Cambridge Past Paper Questions

In the euphoria condition in the study by Schachter and Singer (two factors in emotion), a stooge performed a series of standardised behaviours. An...

In the study by Yamamoto et al. (chimpanzee helping), one variable being measured was the object offered by a chimpanzee.

In the study by Saavedra and Silverman (button phobia), data was collected in the form of statements. During therapy the boy stated that: • buttons...

Explain the difference between a 'measure of central tendency' and a 'measure of spread'.

The study by Laney et al. (false memory) used an independent measures design. However, there was still a risk of order effects.

Explain why following ethical guidelines can cause demand characteristics.

Describe the difference between 'samples' and 'populations' in research, using any examples.

Aileen is planning an interview-based study to investigate what old people often forget. She is concerned that this could break the ethical guideli...

Elaf used a natural experiment to investigate the effect of noise on sleep. His participants completed identical questionnaires before the opening ...

Jasmin conducted an overt observation of friendship behaviours on customers in a café for many weeks. She observed the same customers every day, wh...

Valerie is a teacher. She notices that students who are expecting a test in another lesson are more likely to feel angry in her lesson. She thinks ...

In the study by Saavedra and Silverman (button phobia), the results were the effect of the therapy sessions on button manipulation and on severity ...

Libby is planning a case study of a boy with autism to investigate his social interactions.

In the study by Canli et al. (brain scans and emotions), the dependent variable of emotional arousal was measured by the participants pressing butt...

In a study about phobias, researchers have identified two problems.

Claus is investigating whether there is a correlation between happiness and exercise.

Duncan is conducting an experiment to test whether watching videos of natural scenes or city scenes is better at helping stressed people to relax. ...

Lydia is planning to interview students about how they learn a new language.

Anisha and Megane are supervisors who walk around the school during lunchtime to watch the children in the building, playground and lunch hall. The...

In the study by Andrade (doodling), the participants were people from the general public who were members of an Applied Psychology Unit participant...

Carrie is studying when people decide to eat meals and the quality of their sleep. She is worried about variables that could affect when people dec...

Dement and Kleitman studied participants who were asleep. Explain one limitation in research with participants who are asleep that does not apply t...

Describe the similarities and differences between a structured and an unstructured interview, using any examples.

A company is having a new kitchen built that will produce better quality food for its workers so will improve work output. Cedric measures work out...

Jeni implanted false memories about feeling ill in two different contexts: • relating to food • relating to location. Her laboratory experiment tes...

Daniel is planning a correlational study. He is investigating the relationship between how happy a person is and how many friends they have.

Jayce owns a shop and is concerned that people are disobeying his signs which say 'Do not touch' or 'No food allowed'. Jayce has asked his daughter...

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The case study of little Albert An experimenter made a loud noise behind little Albert who jumped, gasped and raised his arms. The second time the ...

Wansink et al. (2005) investigated the effect of food names. Cathy: 'I think I'll have Traditional Cajun Red Beans with Rice and Grandma's Zucchini...

Munchausen syndrome is an extreme type of factitious disorder. The case study by Aleem and Ajarim (1995) describes a patient with Munchausen syndro...

Hackman and Oldham (1976) used several different ways to collect data for their job characteristics model: • the self-report Job Diagnostic Survey ...