Design a study using a questionnaire to investigate gender differences in rational non-adherence to medical requests.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Feb/Mar 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [10] Marks: use generic levels of response Design a study question part (a).
2. [A] Additional: Candidates should design the study showing evidence of design features appropriate to the named method. The named method is: questionnaire.
3. [S] Specific features: Questionnaires/Interviews: type, setting, example questions. Scoring/rating scale, analysis of responses.
4. [G] General features of research methodology: sampling technique and sample, type of data, ethics, reliability, validity, data analysis.
5. [L] Logically candidates will construct a questionnaire asking about rational non-adherence and give it to a sample of males and of females. Age could be controlled.
6. [8] Marks: use generic levels of response 'Design a study' question part (b).
7. [N] N.B. If only methodological or psychological explanation is provided max 5 marks
8. [C] Candidates are expected to explain the reasons for the suggested design in part (a). Explanation should be both psychological and methodological.
9. [P] Psychological to include appropriate theory or research.
10. [A] Additional: candidates are expected to justify their decisions or evidence presented regarding the design made in answer to question part (a).
11. [S] Syllabus: why patients don't adhere: rational non-adherence (Bulpitt, 1994)
12. [P] Psychological: Patients make a rational decision not to adhere (they are exercising their free will). They might believe that the treatment will cause more problems than it solves. Bulpitt (1998) studied male participants taking a drug for hypertension (high blood pressure). Because of side effects many of the men made the rational decision to stop taking the medicine.
13. [N] N.B. 2 marks max if psychological knowledge is not related to answer.
14. [M] Methodological: explanation of method using general and specific features as above.