Feedback on Psychological Investigations First Mock Exam

SECTION A General points General points ALWAYS refer to the scenario given when asked to, in phrases like “in this study” ALWAYS refer to the scenario given when asked to, in phrases like “in this study” Make sure you make some reference to VALIDITY in your answers. For example, forced choice in closed questions lowers validity as people may not be given the opportunity to give their true answer. A rating scale might heighten validity as there is room for a range of responses. Make sure you make some reference to VALIDITY in your answers. For example, forced choice in closed questions lowers validity as people may not be given the opportunity to give their true answer. A rating scale might heighten validity as there is room for a range of responses. Don’t forget: POINT, EXAMPLE, COMMENT in the 6 mark answers especially. Don’t forget: POINT, EXAMPLE, COMMENT in the 6 mark answers especially.

SECTION B Q.4: Beware the 10 mark question! Don’t forget to EVALUATE as well as DESCRIBE! Q.4: Beware the 10 mark question! Don’t forget to EVALUATE as well as DESCRIBE! Describe: Here you need to be very specific about your sample, sampling technique, location, time of day, and most important of all the category and coding system that you would use. Information needs to be clear enough for anyone to replicate your idea. (Think of answering the questions: what, where, when, on whom, how etc) Describe: Here you need to be very specific about your sample, sampling technique, location, time of day, and most important of all the category and coding system that you would use. Information needs to be clear enough for anyone to replicate your idea. (Think of answering the questions: what, where, when, on whom, how etc)

Section B (continued) Evaluate: Here you could mention that it is good to have more than one observer so you can check for inter-rater reliability, Evaluate: Here you could mention that it is good to have more than one observer so you can check for inter-rater reliability, that covert observations lower demand characterisitics and therefore raise validity but cause ethical issues like consent, right to withdraw, invasion of privacy that covert observations lower demand characterisitics and therefore raise validity but cause ethical issues like consent, right to withdraw, invasion of privacy that overt observations heighten demand characteristics and therefore lower ecological validity, but avoid ethical issues that overt observations heighten demand characteristics and therefore lower ecological validity, but avoid ethical issues There may be a lack of control that means difficulty replicating your work. There may be a lack of control that means difficulty replicating your work. Obviously what points you make here will depend on what you have described in your procedure. Obviously what points you make here will depend on what you have described in your procedure.

Section B (continued) Q.5 This question proves the benefit of checking your checklist: anything on that could become a question: you must be thorough in your revision. Use your textbook/ask if unsure. Q.5 This question proves the benefit of checking your checklist: anything on that could become a question: you must be thorough in your revision. Use your textbook/ask if unsure. Anything on this checklist you need to be able to EVALUATE (give strengths and weaknesses) as well as explain! Anything on this checklist you need to be able to EVALUATE (give strengths and weaknesses) as well as explain!

SECTION C You must learn off by heart how to phrase a hypothesis and null hypothesis. (for both experiments and correlations) You must learn off by heart how to phrase a hypothesis and null hypothesis. (for both experiments and correlations) Don’t forget to add “Any difference found will be due to chance” in the null. Don’t forget to add “Any difference found will be due to chance” in the null. You MUST sort out the IV and the DV clearly! You MUST sort out the IV and the DV clearly! The IV is what is changed or manipulated, the DV is what is being measured or operationalised. The IV is what is changed or manipulated, the DV is what is being measured or operationalised. Hypotheses usually show how the DV is measured or operationalised e.g “number of correct crossword answers” rather than “cognitive performance” Hypotheses usually show how the DV is measured or operationalised e.g “number of correct crossword answers” rather than “cognitive performance”

SECTION C You must always be prepared to suggest a different way of measuring a variable and be prepared to explain how this might affect the validity or accuracy of the measurement. You must always be prepared to suggest a different way of measuring a variable and be prepared to explain how this might affect the validity or accuracy of the measurement. Remember that findings are results. Remember that findings are results. Remember that conclusions are generalisations Remember that conclusions are generalisations Be prepared to analyse the results shown in a bar chart/scattergraph in the same way as a table. Be prepared to analyse the results shown in a bar chart/scattergraph in the same way as a table.

GENERAL ADVICE! Check your checklist and make sure you are confident about everything! If not ask! Check your checklist and make sure you are confident about everything! If not ask! Make sure you have pencils, ruler, colouring pens for drawing a scattergraph/bar chart Make sure you have pencils, ruler, colouring pens for drawing a scattergraph/bar chart Watch the time throughout! Watch the time throughout! Beware the 10 mark question! Beware the 10 mark question!