KAMPALA DIPLOMATIC INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

AS & A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY 9990/21 Research Methods

Paper 2
Marking guide mock
1 hour 30 minutes
NAME:………………………………………………………………
INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any
diagrams or graphs

Section A (20marks)

1. State two ways in which the research methods of an experiment and a

case study are different.
Certainly! Experiment and case study are two different research methods,
and they differ in various aspects. Here are two key ways in which they
differ:

.
Control and Manipulation:
.
 Experiment: In an experiment, researchers manipulate one or
more independent variables to observe the effect on a dependent
variable. The goal is to establish cause-and-effect relationships by
controlling and manipulating variables. Experiments often involve
random assignment of participants to different conditions to
minimize bias and extraneous variables.
 Case Study: In contrast, a case study is more observational and
descriptive. Researchers typically do not manipulate variables;
instead, they observe and analyze a particular individual, group, or
situation in its natural setting. Case studies are often used to
 explore complex phenomena in depth, providing a detailed analysis
of real-life situations.
.
Generalizability:
.
 Experiment: The aim of experiments is often to establish
generalizable principles or theories that can be applied to a broader
population. Random assignment and controlled conditions help in
making inferences about cause and effect that can be generalized
beyond the specific participants in the study.
 Case Study: Case studies, on the other hand, are often criticized
for their limited generalizability. Since they focus on specific
individuals or situations, it can be challenging to apply the findings
to a larger population. The goal of a case study is often more
focused on understanding the unique aspects of a particular case
rather than making broad generalizations.

These differences highlight the contrasting approaches and goals of

experiments, which emphasize controlled manipulation and
generalizability, and case studies, which emphasize in-depth exploration
of specific instances. Researchers choose between these methods based
on their research questions, goals, and the nature of the phenomenon they
are investigating.

(5marks)
2. Explain one advantage of the sampling method used in the study by
Milgram (obedience).
Stanley Milgram's obedience study, conducted in the early 1960s, is well-
known for its investigation into the willingness of participants to follow
authority figures and administer potentially harmful electric shocks to
others. While Milgram's study is often criticized for ethical concerns, one
advantage of the sampling method used is its diverse participant pool,
which contributes to the study's external validity.

Advantage: Diverse Sample: Milgram recruited participants from

various backgrounds, including different occupations, educational levels,
and socio-economic statuses. The diverse sample enhances the external
validity of the study, as it increases the likelihood that the findings can be
generalized beyond the specific characteristics of the participants.

The inclusion of participants with varied backgrounds makes it more

plausible to argue that the results of the study could be applicable to a
broader range of people in society. This diversity is important for drawing
connections between the study's findings and real-world situations, as it
suggests that the observed behavior is not limited to a specific
demographic group but might be a more generalizable aspect of human
behavior.

However, it's important to note that while the diverse sample enhances
external validity, Milgram's study has faced criticism for ethical concerns,
as participants experienced significant psychological distress during the
experiment. Ethical considerations in research have evolved since the
time of Milgram's study, and contemporary research must adhere to
stricter ethical standards.

(5marks)

3.From the study by Bandura et al. (aggression)

(a) Describe how the quantitative data was collected in this study.
(a) The study you are referring to by Bandura is likely the Bobo doll
experiment, where Albert Bandura and his colleagues investigated the
effects of observing aggressive behavior on subsequent aggressive
behavior in children.

Quantitative data in the Bobo doll experiment was collected through

systematic behavioral observations. In this study, the researchers
quantified the children's aggressive behaviors by counting the number of
specific aggressive acts they exhibited after being exposed to aggressive
models. These behaviors included imitating aggressive actions, verbal
aggression, and physical aggression towards the Bobo doll. The
researchers recorded the frequency and intensity of these behaviors to
analyze and compare the levels of aggression in different experimental
conditions.

(3marks)
(b)Suggest one advantage of using quantitative data in this study.

(b) Advantage of Using Quantitative Data: One advantage of using

quantitative data in the Bobo doll experiment is the ability to conduct
statistical analyses for objective and systematic comparisons.
Quantitative data allows researchers to apply statistical tests to determine
the significance of observed differences between groups or conditions.
This enables the researchers to draw more robust conclusions about the
impact of exposure to aggressive models on children's aggressive
behavior. The use of statistical analyses enhances the scientific rigor of
the study and provides a more objective basis for making generalizations
about the relationship between exposure to aggression and subsequent
behavior in children.

(2marks)

4. Describe what is meant by a ‘semi-structured interview’ and an

‘unstructured interview’, using any examples.
Semi-Structured Interview: A semi-structured interview is a method of
qualitative research where the interviewer has a predetermined set of
questions but retains the flexibility to explore additional topics or delve
deeper into certain responses. This type of interview allows for a balance
between structure and flexibility, providing a framework for gathering
specific information while also allowing for a more open-ended and in-
depth discussion.

Example: Imagine a researcher is conducting interviews to understand

people's experiences with a new educational technology in a school
setting. The researcher may have a list of key questions, such as "How
has the technology impacted your teaching/learning?" or "Can you share
any challenges you've encountered in using the technology?" These
questions provide a structured framework. However, during the
interview, the researcher can also explore unexpected insights or ask
follow-up questions based on the participant's responses, allowing for a
more nuanced understanding of the subject.

