Cecile has ten parrots that can answer questions about shapes. She is interested in whether there is a difference between the ability of parrots to learn to answer questions about sounds, such as from bells or buzzers, compared to shapes.

Mark scheme

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

1. Three major omissions for a laboratory experiment are:
2. What - will be recorded, i.e. DV (ability of parrots to answer questions)
3. How - IV (sounds & shapes)
4. controls
5. The minor omissions are:
6. where - location of participants when data is collected (i.e. lab)
7. who - participants (parrots)
8. Indicative content for a laboratory experiment:
9. How - identification of the independent variable (sounds and shapes)
10. How operationalisation of the dependent variable (ability of parrots to answer questions)
11. What - identification of the dependent variable
12. operationalisation of the dependent variable
13. including examples of ways to measure the variable
14. How - controls
15. experimental design (any are appropriate here)
16. sampling technique
17. sample size (10)
18. description of how data will analysed, e.g. use of measures of central tendency and spread, bar charts
19. ethical issues
20. Level 3 (8-10 marks)
21. Response is described in sufficient detail to be replicable.
22. Response may have a minor omission.
23. Use of psychological terminology is accurate and comprehensive.
24. Level 2 (5-7 marks)
25. Response is in some detail.
26. Response has minor omission(s).
27. Use of psychological terminology is accurate.
28. Level 1 (1-4 marks)
29. Response is basic in detail.
30. Response has major omission(s).
31. If response is impossible to conduct max. 2.
32. Use of psychological terminology is mainly accurate.
33. Level 0 (0 marks)
34. No response worthy of credit.
35. [4] Identify one practical weakness/limitation with the procedure you have described in your answer to part (a) and suggest how your study might be done differently to overcome the problem.
36. Do not refer to ethics or sampling in your answer.
37. Answer will depend on problem identified.
38. Problems may, for example, be matters of:
39. Validity
40. operationalisation e.g. deciding if learning has occurred
41. parrot factors e.g. auditory range, choices of reinforcers, parrot imitating sound rather than learning the task
42. Reliability
43. inter-rater consistency (re decision about whether parrot's response is 'correct')
44. intra-rater consistency.
45. This list is not exhaustive and other appropriate responses should also be credited.
46. Level
47. Marks
48. Comment
49. 3
50. 3-4
51. Appropriate problem identified.
52. Appropriate solution is clearly described.
53. 2
54. 2
55. Appropriate problem identified.
56. plus
57. EITHER
58. Explanation of why it is a problem
59. OR
60. Ineffectual but possible solution described.
61. 1
62. 1
63. Appropriate problem identified.
64. Little or no justification.
65. 0
66. 0
67. No response worthy of credit