In a study about sharing, pairs of friends were given questionnaires. The questionnaire had only two questions: 'rate your own willingness to share' and 'rate your friend's willingness to share'.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2019). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] 1 mark for definition of term
2. Features of the setting which indicate the aim / change the participants' responses
3. [1] 1 mark for explanation of problem
4. (Changes in the participants' responses mean that) differences in the DV are not due to the IV;
5. Because participants are not responding (only) to the IV the findings will lack validity;
6. Because it means researchers cannot judge causation
7. [1] 1 mark for linked description of way to avoid demand characteristics
8. Ensure participants do not know that willingness to share is the aim of the study;
9. Hide the questions about sharing among others (to distract the participant / to disguise the aim);
10. Add filler questions (to questionnaire);
11. Deceive them by telling them it's a study about what makes a good friend