Zayn is conducting a laboratory experiment to investigate the effects of lighting on attention. The participants' attention will be tested using a listening task in either bright light or dim light.

Mark scheme

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

1. [1] 1 mark for identifying the IV of light (level)/bright lighting or dim lighting
2. [1] 1 mark for identifying the DV of attention/score on the attention task
3. [1] 1 mark for a control Amount of noise; How much sleep the participant has had the night before; Drinking alcohol/caffeine;
4. [1] 1 mark for how Noise: use a sound-proof room; Previous amount of sleep: ask them to sleep for a fixed time the day before; Alcohol/caffeine: ask them to abstain the day before;
5. [1] 1 mark for why Noise: because noise could keep them awake; Previous amount of sleep: because they would be more or less attentive; Alcohol/caffeine: because they would be more/less attentive;
6. [2] 1 mark for generic reason (e.g. validity) 1 mark for link The light level would affect how easy it was to see the visual task; (link) So the difference in the results wouldn't be due to the IV of task type; (generic reason) It would be harder to do the visual task in dim lighting; (link) This would reduce validity; (generic reason) You can close your eyes but you can't close your ears; (link) (reason) so it would be a more valid test; (generic reason)
7. [2] 1 mark for a generic weakness 1 mark for a link (study on paying attention) It lacks ecological validity; (generic) People usually have a reason to pay attention e.g. in lessons / to a good film (but wouldn't in a laboratory); They know they are being studied / there will be demand characteristics; (generic) So they will try harder to pay attention;