Newspaper headline: Imagine a pleasant scene that makes you smile. According to psychologist Linda Bridge, the stress of patients suffering from breast cancer can be reduced if they are taught to imagine a pleasant scene while they are relaxing. Bridge et al. (1988) found that after six weeks of using 'imagery plus relaxation', patients felt much better than those who had just relaxed or those who had no stress relief intervention.

Mark scheme

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

1. 3(a) Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited): ∞ an image or picture a person has in their mind (1 mark) about an object, event or particularly a scene which is pleasant, relaxing and brings happiness/a smile to the person imagining the scene (+1 mark) Marks: 1 mark for basic answer e.g. identification. 1 mark for elaboration/example.
2. 3(b) Most likely answer: ∞ the simplicity of the imagery, suggesting a peaceful, pleasant scene of the patient's choice, meant that it was within everyone's grasp ∞ often the image made the patient smile, at a time when smiles were perhaps few and far between ∞ the pleasant scene could be recalled easily at any time, and the researchers emphasised that it was a resource which every person had within them Marks: 1 mark for basic answer (apply anywhere). 1 mark for elaboration/example (without needing help). ×2 0 marks Any reason not Bridge et al. 0 Marks for describing the findings.
3. 3(c)(i) Most likely answer: ∞ The design was independent measures (1 mark) – different women did the three conditions: relaxation only, relaxation plus imagery, and control (+1 mark) - one set of patients do one condition and another set do a different condition (+1 mark) Marks: 1 mark basic answer (identification), 2 marks detailed answer/elaboration or use of example.
4. 3(c)(ii) Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited): ∞ individual differences between participants are not controlled ∞ for example: Twenty five women had received adjuvant chemotherapy at the time of or after operation before being recruited to the study. Their initial scores on the profile of mood states and Leeds general scales were compared with the scores of the 114 women who did not have adjuvant chemotherapy Marks: 1 mark basic answer, 2 marks detailed answer/elaboration or use of example.
5. 3(d) Marks: Question requires discussion; always plural of each argument, and always requires conclusion. 1 mark for each advantage/disadvantage (however detailed) and related to the question up to 4 max. 2 marks max for two strengths/weaknesses unrelated to the question. 1 mark for conclusion. Note: no credit for references to individuals. Longitudinal can be many. Points can be isolated and credited. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited): Advantages: ∞ it determines change or stability of illness over time ∞ it tracks the development of the same individual, so many factors remain constant ∞ measures can be repeated and so have reliability Disadvantages: ∞ attrition: participants drop out; can't be contacted ∞ once a study has started the main variables cannot be changed, even though something new may be more relevant ∞ unforseen variables may occur; becoming seriously ill may change beliefs significantly as might making a full recovery Note: no credit for 'timeconsuming' Question is about people who are ill, not participants in experiments. 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.