Holmes and Rahe (1967) devised a questionnaire, based on an opportunity sample in the US. This was called the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) and is used to assess how life events cause stress. They believed that any change in life, whether positive or negative, was stressful.

Mark scheme

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

1. Marks: 1 mark for each aspect.
2. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited):
3. ∞ life event items ranked and allocated a number of points e.g. death of spouse = 100.
4. ∞ If happened in the last six months (or twelve months) allocated points are scored.
5. ∞ Total points for all items added to give SRRS score.
6. ∞ 300 points or more may result in health problems.
7. Marks: 1-2 marks basic answer. 3-4 marks detailed answer/elaboration.
8. Note: no credit for 'daily hassles' as they are not life events. Must be an alternative rating scale. Any other form of assessment cannot be credited.
9. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited):
10. ∞ A Likert-type scale could be used and the total found;
11. ∞ Participants could allocate points as an event applies to their specific circumstances.
12. ∞ A visual analogue scale e.g. ‘how much stress does x cause you' could be used.
13. Marks: 1 mark basic answer. 2 marks elaboration, twice.
14. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited):
15. ∞ People consulting a medical practitioner with symptoms of stress could be given a SRRS to determine the cause of the stress i.e. whether they have a high life events score.
16. ∞ People can monitor their own life events and if they are heading towards a high score, can avoid events which would make the score higher and affect their health. Not going on vacation, changing social activities, etc.
17. Marks: Question requires discussion; always plural of each argument, and always requires conclusion.
18. 1 mark for each advantage/disadvantage (however detailed) and related to the question up to 4 max.
19. 1 mark for two strengths/weaknesses unrelated to the question.
20. 1 mark for conclusion.
21. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited):
22. Bias:
23. ∞ applies to middle-aged males in the USA in the 1960s. Many examples of questions support this.
24. ∞ Rankings cannot be generalised – moving house has low rank in SRRS but may be much higher in other cultures.
25. ∞ Some events are missing, e.g. religious events which happen once (or more) per year.
26. ∞ Some cultures change and what may apply at one time may not at another.
27. No bias:
28. ∞ Some question items do apply to all cultures, such as death of a close member of family.
29. ∞ The original USA version can be adapted and be appropriate for every individual culture.
30. ∞ The use of quantitative data is culture free.
31. Conclusion: any appropriate conclusion drawn from the discussion that has been presented. 1 mark if appropriate. A conclusion is a 'decision reached by reasoning' and so a summary of points already made scores 0 marks.