaluate how the study corresponds to the theory. Is it valid in regards to the theory? The essays you've read must have been A02 with evaluating the theory.
With linking, I think your teacher may mean talk about a specific IDA and then link that to another.
Hope I helped, i did psychology for a level
So if we don't evaluate the studies how do we get AO3 marks? Could you not say, for example, "much of the research into ……… uses questionnaires. The responses may have been influenced by social desirability bias, meaning they are not a true representation of human behaviour. This has a negative influence on the theory as there is a lack of credible research to support it". Or something along those lines? I thought we were ok to evaluate the studies as long as we specified the effect on the theory itself :/
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(Original post by Mephestic)
If you struggle with anything Molly drop me a message on Loopa and I'll help too but as I have said in my videos - writing theory first is best followed by evaluation after keeping them distinctively different (leaving a single line of space). Examiners are humans too and sitting there trying to decipher paragraphs and where the theory is and where the evaluation is will only make them turn off their concentration towards your essays.
Saj
If you struggle with anything Molly drop me a message on Loopa and I'll help too but as I have said in my videos - writing theory first is best followed by evaluation after keeping them distinctively different (leaving a single line of space). Examiners are humans too and sitting there trying to decipher paragraphs and where the theory is and where the evaluation is will only make them turn off their concentration towards your essays.
Saj
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(Original post by coffeeandcats)
We're doing relationships, aggression, intelligence, media, schizophrenia and research methods. My teachers also tell us to interweave all the AOs, and I got marked down for blocking it too. But surely it's easier for examiners to mark if we block them?
We're doing relationships, aggression, intelligence, media, schizophrenia and research methods. My teachers also tell us to interweave all the AOs, and I got marked down for blocking it too. But surely it's easier for examiners to mark if we block them?
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(Original post by Bex Adams)
hey, im doing Relationships, Aggression and Eating Behaviour too. We've been told to write the AO1 first, then as much evaluation and IDA points (Issues, Debates, and Real Life Application) as possible. My teachers are pushing us to write more for AO3 (IDA) as we don't write enough.
hey, im doing Relationships, Aggression and Eating Behaviour too. We've been told to write the AO1 first, then as much evaluation and IDA points (Issues, Debates, and Real Life Application) as possible. My teachers are pushing us to write more for AO3 (IDA) as we don't write enough.
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#11
(Original post by MollyMcFly1)
Sounds good. I always try to do the IDA first in case I run out of time!
Sounds good. I always try to do the IDA first in case I run out of time!
Also, read latest psychology papers they help a lot as they have recent studies around the topics you're doing and shows your interest to the examiner.
link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
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#12
(Original post by MollyMcFly1)
Thanks Saj! I have bought your relationships book and have found it super helpful! As far as I know we don't actually get marks for our essay structure do we? So it doesn't really matter if you don't link all your points...The main thing is getting the content in there?
Thanks Saj! I have bought your relationships book and have found it super helpful! As far as I know we don't actually get marks for our essay structure do we? So it doesn't really matter if you don't link all your points...The main thing is getting the content in there?
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(Original post by TheNoobishKnight)
Hi guys! How far have you guys come in the course?
Hi guys! How far have you guys come in the course?
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#15
(Original post by MollyMcFly1)
We've just finished Deindividuation in the Aggression topic. Covered Relationships already
We've just finished Deindividuation in the Aggression topic. Covered Relationships already
We've done it backwards. We have done the PSAY4 section C which is worth 35 marks and is all about research methods. I think we are doing Section A now, Schizophrenia which is 24 marks( I have almost finished it). There are about 7-8 essays you got to memorise by heart( I think lol). TBH I don't find it too bad so far. A bit boring though... lol
Went to keep a plethora of time for memorisation, so getting this done at a good pace should help
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(Original post by TheNoobishKnight)
I don't even know what topics were are doing for PSYA3 -_- lol. How you finding it? How many essays do you have to memorise for each topic?
We've done it backwards. We have done the PSAY4 section C which is worth 35 marks and is all about research methods. I think we are doing Section A now, Schizophrenia which is 24 marks( I have almost finished it). There are about 7-8 essays you got to memorise by heart( I think lol). TBH I don't find it too bad so far. A bit boring though... lol
Went to keep a plethora of time for memorisation, so getting this done at a good pace should help
I don't even know what topics were are doing for PSYA3 -_- lol. How you finding it? How many essays do you have to memorise for each topic?
We've done it backwards. We have done the PSAY4 section C which is worth 35 marks and is all about research methods. I think we are doing Section A now, Schizophrenia which is 24 marks( I have almost finished it). There are about 7-8 essays you got to memorise by heart( I think lol). TBH I don't find it too bad so far. A bit boring though... lol
Went to keep a plethora of time for memorisation, so getting this done at a good pace should help
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#18
(Original post by MollyMcFly1)
I memorised about 8 essays for Relationships and I think it's the same in the other PSYA3 topics. Such fun ha! I've been doing the research methods stuff on my own as I don't think we'll have a lot of time to do it in class - it's very dry isn't it?
I memorised about 8 essays for Relationships and I think it's the same in the other PSYA3 topics. Such fun ha! I've been doing the research methods stuff on my own as I don't think we'll have a lot of time to do it in class - it's very dry isn't it?
(Original post by beckysoya)
I'm finding PSYA3/4 much harder too. I'm not really sure about the structure
I'm finding PSYA3/4 much harder too. I'm not really sure about the structure
Really helps you grasp the way to structure it.
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#19
(Original post by TheNoobishKnight)
Hi guys! How far have you guys come in the course?
Hi guys! How far have you guys come in the course?
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#20
(Original post by MaryamI)
Hi, we have covered two topics already - Relationships and Aggression. After half-term we will be start on Gender. Wbu?
Hi, we have covered two topics already - Relationships and Aggression. After half-term we will be start on Gender. Wbu?
. Wow, you guys are killing it. you got them to topics done which means you got 1 topic left for PSAY3 and PSYA4 isn't that long TBH.
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