A-LevelPsychologyResearch methods9990/23 · Oct/Nov 2020 · Q79 Marks
A company is having a new kitchen built that will produce better quality food for its workers so will improve work output. Cedric measures work output three weeks before the new kitchen opens, as a baseline. He finds work output is low. When Cedric measures work output again three weeks after the new kitchen opens, he finds that work output is higher.
- (a)State how Cedric could operationalise the independent variable in his study.[2]
- (b)State how Cedric could operationalise the dependent variable in his study.[2]
- (c)(i)Suggest one extraneous variable that could affect Cedric's results.[1]
- (c)(ii)Explain why it is necessary to control this variable in this study.[1]
- (c)(iii)Suggest one way that Cedric could control this variable.[2]
- (d)Cedric's study was a natural experiment. Give one reason why Cedric had to choose this method for his study.[1]
Mark scheme
Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.
- 1 mark for identifying the independent variable
- 1 mark for operationalisation
- Kitchen = 1 independent variable
- Poor quality and good quality food = 1 operationalisation
- Also accept: food quality = 1 independent variable
- Old kitchen and new kitchen = 1 operationalisation
- 1 mark for identifying the dependent variable + 1 mark for operationalisation
- OR
- 1 mark for operationalisation + 1 mark for detail
- Work output = 1 dependent variable
- e.g. Number of emails sent per day = 1 operationalisation
- 1 mark for identifying a variable that needs to be controlled
- The work pressure at that time = 1
- Alternative sources of food = 1
- 1 mark for explaining why
- The work pressure at that time: if they are much busier, they may be more productive anyway = 1
- Alternative sources of food: if they can go out for food, lunch quality won't affect work output between conditions = 1
- 1 mark for suggestion
- 1 mark for detail/justification
- The work pressure at that time: conduct the study at a time when the work load is steady = 1 suggestion
- So there is no other reason to change output = 1 justification
- Alternative sources of food: ensure that workers eat only canteen food during test weeks, e.g. make it free = 1 detail
- 1 mark for identification of reason
- 1 mark for explanation, e.g. link to practical/ethical reason
- Because the IV was naturally occurring = 1 (reason)
- So Cedric could not control the variable of food quality in the company = 1 (practical reason)
- Because it would be unethical to make workers have a poor quality lunch deliberately = 1 (ethical reason)
- Because it would have violated the guideline of harm (by reducing the quality of the food unnecessarily) = 1 (ethical reason)
Write your answer and get it marked
On Oracle Prep you can write or photograph your own answer and have it marked by AI against this mark scheme, with feedback on what you missed.
Sign up free →