(a) Design a study using an interview to investigate what the students in a school understand by the terms 'acute pain' and 'chronic pain'. (b) Explain the psychological and methodological evidence on which your study is based.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. use generic levels of response Design a study question part (a).
2. Candidates should design the study showing evidence of design features appropriate to the named method. The named method is: interview.
3. Specific features: Interviews: type, setting, example questions. Scoring/rating scale, analysis of responses.
4. General features of research methodology: sampling technique & sample, type of data, ethics, reliability, validity, data analysis.
5. use generic levels of response 'Design a study' question part (b).
6. NB If only methodological or psychological explanation is provided max 5 marks
7. Candidates are expected to explain the reasons for the suggested design in part (a). Explanation should be both psychological and methodological.
8. 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 and theories of pain: definitions of pain: acute and chronic organic pain; psychogenic pain (phantom limb pain)
11. Psychological: Acute pain: short-term, temporary (e.g. finger trapped in a door)
12. Psychological: Chronic pain: long term (3 months or more) e.g. arthritis.
13. NB 2 marks max if psychological knowledge is not related to answer.
14. Methodological: explanation of method using general and specific features as above.