Design a study using an observation to investigate the responses of ten people waiting in a queue when two males intrude into that queue.

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: observation.
3. Specific features:
4. Observations: type, setting, response categories, sampling frame, number of observers.
5. General features of research methodology: sampling technique & sample, type of data, ethics, reliability, validity, data analysis.
6. Marks: use generic levels of response, 'Design a study' question part (b).
7. Note: If only methodological or psychological explanation is provided max. 5 marks.
8. 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.
9. Additional: candidates are expected to justify their decisions or evidence presented regarding the design made in answer to question part (a).
10. Syllabus: defending place in a queue (Milgram et al., 1986)
11. Psychological: Quote from Milgram study: Confederates intruded themselves into 129 naturally occurring waiting lines; the defensive reactions of the queuers were noted. Queuers following the point of intrusion were more likely to object than those who preceded it; two intruders provoked more reaction than a single intruder; and buffers (passive confederates standing in line) dampened the queue's response to the intruders. In the study by Milgram stooges 'pushed-in' to a queue and observers noted what happened. Those at the back of the queue complained more; there were more complaints when there were two stooges rather than one.
12. Methodological: explanation of method using general and specific features as above.
13. Note: 2 marks max. if psychological knowledge is not related to answer.