In a study on memory, participants had to recall a story. The researchers measured memory by rating the accuracy of each participant's recall of the story on a 10-point scale.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. 1 mark for generic weakness
2. 2 marks for linked weakness of this rating scale
3. Rating scales can be subjective; (generic weakness) e.g. one researcher's view of '9' for recall may demand better recall than another researcher's '9'; (link)
4. 10 points does not give enough discrimination (between memory ability); (generic weakness) A participant's recall might need to be judged as in between two points; (link)
5. The participants may lie = 0 (NAQ)
6. The participants may not understand the story = 0 (NAQ)
7. Responses about other aspects of the study, e.g. the use of a story as a test of memory = 0 [irrl]
8. Scale is quantitative and qualitative data is needed = 0 [NAQ]
9. Scale is quantitative and qualitative data is needed to know why only some of the story was recalled = 0 [NAQ]