Zahir has broken his leg. You want to know if Zahir's leg is hurting less over time.

Mark scheme

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

1. (a) Typical features for observations: type of observation in relation to participants, observers, setting and data. Also response categories, sampling frame, number of observers.
2. (a) Typical features of research methodology: sampling technique and sample, type of data, ethics, reliability, validity, data analysis.
3. (b) Psychological evidence: The UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) pain scale is designed to observe levels of pain over time. A nurse/health worker observes behavioural expressions of pain at different times during a day (or night) and records on a daily chart. A total score can be recorded each day and compared with the next to determine whether the pain is reducing over time. Turk (1985) identifies four pain behaviours: facial/audible expression of distress; distorted ambulation or posture; negative affect; avoidance of activity.
4. (b) Methodological evidence: explanation of method using typical features as above (e.g., structured observation, behavioural categories, time sampling, inter-observer reliability).