Jilpa plans to explore how personalities vary. She thinks that people's personalities can have several characteristics, for example, how serious/playful, talkative/quiet or optimistic/pessimistic they are.

Mark scheme

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

1. [10] Three majors for a structured interview study are: a: What - content of questions asked (detail: i.e. topics, examples: serious/playful, talkative/quiet or optimistic/pessimistic or any other e.g. shy/outgoing) b: How - the interview is structured (detail: e.g. same questions to all / same question order / predetermined / timing/interviewer's dress, tone, face-to-face) c: How - style of questions asked (detail: e.g. open/closed; quantitative/qualitative; filler questions The minors are: Where - location of participants when being interviewed Who - participants Other details for replication: • lie questions • sampling technique • sample size • how data will be gathered • description of how closed questions will be scored • description of how quantitative data from closed questions will analysed • description of how open questions will be interpreted Other appropriate responses should also be credited. Mark according to the levels of response criteria below: Level 3 (8–10 marks) • Response is described in sufficient detail to be replicable. • Response may have a minor omission. • Use of psychological terminology is accurate and comprehensive. Level 2 (5–7 marks) • Response is in some detail. • Response has minor omission(s). • Use of psychological terminology is accurate. Level 1 (1–4 marks) • Response is basic in detail. • Response has major omission(s). • If response is impossible to conduct max. 2. • Use of psychological terminology is mainly accurate. Level 0 (0 marks) No response worthy of credit.
2. [4] Identify one practical weakness/limitation with the procedure you have described in your answer to part (a) and suggest how your study might be done differently to overcome the problem. Do not refer to ethics or sampling in your answer. Answer will depend on problem identified. Problems may, for example, be matters of: Validity • operationalisation • situational/participant variables factors Reliability • inter-rater consistency • intra-rater consistency. This list is not exhaustive and other appropriate responses should also be credited. Marks Comment 3–4 Appropriate problem identified. Appropriate solution is clearly described. 2 Appropriate problem identified. plus EITHER Explanation of why it is a problem OR Ineffectual but possible solution described. 1 Appropriate problem identified. Little or no justification. 0 No response worthy of credit