One cognitive limitation/error in group decision-making is a 'sin of commission'.

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 (observation).
2. [10] Specific features: Observations: type, setting, response categories, sampling frame, number of observers.
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: cognitive limitations and errors (Forsyth, 2006).
6. [8] Psychological evidence: From study: Sins of commission include the misuse, abuse and/or inappropriate use of information. Belief perseverance A group utilises information in their decision-making that has already been deemed inaccurate. Sunk cost bias A group remains committed to a given plan primarily due to the investment already made in that plan, regardless of how inefficient and/or ineffective it may have become. Extra-evidentiary bias A group choosing to use some information despite having been told it should be ignored. Hindsight bias Group members falsely over-estimate the accuracy of and/or the relevance of their past knowledge of a given outcome.
7. [8] Methodological evidence: Explanation of method using general and specific features as above (from 8(a)).