Duncan is conducting an experiment to test whether watching videos of natural scenes or city scenes is better at helping stressed people to relax. Half of the participants watch the natural scenes first and the city scenes one week later. The other half of the participants watch the city scenes first and the natural scenes one week later.

Mark scheme

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

1. [2] (a) 1 mark for identification and explanation of the design: (generic) 1 mark for link Repeated measures (DEFINITIVE) design because the same participants are used in both levels of the IV (although people can do different orders) = 1 explanation All participants did both the natural and city scenes task = 1 link
2. [2] (b) 1 mark for advantage 1 mark for detail - linked Counteracts order effects / avoids practice/ avoids fatigue = 1 (advantage) e.g. if they found it boring the second time they might be less relaxed anyway = 1 (link) Reduces demand characteristics = 1 (advantage) e.g. if they worked out the aim about type of scene from the first ones, they would respond abnormally the second time = 1 (link)
3. [2] (c) 1 mark for disadvantage 1 mark for link All students = 1 (disadvantage) All city dwellers = 1 (disadvantage) All the same university = 1 (disadvantage) They might tend to find urban scenes even more irritating and be abnormally aroused = 1 (link) (they all live in the city) so they are used to city living / urban scenes = (link)
4. [2] (d) 1 mark suggestion of ethical activity to arouse 1 mark why it is ethically suitable Let them watch an exciting film (of their choice); This is arousing because of the excitement, which is not harmful and films are what people would watch anyway; Let them choose an exciting game to play; This is arousing because of the excitement, which is not harmful as it is a game they have chosen to play.