A-LevelPsychologyResearch methods9990/23 · Oct/Nov 2018 · Q34 Marks
In the study by Piliavin et al. (subway Samaritans), medians were calculated for 'time taken to help' in the Cane and Drunk conditions.
- (a)State whether the median is a 'measure of central tendency' or a 'measure of spread'. Include a reason for your answer.[1]
- (b)Describe how a median is calculated, using the Piliavin et al. study as an example.[2]
- (c)Name the type of graph that would be best used to show a comparison between the medians for 'time taken to help' in the Cane and Drunk conditions.[1]
Mark scheme
Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2018). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.
- [1] 1 mark for: (measure of central tendency) because it:
- - finds the middle value
- - is an average
- - looks for a typical value not an extreme
- [2] 1 mark for brief description of calculation
- 1 mark for identifying data used.
- All the scores in a set are put in order (smallest to largest) and the middle one is found (if there are two middle ones, these are added together and divided by 2) = 1 mark
- So in Piliavin et al.'s case they put all the times to respond / offer help in order for each group (e.g. for the 'white cane 1–3 people' group) (and found the middle one) = 2nd mark
- [1] 1 mark for bar chart
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