Aram plans to use a controlled observation to record the behaviour of children in the play area of a classroom.

Mark scheme

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

1. [1] A controlled observation is where the researcher sets up/creates the situation or setting (social or physical) (which means that they can control the opportunities for the P's behaviour); (definition)
2. [1] So Aram could set up the play area with specific toys / interact with the child in specific ways; (link)
3. [1] (Aram could record) playing with building bricks
4. [1] (this could be defined as) 'picking up bricks and putting them on top or beside one another'
5. There will be many different possible answers. Credit all acceptable suggestions.
6. [1] make sure the area only has certain toys in it/same toys/same number of toys;
7. [1] same location for each toy each time;
8. [1] have a fixed range of furniture;
9. [1] (participant) because then he can encourage the children to play more; (suggestion – linked)
10. [1] he will be able to guide the children to play with specific toys / in particular ways; (reason – linked)
11. [1] (participant) because he will be able to close to the participants; (suggestion)
12. [1] so he can see their faces and judge whether ambiguous behaviours are play; (reason – linked)
13. [1] (overt) he won't have to hide who he is so he can play more easily with the children; (suggestion – linked)
14. [1] so he will interact better with the participants / understand them better; (reason)