Libby is planning a case study of a boy with autism to investigate his social interactions.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [4] (a) Name/identification of a method of data collection x 2 Linked explanation × 2 Interview = 1 (name/ID) / Ask the boy face-to-face questions; (ID) (questions) such as 'What situations do you think make your symptoms worse?' = 1 (link) Observation = 1 (name/ID) Watch his behaviour at school / alone / at home etc., to look for factors that may relate to changes in his behaviour = 1 (link) Questionnaire = 1 (name/ID) Ask closed questions such as 'Do you smile back when someone smiles at you?' yes/no' = 1 (link) Tests/tasks = 1 (name/ID) use the Eyes test to see if he can recognise emotions from faces = 1 (link)
2. [2] (b) 1 mark for problem 1 mark for link Interview: researcher gets to know the individual = 1 (problem) So Libby may be biased in her interpretation of his social interactions, e.g. he = 1 (link) Observation: Unless Libby is covert and non-participant, she will affect the participant's behaviour by her presence = 1 (problem) So Libby would change the way the boy behaved by being there = 1 (link) Questionnaire: closed questions limit the answers that can be given = 1 (problem) So the boy may not have been able to find that option that described him = 1 (link)