Design a study to investigate the long-term effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs in patients with schizophrenia.

Mark scheme

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

1. Marks: use generic levels of response, ‘Design a study' question part (a).
2. Additional: Candidates should design the study showing evidence of design features appropriate to the named method. The named method is: any appropriate method.
3. Specific features:
4. Experiments: type, IV, DV, controls, experimental design.
5. Observations: type, setting, response categories, sampling frame, number of observers.
6. Questionnaires / Interviews: type, setting, example questions. Scoring / rating scale, analysis of responses.
7. General features of research methodology: sampling technique & sample, type of data, ethics, reliability, validity, data analysis.
8. Marks: use generic levels of response, ‘Design a study' question part (b).
9. Note: If only methodological or psychological explanation is provided max. 5 marks
10. Candidates are expected to explain the reasons for the suggested design in part (a). Explanation should be both psychological and methodological. Psychological to include appropriate theory or research.
11. Additional: candidates are expected to justify their decisions or evidence presented regarding the design made in answer to question part (a).
12. Syllabus: biochemical (antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics)
13. Psychological: First generation antipsychotics work as 'chemical cosh' (e.g. chlorpromazine). Second generation = atypical anti-psychotics worked by blocking dopamine receptors and fewer side effects. Third generation (e.g. Aripiprazole).
14. Methodological: explanation of method using general and specific features as above.
15. Note: 2 marks max. if psychological knowledge is not related to answer.