Q1.

Cultural relativism, ethnocentrism, holism and universality are four concepts relevant to
issues and debates in psychology.
 
Definition
A  Appreciating that behaviour varies between cultures
B  Believing that some behaviours are the same for all cultures
C  Considering all aspects of experience, including culture
D  Emphasising the importance of the behaviour of one’s own culture
E  Understanding that whole cultures have the same experience

Look at the table above.

•   Which definition (A-E) best describes cultural relativism?

•   Which definition (A-E) best describes ethnocentrism?
•   Which definition (A-E) best describes holism?
•   Which definition (A-E) best describes universality?

List the four concepts and write the appropriate letter (A-E) next to each one. A letter may
only be used once.

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(Total 4 marks)

Q2.
Discuss gender bias in psychological research. Refer to one topic you have studied in
your answer.

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(Total 8 marks)

Q3.
Outline what is meant by cultural relativism.

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(Total 2 marks)

Q4.
Which two of the following statements describe a strongly deterministic view?

Shade two boxes only.

 
A People are always responsible for their own actions
 
B People behave in a random fashion
 
C People’s behaviour always has a cause
 
D People exercise full choice over how they behave
 
E People have no choice about how to act
 
(Total 2 marks)

Q5.
Read the item and then answer the questions that follow.
 
A researcher studied the effect of light intensity on visual memory.
He carried out a controlled experiment. Participants in Group 1

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viewed a drawing in extra bright light for 60 seconds then had to
recall the details. Participants in Group 2 viewed the same drawing
in normal light for 60 seconds then had to recall the details. The
researcher recorded the number of details correctly recalled in the
two conditions.

Referring to the item above, explain what is meant by the scientific emphasis on causal
explanations.

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(Total 3 marks)

Q6.
Name and briefly outline one negative symptom of schizophrenia.

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(Total 2 marks)

Q7.
In the context of schizophrenia, outline what is meant by co-morbidity.

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(Total 2 marks)

Q8.
Discuss the relationship between sexual selection and human reproductive behaviour.
(Total 16 marks)

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 Q9.
Which two of A, B, C, D and E are important factors in attraction according to the filter
theory of attraction?

Shade two boxes only.

 
A Personal compliments
 
B Profit and loss
 
C Self-disclosure
 
D Similarity in attitude
 
E Social demography
 
(Total 2 marks)

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Mark schemes

Q1.
[AO1 = 4]

1 mark for each correct match

A Cultural relativism

D Ethnocentrism

C Holism

B Universality

Can allow credit for letters without concepts, as long as the letters are in the right order. If
any letter is used more than once, no credit for that letter.
[4]

Q2.
[AO1 = 3 AO2 = 2 AO3 = 3]
 
Level Mark Description
Knowledge of gender bias in psychological research is
accurate with some detail. Reference to topic is
effective. Discussion is thorough and effective. Minor
4 7-8
detail and/or expansion of argument is sometimes
lacking. The answer is clear, coherent and focused.
Specialist terminology is used effectively.
Knowledge of gender bias in psychological research is
evident but there are occasional
inaccuracies/omissions. Application to topic/discussion
3 5-6
is mostly effective. The answer is mostly clear and
organised but occasionally lacks focus. Specialist
terminology is used appropriately.
Limited knowledge of gender bias in psychological
research is present. Focus is mainly on description.
Any application to topic/discussion is of limited
2 3-4
effectiveness. The answer lacks clarity, accuracy and
organisation in places. Specialist terminology is used
inappropriately on occasions.
Knowledge of gender bias in psychological research is
very limited. Application to topic/discussion is limited,
poorly focused or absent. The answer as a whole lacks
1 1-2
clarity, has many inaccuracies and is poorly organised.
Specialist terminology is either absent or
inappropriately used.
  0 No relevant content.

Possible content:

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 •   failure to consider adequately differences between men and women can lead to
gender bias
•   historically in psychology there has been predominance of research based on
samples of men
•   researchers might have different expectations of men and women, which might then
affect research outcomes
•   alpha bias – overemphasises differences between men and women
•   beta bias – underestimates differences between men and women
•   overemphasis on importance of biology as the driver of behaviour.

Possible application to topic:

•   research into mental illness that labels anxiety as a typically ‘female’ symptom –
hysteria (Freud)
•   research into moral development that suggests women’s morality might be less
sophisticated than that of men (Kohlberg)
•   evolutionary theory might suggest promiscuity in men is normal and acceptable
whilst promiscuity in women is abnormal and unacceptable
•   much work on the fight or flight response is focused on men – women’s stress
reaction can be different – tend and befriend
•   traditional social psychological research, eg Milgram, Asch, tended to use largely
male samples.

