Cambridge International AS & A-Level

CANDIDATE NAME

PSYCHOLOGY 9990/12
Paper 1 Approaches, Issues & Debates May/June 2024
1 hour 30 minutes
You must answer on the question paper
No additional materials are needed
INSTRUCTIONS
 Answer all questions.
 Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for
any diagrams or graphs.
 Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
 Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
INFORMATION
 The total mark for this paper is 60.
 The number of marks for each question or part question is
shown in brackets [].

This document consists of 12 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

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Answer all questions.

Section A
1 From the study by Milgram (Obedience):
(a) State the percentage of participants who presses the
300-volt switch
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(b) Outline the payment given to the participants.

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2 In the study by Dement & Kleitman (Sleep & dreams) the

procedure that the researchers first used to measure
participants’ estimations of REM sleep duration was
unsuccessful and had to be revised.
(a) Describe how the researchers first attempted to measure
participants’ estimations of REM sleep duration.
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(b) Describe the revised procedure used to measure

participants’ estimations of REM sleep duration.
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(c) Outline two results of the participants’ estimations of REM

sleep
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3 From the study by Hassett et al. (monkey toy preferences),

(a) Describe the procedure after the monkeys were released
into the outdoor enclosure.
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(b) Explain one problem that could arise if children were used
as participants in this study.
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4 From the study by Pozzulo et al. (line-ups),

(a) Describe the video that was shown of the female human
target.
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(b) Describe the part of the procedure for the children
participants of ‘free recall descriptions’ after the videos were
shown, and right before the photo-arrays were displayed.
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5 (a) Outline one assumption of the social approach in

psychology.
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(b) Explain how one finding from the study by Perry et al.
(personal-space) supports the assumption you outlined in part
(a).
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6 In the study by Milgram (obedience), participants took a piece

of paper from a hat.

They were told that this would decide whether they would be
the teacher or the learner.

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(a) Describe the procedure from this point until the ‘learning
task’ began.
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(b) Explain one strength of this study in relation to reliability.

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7 From the study by Piliavin et al. (subway Samaritans),

Describe the adjacent-late modelling condition
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8 Saira is talking about the study by Saavedra and Silverman

(button phobia). She says that the findings were subjective.
Explain why Saira is correct that the findings were subjective,
using evidence from this study in your answer.
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Section B

9 (a) Describe the sample used in the study by Holzel et

al. (mindfulness & brain scans).
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(b) Explain one similarity and one difference between the

study by Holzel et al. (mindfulness & brain scans) and the
study by Hassett et al. (monkey toy preferences)
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10 Evaluate the study by Fagen et al. (elephant

leanrning) in terms of two strengths & two weaknesses.
At least one of your evaluation points must be about
ethical issues.
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