Unstructured Interview: An unstructured interview is a qualitative

research method characterized by a lack of predetermined questions or a
formalized structure. Instead, the interviewer relies on open-ended
prompts and encourages participants to express themselves freely. The
goal is to obtain a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the
participant's experiences, perspectives, and emotions.

Example: Consider a study exploring the lived experiences of individuals

who have undergone significant life changes, such as overcoming a
serious illness. In an unstructured interview, the interviewer might start
with a broad prompt like, "Can you tell me about your journey and how it
has affected your life?" Without a predetermined list of questions, the
interviewer allows the participant to share their narrative organically.
Follow-up questions emerge based on the participant's responses,
providing the freedom to explore various aspects of the individual's
experience in-depth.

In summary, semi-structured interviews offer a balance between structure

and flexibility, while unstructured interviews provide a more open and
exploratory approach, allowing for a rich understanding of participants'
perspectives. The choice between these interview types depends on the
research objectives and the level of control and flexibility needed during
the data collection process.
(5marks)

Section B Answer all questions (40marks)

5.Kylo is planning a case study to investigate the importance of a

pet/domesticated animal in the life of an elderly person. (a) When
choosing his sample of one elderly person he has several decisions to
make.
(a)Suggest who Kylo should look for as a participant, including: • the
pet/domesticated animal they have and why the elderly person has this
animal • one other decision he must make when choosing his
participantDo not refer to sampling techniques in your answer.
.

(a) Kylo should look for an elderly person who has a pet or domesticated
animal that holds significant meaning or importance to them. This could
be a pet they have had for many years, one that provides companionship,
emotional support, or even one that serves a practical purpose, such as a
service animal. Another decision Kylo must make when choosing his
participant is their willingness to participate and their ability to provide
insightful and detailed information about their relationship with their pet.
(3marks)
(b) (i) Suggest one technique Kylo could use to collect data from his
participant in his case study.
One technique Kylo could use to collect data from his participant in his
case study is conducting semi-structured interviews..(2marks)
(ii) Explain one advantage of the technique you suggested in (b)(An
advantage of conducting semi-structured interviews is that they allow for
flexibility in questioning. Kylo can follow up on interesting responses,
probe deeper into certain topics, and adapt the interview based on the
participant's answers, providing rich and detailed data.i(2marks)
 (iii) Explain one disadvantage of the technique you suggested in (b)
(iHowever, a disadvantage of semi-structured interviews is that they can
be time-consuming both in terms of conducting the interviews themselves
and analyzing the data afterward. Additionally, the quality of the data
collected may be influenced by the interviewer's skills in asking probing
questions and the participant's ability to articulate their thoughts and
feelings.(3marks)

6.Gareth wants to investigate whether people are more friendly to each

other after a positive public event, for example, a festival or a celebrity
wedding.
(a)Design a natural experiment to test whether a positive public event
makes people more friendly to each other.you may use any positive
public event.
(a) Designing a natural experiment to test whether a positive public event
makes people more friendly to each other:

.
Selection of Positive Public Event: Choose a widely recognized and
celebrated positive public event such as a cultural festival, a community
fair, or a public concert. Ensure that the event is accessible to a diverse
range of individuals and attracts a sizable crowd.
.
.
Observation Period: Plan to conduct observations before, during, and
after the event to assess changes in people's behavior and friendliness
towards each other.
.
.
Random Sampling of Participants: Randomly select a sample of
individuals who attend the event. Ensure that the sample represents a
diverse demographic to account for variations in behavior across different
groups.
.
.
Baseline Observation: Before the event begins, observe and record the
interactions between individuals in the chosen sample. Document the
frequency and quality of interactions, such as greetings, conversations,
and acts of kindness.
.
.
 Event Intervention: Allow the positive public event to take place as
scheduled. During the event, continue observing the selected participants
and record any changes in their behavior towards others.
.
.
Post-Event Observation: After the event concludes, continue observing
the same participants for a specified period. Document any sustained
changes in behavior and friendliness towards others compared to the
baseline observations.
.
.
Control Group: To strengthen the experiment's validity, include a
control group of individuals who do not attend the event. Conduct similar
observations on this group during the same time frame to compare
changes in behavior with those who attended the event.
.
.
Data Collection and Analysis: Systematically collect and analyze the
observational data, focusing on indicators of friendliness, such as smiles,
greetings, and acts of cooperation. Use statistical methods to compare the
pre-event, event, and post-event observations within the experimental and
control groups.
.
.
Ethical Considerations: Ensure that the observations are conducted
ethically, respecting the privacy and consent of the participants. Avoid
any interference with natural behavior or manipulation of the event.
.
.
Reporting Results: Analyze the data collected and report the findings,
highlighting any significant differences in friendliness observed before,
during, and after the positive public event. Discuss implications for social
cohesion and community engagement.
.
(5marks)
(c) identify one practical weakness/limitation with the procedure you
have described in your answer to part in (a) and suggest how your study
might be done differently to overcome the problem. Do not refer to ethics
or sampling in your answer.

