A-LevelPsychologyResearch methods9990/23 · May/June 2021 · Q98 Marks

Naia wants to interview young people about how environmental issues make them feel. She wants to collect data about emotional responses to issues such as recycling. She has decided to conduct a structured interview.

(a)Suggest one open question Naia could ask about emotions.[1]
(b)Suggest one closed question Naia could ask about emotions.[1]
(c)Suggest one weakness of using a structured interview in Naia's study.[2]
(d)One participant says that Naia's questions are too personal. Explain two ethical guidelines that are important to overcome this problem. Do not refer to protection from harm or right to withdraw in your answer.[4]

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] 1 mark for open question
[1] Describe how do environmental issues make you feel = 1
[0] Do you recycle or not, and why? = 0
[1] 1 mark for closed question with answer choices
[1] When you see litter / waste how upset do you feel on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 10 (very)? = 1
[0] Which of the following do you recycle: paper, plastic, metal, glass? = 0
[1] 1 mark for weakness
[1] 1 mark for link
[1] It means she cannot ask questions to follow up on a participant's answer; (weakness)
[1] Her understanding of their emotions will be incomplete if she needed more information from them; (link)
[1] She couldn't explore individual interests in environmental issues; (link)
[1] 1 mark for ethical problem + 1 mark for link/detail/solution x2
[1] No mark for simply naming guideline/issue
[1] Informed consent: participants must understand the aims/procedure; and agree to the aim / procedure (but they didn't);
[1] Naia's participants expected questions on environmental issues and emotions, which isn't very personal; (link)
[1] participants should understand and agree to the aim/procedure but perhaps they weren't brief;
[1] Naia should have told them the questions included ones on their emotions, which can be personal; (link)
[1] Debriefing: participants should be returned to their previous state after participation, but they weren't;
[1] Naia's participants were still upset by the questions about environmental issues and emotions; (link)
[1] Privacy: participants must not feel that personal thoughts are being invaded so the questions must change;
[1] Naia could ask what participants think other people are doing / not doing about environmental issues; (link)
[1] e.g. ask 'do you disapprove when your neighbours don't separate their rubbish for recycling? (link)