A hypothesis in a study about ways to reduce phobias states 'Positive reinforcement will reduce phobic reactions more than imagery exposure'.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2019). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] 1 mark for correct reason. Must include an appropriate reason for this mark, answer without reason cannot be credited. Directional/one-tailed (hypothesis), because the direction of change is specified/because positive reinforcement will be better (than imagery exposure) = 1 mark
2. [1] 1 mark for null hypothesis with independent variable (IV) and dependent variable (DV). One- or two-tailed alternative hypotheses, and correlational nulls, are incorrect. There will be no difference between reduction in phobia in participants having positive reinforcement or imagery exposure therapy = 1 mark Any difference between phobic reactions (DV) after positive reinforcement or imagery exposure therapy (IV) is due to chance = 1 mark There will be no difference between the phobia, positive reinforcement or imagery exposure therapy = 0 marks (IV and DV not linked)
3. [1] 1 mark for quantitative measure of phobic reactions (ignore qualitative records) Feelings thermometer = 1 mark Rating scale of fear = 1 mark Behavioural score from observation of severity of behaviour change = 1 mark
4. [2] 1 mark for identifying problem 1 mark for detail It's unethical = 1 mark Participants will get distressed; which goes against the 'protection from harm' guideline = 2 marks To measure the phobia (reduction) you have to expose the participant to the phobic stimulus; so breaks the guideline of ‘protection' = 2 marks Deciding on how much the phobia has reduced is subjective; so it might depend on who records the data; making it unreliable = 2 marks