(c) One practical weakness/limitation with the procedure described above

is the potential for observer bias. Since the observations are subjective
 and rely on human judgment, there's a possibility that the observers'
interpretations of friendliness may differ. To overcome this problem, the
study could be done differently by implementing video recordings of
interactions instead of solely relying on human observers. Video
recordings would provide objective data that can be reviewed multiple
times, reducing the risk of bias and enhancing the reliability of the
observations. Additionally, multiple observers could independently
analyze the video footage to ensure consistency and validity in the
findings.

(5marks)
7.Describe two ways that dependent variables can be measured, using any
examples.

Dependent variables can be measured in various ways depending on the

nature of the research and the specific constructs being investigated. Here
are two common methods along with examples:

.
Self-Report Measures:
.
 Definition: Self-report measures involve participants providing
their own responses or evaluations of the variable being measured.
 Example: Suppose a study aims to measure the level of happiness
among individuals after attending a mindfulness meditation
program. Participants could be asked to complete a standardized
questionnaire such as the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) before
and after the program. The scale consists of items assessing
subjective feelings of happiness, and participants rate their
agreement with each item.
 Advantages:
 Self-report measures are relatively easy to administer and
can efficiently collect data from a large number of
participants.
 They provide insight into individuals' subjective
experiences, attitudes, and perceptions.
 Disadvantages:
 Responses may be influenced by social desirability bias,
where participants provide answers they believe are socially
acceptable rather than truthful.
 Individuals may have difficulty accurately assessing their
own feelings or behaviors, leading to response bias.
.
Behavioral Observations:
.
 Definition: Behavioral observations involve directly observing and
recording participants' behaviors as they occur in a natural or
controlled setting.
 Example: Consider a study examining the effect of music on
physical activity levels in a gym setting. Researchers could observe
participants' exercise behaviors (e.g., duration and intensity of
workout) while playing different genres of music. They might use
a stopwatch to measure the time spent exercising and a rating scale
to assess the intensity of activity.
 Advantages:
 Behavioral observations provide objective and concrete data
about participants' actions and behaviors.
 They allow researchers to capture real-time behaviors in
naturalistic settings, enhancing ecological validity.
 Disadvantages:
 Observer bias can affect the reliability of observations if the
observers' expectations or interpretations influence their
recording of behaviors.
 Some behaviors may be difficult to observe or quantify
accurately, especially if they occur infrequently or in
complex social contexts.

These methods offer researchers flexibility in measuring dependent

variables across a wide range of research domains, allowing for a
comprehensive understanding of the phenomena under investigation.

[10marks]
8. Jane is planning a laboratory experiment with two groups of
participants. One group speaks one language fluently and the other group
speaks two or more languages fluently. Jane thinks this may affect her
dependent variable of how well they learn ‘nonsense’ words. These are
words that read like real words but have no meaning. (a) Jane has two
possible ways to measure her dependent variable: • by timing how
quickly the participant can recall 10 nonsense words correctly • by
counting the number of spelling errors made when recalling 10 nonsense
words.
(i) Explain one strength of one of Jane’s measures of her dependent
variable.
(i) One strength of measuring the dependent variable by timing how
quickly the participant can recall 10 nonsense words correctly is that it
provides a quantitative and objective measure of learning efficiency. This
method allows for precise comparisons between individuals or groups in
terms of their cognitive processing speed and ability to memorize
information under controlled conditions.[2marks]
(ii) (a) Explain one weakness of the measure of the dependent variable
that you have referred to in (i)(ii) One weakness of measuring the
dependent variable by timing the recall of nonsense words is that it may
not fully capture the quality of learning or understanding. Timing alone
does not assess the accuracy or depth of participants' knowledge of the
nonsense words. For example, a participant might recall the words
quickly but make semantic errors or struggle to pronounce them
correctly, indicating a shallow level of learning despite fast recall.
[2marks]
(b) Suggest one way that Jane can operationalise ‘speaking a language
fluently’.
(b) One way Jane can operationalize "speaking a language fluently" is by
administering a language proficiency test specific to each participant's
languages. This test could assess various language skills such as
speaking, listening, reading, and writing in each language. Participants
who score above a certain threshold in all tested language skills could be
categorized as fluent speakers of those languages.[2marks]
(c) Jane used an independent measures design in her experiment. Explain
one reason why it would have been better for Jane to use a matched pairs
design than an independent measures design

(c) One reason why it would have been better for Jane to use a matched
pairs design rather than an independent measures design is to control for
individual differences between participants. In an independent measures
design, different participants are assigned to each group (e.g., one
language group or multiple language group), leading to potential
variability in factors that could influence the dependent variable, such as
cognitive abilities or motivation. By using a matched pairs design, Jane
could have paired participants based on relevant characteristics (e.g., age,
education level, cognitive ability) and ensured that each pair includes one
participant from each language group. This would have reduced the
influence of individual differences and increased the internal validity of
the experiment.[4marks]