Design a study using a questionnaire to investigate the characteristics of people who attend or fail to attend appointments with a medical practitioner.

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: questionnaire.
3. Specific features:
4. Questionnaires: type, setting, example questions. Scoring / rating scale, analysis of responses.
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: types of non-adherence (failure to follow treatment; failure to attend appointment) & problems caused by non-adherence
11. Psychological: Answers could be wide-ranging and include (i) people who apply rational adherence and attend or don't attend for good reason. (ii) people who don't attend because they are delaying treatment (e.g. Safer et al.). (iii) people who avoid 'medical things' because they may have a blood or injection phobia. Any appropriate answer to receive credit.
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.