AQA AS Level Psychology Predictions Paper 2 2018

(Original post by LifeIsSoHard)
Here are grade boundaries for the previous 2 years, thought i might add here just for reference.

It looks like the grade boundaries will be higher this year.
I'm guessing it will be around 70–75% for an A (so thats 50–55 marks out of 75).

(Original post by I AM GROOT 1)

Approaches

Origins of psychology: Wundt, introspection and the emergence of psychology as a science:

Probably a 4 marker on Wundt on introspection as there have not been questions on such it may ask you to identify why it is criticisms e.g not scientific

Learning approaches: the behaviourist approach, including classical conditioning and Pavlov’s research, operant conditioning, types of reinforcement and Skinner’s research; social learning theory including imitation, identification, modelling, vicarious reinforcement, the role of mediational processes and Bandura’s research:

there could be a 8 marker on the behaviourist approach as before there have only been indirect 4 markers. I doubt SLT as it was a 6 and 12 markers

The cognitive approach: the study of internal mental processes, the role of schema, the use of theoretical and computer models to explain and make inferences about mental processes. The emergence of cognitive neuroscience:

perhaps a 12 marker as there has never been one set on it. reference to neuroscience has come up as a 1 marker tick box it may be more marks ect.

The biological approach: the influence of genes, biological structures and neurochemistry on behaviour. Genotype and phenotype, genetic basis of behaviour, evolution and behaviour:

biological approach has been broken up in the past I think it is possible as a 12 marker. or it may be directed at evolution and behaviour as this hasn’t come up yet may be a 4 marker explaining it- could also be apply it question

The divisions of the nervous system: central and peripheral (somatic and autonomic):

there have been subtle questions on such there may be more e.g what are is the NS split up into 6 marks easily describing the somatic and autonomic it could also be in the form of an apply it question 4 marks

The structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurons. The process of synaptic transmission, including reference to neurotransmitters, excitation and inhibition:

may be describe a specific neuron and it function etc. 2-3 marks or label a diagram. excitation and inhibition have come up so I doubt it. May be the process of transmission

The function of the endocrine system: glands and hormones:

not one set specifically could be explain how the ES works

The fight or flight response including the role of adrenaline:

I doubt this will come up it already has maybe tick box



Psychopathology

Definitions of abnormality, including deviation from social norms, failure to function adequately, statistical infrequency and deviation from ideal mental health:

Has come up before as an 8 marker 2 definitions, this time it might be specific like what does FFA define abnormality as or what is the strengths or weaknesses of such definitions alone or as a whole possible 4/6 marks

The behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics of phobias, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD):

there have been many on OCD and phobias I’m guessing depression characteristics and treatments 6 marks or an apply it question easily 4 marks

The behavioural approach to explaining and treating phobias: the two-process model, including classical and operant conditioning; systematic desensitisation, including relaxation and use of hierarchy; flooding:

Flooding and SD have come up before I doubt they would come up again. May be the two process model what it is 3 marks or may be CC or OC

The cognitive approach to explaining and treating depression: Beck’s negative triad and Ellis’s ABC model; cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), including challenging irrational thoughts:

CBT has come up as a four marker I think is will be on the ABC model explaining depression 4 marks or becks theory 4 marks outlining

The biological approach to explaining and treating OCD: genetic and neural explanations; drug therapy:

genetic and neural has come up as a 12 marker so doubt it may be tick box or 2 marker on evaluative statements etc.

Research methods

Aims: stating aims, the difference between aims and hypotheses.

• Hypotheses: directional and non-directional.- they have asked this question many times doubt it will ask u to write one

• Sampling: the difference between population and sample; sampling techniques including: random, systematic, stratified, opportunity and volunteer; implications of sampling techniques, including bias and generalisation.- may be systematic sampling and the disadvantage as they have done stratified and touched upon volunteer could be opportunity

• Pilot studies and the aims of piloting.- may be 2 marker on what is it but they have asked before

• Experimental designs: repeated measures, independent groups, matched pairs.- might give u a stem u have to say which one used then advantage or disadvantage they have done matched pairs before so doubt that one

• Observational design: behavioural categories; event sampling; time sampling.- not asked about such may ask what is behavioural categories as paper one had event sampling in it

• Questionnaire construction, including use of open and closed questions; design of interviews.- this was in paper one so doubt they have also on strength of questionnaire so I doubt it will come as a whole

• Variables: manipulation and control of variables, including independent, dependent, extraneous, confounding; operationalisation of variables.- extraneous variables has come up before as a 3 marker identifying effect on study may ask u to define what is operationalisation and then ask you to operationalise it in a study. Confounding could come up