Possible discussion:
•   gender bias might result in androcentrism – belief that men’s behaviour represents
the norm and therefore that any behaviour typical of women might be judged
abnormal
•   implications for interpretation of the findings and conclusions from psychological
research/how the research might be used in society, eg creating/reinforcing
prejudice and stereotypes
•   need to reinforce views that men and women are more similar than they are
different – notion of universality
•   promoting the idea that not all members of a sex are the same
•   ways of avoiding gender bias, eg studying women in a women only environment.

Credit other relevant material.

[8]

Q3.
[AO1 = 2]

2 marks for a clear and coherent answer with some elaboration.

1 mark for a limited/muddled answer.

Content
The idea that a behaviour can only be properly understood/only has meaning/only makes
sense in the context of the norms and values of the society or culture in which it occurs.

Max 1 mark for reference to norms/normal behaviours/values as specific to a culture or

for noting that it is inappropriate to study only one culture then make generalisations.

Credit alternative valid outlines.

[2]

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 Q4.
 
[AO1 = 2]

C and E

Q5.
[AO2 = 3]

1 mark for each of the following points:

•   All variables are controlled except for light conditions (the IV)

•   Any change in the number of details correctly recalled (the DV) must therefore be
due to/caused by the manipulation of light intensity (the IV)

•   Use of control enables the researcher to infer causality/cause and effect

Q6.
[AO1 = 2]

Award 1 mark for naming one relevant symptom from the following:

•   avolition/apathy
•   speech poverty/alogia
•   flat affect/emotional blunting
•   poor/absent social functioning
•   anhedonia

Plus

1 mark for a brief outline of the symptom, eg avolition is where the person lacks the will to
act.

Credit other relevant negative symptoms.

[2]

Q7.
[AO1 = 2]

2 marks for a clear, coherent outline of co-morbidity in the context of schizophrenia.

1 mark for a limited or muddled outline.

Possible content:

•   co-morbidity is where two conditions co-exist in the same individual at the same
time / have a tendency to co-exist alongside each other
•   so a person with schizophrenia might also at the same time be suffering from
another condition, e.g. personality disorder, depression, alcoholism, etc.

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 Credit other relevant answers.
[2]

Q8.
 
Marks for this question: AO1 = 6, AO3 = 10
 
Level Marks Description
Knowledge is accurate and generally well detailed.
Discussion / evaluation / application is thorough and
4 13 – 16 effective. The answer is clear, coherent and focused.
Specialist terminology is used effectively. Minor detail
and / or expansion of argument sometimes lacking.
Knowledge is evident. There are occasional
inaccuracies. Discussion / evaluation / application is
3 9 – 12 apparent and mostly effective. The answer is mostly
clear and organised. Specialist terminology is mostly
used effectively. Lacks focus in places.
Some knowledge is present. Focus is mainly on
description. Any discussion / evaluation / application
2 5–8 is only partly effective. The answer lacks clarity,
accuracy and organisation in places. Specialist
terminology is used inappropriately on occasions.
Knowledge is limited. Discussion / evaluation /
application is limited, poorly focused or absent. The
1 1–4 answer as a whole lacks clarity, has many
inaccuracies and is poorly organised. Specialist
terminology either absent or inappropriately used.
  0 No relevant content.

Please note that although the content for this mark scheme remains the same, on most
mark schemes for the new AQA Specification (Sept 2015 onwards) content appears as a
bulleted list.

AO1

Candidates may outline the background to research on sexual selection and human
reproductive behaviour in terms of evolutionary theory, selfish gene etc. Also
relevant would be a description of the detailed processes involved in sexual
selection, including intrasexual (mate competition) and intersexual (mate choice)
selection. Other factors affecting mate choice, such as parental investment theory,
and variations such as short and long-term mate preferences, would also be
creditable.
Research with non-human animals may earn marks insofar as it is made explicitly
relevant to human reproductive behaviour.

Research studies may be presented as illustrating the relationship between sexual

selection and human reproductive behavior.

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 AO3

There are a variety of routes to credit. Research findings, such as Buss’s

cross-cultural studies and dating research, could be used effectively. Evaluation of
research eg use of questionnaires and social desirability issues, may earn marks if
the implications for the reliability and validity of findings are clear.

Credit comparison with alternative approaches eg social psychological explanations.

Credit a more theoretical approach focusing for instance on broader issues eg free
will and determinism – if sexual selection, human reproductive behaviour and the
relationships it involves are driven by purely evolutionary considerations, then they
would be highly predictable. In fact human reproductive behaviour has changed
dramatically over the last century, with non-heterosexual relationships, widespread
use of contraception, and couples choosing not to have children. This implies that
we have more control (free will) over our behaviour than is implied by the
evolutionary approach. Credit also relevant references to reductionism, cultural
differences, gender biases and socially sensitive research.

Q9.
[AO3 = 2]

1 mark

1 mark

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