Design a study using a questionnaire to investigate the characteristics of hoarding behaviour.

Mark scheme

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

1. [10] Design a study showing evidence of design features appropriate to the named method (questionnaire).
2. [10] Specific features: Questionnaires/Interviews: type, setting, example questions. Scoring/rating scale, analysis of responses.
3. [10] General features of research methodology: sampling technique and sample, type of data, ethics, reliability, validity, data analysis.
4. [8] Explanation should be both psychological and methodological, justifying decisions made in part (a).
5. [8] Psychological evidence: Syllabus: Characteristics of O-C and related disorders: types of and common obsessions, common compulsions, hoarding and body dysmorphic disorder.
6. [8] Psychological evidence: Hoarding: (i) accumulation of things that have little or no value. (ii) difficulty in discarding or parting with possessions. Hoarded items: newspapers, magazines, paper and plastic bags, cardboard boxes, photographs, household supplies, etc. Also severe anxiety when attempting to discard items; difficulty categorising or organising possessions; indecision about what to keep or where to put things. Hoarding can also be a part of kleptomania, so this aspect is also legitimate.
7. [8] Methodological evidence: Explanation of method (questionnaire) using general and specific features as above (from 5(a)).