• Control: random allocation and counterbalancing, randomisation and standardisation- asked about RA and counter balancing so may what is standardisation and randomisation

• Demand characteristics and investigator effects- DC already asked may be what is investigator effect or how could this occur in a study

• Ethics, including the role of the British Psychological Society’s code of ethics; ethical issues in the design and conduct of psychological studies; dealing with ethical issues in research.- could be a 8 marker on this where u identify and say how you deal with as there has not been a direct one on it- or even apply it to a study

• The role of peer review in the scientific process- come up in paper one so I doubt it will come up again

• The implications of psychological research for the economy-I think this will definitely come up on either section as it hasn’t yet most likely on approaches as it has come up on psychopathology

3.2.3.2 Data handling and analysis

• Quantitative and qualitative data; the distinction between qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques- has come up before so doubt and was in paper 1

• Primary and secondary data, including meta-analysis.- there has never been one on what is meta-analysis so could be a potential 3 marker. but has been one on primary and secondary so doubt it

• Descriptive statistics: measures of central tendency – mean, median, mode; calculation of mean, median and mode; measures of dispersion; range and standard deviation; calculation of range; calculation of percentages; positive, negative and zero correlations.- has been on mean so doubt and on % may be identifying correlation and the weakness of correlation i.e. can’t show cause and effect

• Presentation and display of quantitative data: graphs, tables, scatter grams, bar charts.-done bar chart so maybe as a graph 4 marks using a study or data given or even scatter gram- identify what it show or something along those lines

• Distributions: normal and skewed distributions; characteristics of normal and skewed distributions.- yes I think there will be a question identifying what type skew it is and saying what it means e.g about a test

• Introduction to statistical testing; the sign test.- never come up I definitely think it will as easier 4 marker

(Original post by rosita.zadeh)
[spoiler]


Thank you so much! Your predictions are so useful and I really appreciate the time you've spent on making these predictions.

(Original post by I AM GROOT 1)
thank you that is so kind
and it is no problem when people aks politely i have to it my nature as a person
good luck for u exam
good luck to everyone

(Original post by I AM GROOT 1)
thank you that is so kind
and it is no problem when people aks politely i have to it my nature as a person
good luck for u exam
good luck to everyone

(Original post by I AM GROOT 1)
hi guys here is my predictions hope they help

Approaches

Origins of psychology: Wundt, introspection and the emergence of psychology as a science:

Probably a 4 marker on Wundt on introspection as there have not been questions on such it may ask you to identify why it is criticisms e.g not scientific

Learning approaches: the behaviourist approach, including classical conditioning and Pavlov’s research, operant conditioning, types of reinforcement and Skinner’s research; social learning theory including imitation, identification, modelling, vicarious reinforcement, the role of mediational processes and Bandura’s research:

there could be a 8 marker on the behaviourist approach as before there have only been indirect 4 markers. I doubt SLT as it was a 6 and 12 markers

The cognitive approach: the study of internal mental processes, the role of schema, the use of theoretical and computer models to explain and make inferences about mental processes. The emergence of cognitive neuroscience:

perhaps a 12 marker as there has never been one set on it. reference to neuroscience has come up as a 1 marker tick box it may be more marks ect.

The biological approach: the influence of genes, biological structures and neurochemistry on behaviour. Genotype and phenotype, genetic basis of behaviour, evolution and behaviour:

biological approach has been broken up in the past I think it is possible as a 12 marker. or it may be directed at evolution and behaviour as this hasn’t come up yet may be a 4 marker explaining it- could also be apply it question

The divisions of the nervous system: central and peripheral (somatic and autonomic):

there have been subtle questions on such there may be more e.g what are is the NS split up into 6 marks easily describing the somatic and autonomic it could also be in the form of an apply it question 4 marks

The structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurons. The process of synaptic transmission, including reference to neurotransmitters, excitation and inhibition:

may be describe a specific neuron and it function etc. 2-3 marks or label a diagram. excitation and inhibition have come up so I doubt it. May be the process of transmission

The function of the endocrine system: glands and hormones:

not one set specifically could be explain how the ES works

The fight or flight response including the role of adrenaline:

I doubt this will come up it already has maybe tick box



Psychopathology

Definitions of abnormality, including deviation from social norms, failure to function adequately, statistical infrequency and deviation from ideal mental health:

Has come up before as an 8 marker 2 definitions, this time it might be specific like what does FFA define abnormality as or what is the strengths or weaknesses of such definitions alone or as a whole possible 4/6 marks

The behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics of phobias, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD):

there have been many on OCD and phobias I’m guessing depression characteristics and treatments 6 marks or an apply it question easily 4 marks

The behavioural approach to explaining and treating phobias: the two-process model, including classical and operant conditioning; systematic desensitisation, including relaxation and use of hierarchy; flooding:

Flooding and SD have come up before I doubt they would come up again. May be the two process model what it is 3 marks or may be CC or OC

The cognitive approach to explaining and treating depression: Beck’s negative triad and Ellis’s ABC model; cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), including challenging irrational thoughts:

CBT has come up as a four marker I think is will be on the ABC model explaining depression 4 marks or becks theory 4 marks outlining

The biological approach to explaining and treating OCD: genetic and neural explanations; drug therapy:

genetic and neural has come up as a 12 marker so doubt it may be tick box or 2 marker on evaluative statements etc.

Research methods

Aims: stating aims, the difference between aims and hypotheses.

• Hypotheses: directional and non-directional.- they have asked this question many times doubt it will ask u to write one

• Sampling: the difference between population and sample; sampling techniques including: random, systematic, stratified, opportunity and volunteer; implications of sampling techniques, including bias and generalisation.- may be systematic sampling and the disadvantage as they have done stratified and touched upon volunteer could be opportunity

• Pilot studies and the aims of piloting.- may be 2 marker on what is it but they have asked before

• Experimental designs: repeated measures, independent groups, matched pairs.- might give u a stem u have to say which one used then advantage or disadvantage they have done matched pairs before so doubt that one

• Observational design: behavioural categories; event sampling; time sampling.- not asked about such may ask what is behavioural categories as paper one had event sampling in it

• Questionnaire construction, including use of open and closed questions; design of interviews.- this was in paper one so doubt they have also on strength of questionnaire so I doubt it will come as a whole

• Variables: manipulation and control of variables, including independent, dependent, extraneous, confounding; operationalisation of variables.- extraneous variables has come up before as a 3 marker identifying effect on study may ask u to define what is operationalisation and then ask you to operationalise it in a study. Confounding could come up

• Control: random allocation and counterbalancing, randomisation and standardisation- asked about RA and counter balancing so may what is standardisation and randomisation

• Demand characteristics and investigator effects- DC already asked may be what is investigator effect or how could this occur in a study

• Ethics, including the role of the British Psychological Society’s code of ethics; ethical issues in the design and conduct of psychological studies; dealing with ethical issues in research.- could be a 8 marker on this where u identify and say how you deal with as there has not been a direct one on it- or even apply it to a study

• The role of peer review in the scientific process- come up in paper one so I doubt it will come up again

• The implications of psychological research for the economy-I think this will definitely come up on either section as it hasn’t yet most likely on approaches as it has come up on psychopathology

3.2.3.2 Data handling and analysis

• Quantitative and qualitative data; the distinction between qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques- has come up before so doubt and was in paper 1

• Primary and secondary data, including meta-analysis.- there has never been one on what is meta-analysis so could be a potential 3 marker. but has been one on primary and secondary so doubt it

• Descriptive statistics: measures of central tendency – mean, median, mode; calculation of mean, median and mode; measures of dispersion; range and standard deviation; calculation of range; calculation of percentages; positive, negative and zero correlations.- has been on mean so doubt and on % may be identifying correlation and the weakness of correlation i.e. can’t show cause and effect

• Presentation and display of quantitative data: graphs, tables, scatter grams, bar charts.-done bar chart so maybe as a graph 4 marks using a study or data given or even scatter gram- identify what it show or something along those lines

• Distributions: normal and skewed distributions; characteristics of normal and skewed distributions.- yes I think there will be a question identifying what type skew it is and saying what it means e.g about a test

• Introduction to statistical testing; the sign test.- never come up I definitely think it will as easier 4 marker

(Original post by WhatAUsername)
Not being funny but you’ve pretty much quoted the whole spec... how am I supposed to learn all of this in less than 24 hours????

(Original post by I AM GROOT 1)
i have listed the spec and put things that haven't come up
can u like stop being fussy this took f**** ages
not my problem

(Original post by LifeIsSoHard)
Hey, how was you history exam?

I had mine today (Stuarts), i found the questions better than expected tbh, but i just wish i revised a bit more. Hopefully, I get more marks on the other paper!

Now I'm going to just bang out revising Psychology for Paper 2 tomorrow!

(Original post by I AM GROOT 1)
sign test might not come up found this in specimen paper 3

(Original post by dina.yasmin)
its in specimen 3, like it wasn't official an exam paper - it might come up this year tho