Cael and Elsie are working at a sleep laboratory and have read about external stimuli becoming part of people's dreams. Their aim is to test whether noises can more easily become part of a dream than smells.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2018). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [10] Three major omissions for a laboratory experiment are:
2. What: – will be recorded, i.e. DV
3. How: – IV
4. – controls
5. The minor omissions are:
6. where - location of participants when data is collected (e.g. sleep lab)
7. who - participants (sleepers)
8. Indicative content for a laboratory experiment:
9. How - identification of the independent variable
10. operationalisation of the dependent variable
11. What - identification of the dependent variable
12. operationalisation of the dependent variable
13. including examples of ways to measure the variable such as questions/tests used
14. How - controls
15. experimental design (any are appropriate here)
16. sampling technique
17. sample size
18. description of how data will analysed, e.g. use of measures of central tendency and spread, bar charts
19. ethical issues
20. Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
21. Mark according to the levels of response criteria below:
22. Level 3 (8–10 marks)
23. Response is described in sufficient detail to be replicable.
24. Response may have a minor omission.
25. Use of psychological terminology is accurate and comprehensive.
26. Level 2 (5–7 marks)
27. Response is in some detail.
28. Response has minor omission(s).
29. Use of psychological terminology is accurate.
30. Level 1 (1–4 marks)
31. Response is basic in detail.
32. Response has major omission(s).
33. If response is impossible to conduct max. 2.
34. Use of psychological terminology is mainly accurate.
35. Level 0 (0 marks)
36. No response worthy of credit.
37. [4] Answer will depend on problem identified.
38. Problems may, for example, be matters of:
39. Validity
40. operationalisation
41. difficulty with demand characteristics
42. difficulty with interpreting effect of stimuli on dreams
43. Reliability
44. inter-rater consistency (re interpreting effect of stimuli on dreams)
45. intra-rater consistency.
46. This list is not exhaustive and other appropriate responses should also be credited.
47. marks comment
48. 3–4 Appropriate problem identified. Appropriate solution is clearly described.
49. 2 Appropriate problem identified. plus EITHER Explanation of why it is a problem OR Ineffectual but possible solution described.
50. 1 Appropriate problem identified. Little or no justification.
51. 0 No response worthy of credit