1 Approaches, Issues,

and Debates

Introduction to the paper ★ Exam tip

For Paper 1 the structure is as follows: This paper lasts 90 minutes.
• This paper requires candidates to demonstrate their knowledge of the The 8-mark part-question
core studies. and the 10-mark question
will appear at the end of
• There are two sections to this paper. For both sections, you should the paper. They are worth
answer all questions. 30 per cent of the whole
paper, so ensure you leave
• Section A includes short and medium answer questions. These include a
enough time to answer
range of questions broken down into 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-mark parts, based
these. You may answer
on information from the core studies. This section is worth 38 marks. the questions in any

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• Section B includes extended response questions. These questions are also order, so you may want to
consider answering these

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based on the core studies. This section is worth 22 marks.
questions first.
• The paper is marked out of 60 in total.

Knowledge check

er
★ Exam tip
You are required to know the following information for your Paper 1 exam. There will be questions
Red: I do not understand. Amber: I somewhat understand. that focus on new research
Green: I do understand.

Syllabus area
at Red Amber Green
scenarios not from the key
studies. These will require
you to think on your feet
in demonstrating your
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Dement and Kleitman’s biological core study on sleep and dreams
knowledge of research
Assumptions of the biological approach and how methodology in psychology.
they relate to this core study
The psychology that is being investigated
The background
The aims
pl

The procedures
The research method used
The number of participants and where they are from
m

The sampling method used

The experimental design used
The controls used
Sa

Types of questions asked

Data collection method used
Independent and dependent variables used
Ethical issues
Results, including quantitative data, and/or
qualitative data and how it is represented and
interpreted
Conclusions drawn
Strengths, including methodological issues
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables
Weaknesses, including methodological issues
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables
The issue of application of psychology to everyday
life and how it relates to the study

2
 AS Approaches, Issues, and Debates

The individual and situational explanations debate

and how it relates to the study
The nature versus nurture debate and how it
relates to the study
Hassett et al.’s biological core study on monkey toy preferences
Assumptions of the biological approach and how
they relate to this core study
The psychology that is being investigated
The background
The aims
The procedures
The research method used
The number of participants and where they are from
The experimental design used

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The controls used

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Data collection method used
Independent and dependent variables used
Ethical issues

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Results, including quantitative data, and/or
qualitative data and how it is represented and
interpreted
Conclusions drawn
Strengths, including methodological issues
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables
at
eM
Weaknesses, including methodological issues
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables
The issue of application of psychology to everyday
life and how it relates to the study
The individual and situational explanations debate
pl

and how it relates to the study

The nature versus nurture debate and how it
relates to the study
m

The issue of the use of animals in psychological

research and how it relates to each study
Hölzel et al.’s biological core study on mindfulness and brain scans
Sa

Assumptions of the biological approach and how

they relate to this core study
The psychology that is being investigated
The background
The aims
The procedures
The research method used
The number of participants and where they are from
The sampling method used
The experimental design used
The controls used
Types of questions asked
Data collection method used
Independent and dependent variables used
Ethical issues

3
Approaches, Issues, and Debates AS

Results, including quantitative data, and/or qualitative

data and how it is represented and interpreted
Conclusions drawn
Strengths, including methodological issues
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables
Weaknesses, including methodological issues
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables
The issue of application of psychology to everyday
life and how it relates to the study
The individual and situational explanations debate
and how it relates to the study
The nature versus nurture debate and how it
relates to the study

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Andrade’s cognitive core study on doodling

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Assumptions of the cognitive approach and how
they relate to this core study
The psychology that is being investigated

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The background
The aims
The procedures
The research method used
The number of participants and where they are from
The sampling methods used
at
eM
The experimental design used
The controls used
Types of questions asked
Data collection method used
Independent and dependent variables used
Ethical issues
pl

Results, including quantitative data, and/or

qualitative data and how it is represented
and interpreted
m

Conclusions drawn
Strengths, including methodological issues
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
Sa

generalisability, and control of variables

Weaknesses, including methodological issues
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables
The issue of application of psychology to everyday
life and how it relates to the study
The individual and situational explanations debate
and how it relates to the study
The nature versus nurture debate and how it
relates to the study
Baron-Cohen et al.’s cognitive core study on the eye tests
Assumptions of the cognitive approach and how
they relate to this core study
The psychology that is being investigated
The background
The aims

4
 AS Approaches, Issues, and Debates

The procedures
The research method used
The number of participants and where they are from
The sampling methods used
The experimental design used
The controls used
Types of questions asked
Data collection method used
Independent and dependent variables used
Ethical issues
Results, including quantitative data, and/or
qualitative data and how it is represented and
interpreted
Conclusions drawn

l
Strengths, including methodological issues

ia
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables
Weaknesses, including methodological issues

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such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables
The issue of application of psychology to everyday
life and how it relates to the study
The individual and situational explanations debate
and how it relates to the study
The nature versus nurture debate and how it
at
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relates to the study
Pozzulo et al.’s cognitive core study on line-ups
Assumptions of the cognitive approach and how
they relate to this core study
The psychology that is being investigated
The background
pl

The aims
The procedures
The research method used
m

The number of participants and where they are from

The sampling method used
The experimental design used
Sa

The controls used

Types of questions asked
Data collection method used
Independent and dependent variables used
Ethical issues
Results, including quantitative data, and/or
qualitative data and how it is represented and
interpreted
Conclusions drawn
Strengths, including methodological issues
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables
Weaknesses, including methodological issues
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables

5
Approaches, Issues, and Debates AS

The issue of application of psychology to everyday

life and how it relates to the study
The individual and situational explanations debate
and how it relates to the study
The nature versus nurture debate and how it
relates to the study
The issue of the use of children in psychological
research and how it relates to each core study
Bandura et al.’s learning core study on aggression
Assumptions of the learning approach and how
they relate to this core study
The psychology that is being investigated
The background
The aim
The procedures

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The research method used

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The number of participants and where they are from
The sampling method used

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The experimental design used
The controls used
Data collection method used
Independent and dependent variables used
Ethical issues
Results, including quantitative data, and/or
at
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qualitative data and how it is represented and
interpreted
Conclusions drawn
Strengths, including methodological issues
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables
Weaknesses, including methodological issues
pl

such as: research method, reliability, validity,

generalisability, and control of variables
The issue of application of psychology to everyday
m

life and how it relates to the study

The individual and situational explanations debate
and how it relates to the study
Sa

The nature versus nurture debate and how it

relates to the study
The issue of the use of children in psychological
research and how it relates to the study
Fagen et al.’s learning core study on elephant learning
Assumptions of the learning approach and how
they relate to this core study
The psychology that is being investigated
The background
The aims
The procedures
The research method used
The number of participants and where they are from
The controls used
Data collection method used

6
 AS Approaches, Issues, and Debates

Independent and dependent variables used

Ethical issues
Results, including quantitative data, and/or
qualitative data and how it is represented and
interpreted
Conclusions drawn
Strengths, including methodological issues
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables
Weaknesses, including methodological issues
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables
The issue of application of psychology to everyday
life and how it relates to the study
The individual and situational explanations debate

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and how it relates to the study

ia
The nature versus nurture debate and how it
relates to the study
The issue of the use of animals in psychological
research and how it relates to the study

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Saavedra and Silverman’s learning core study on a button phobia
Assumptions of the learning approach and how
they relate to this core study at
The psychology that is being investigated
The background
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The aims
The procedures
The research method used
The number of participants and where they are
from
The sampling method used
pl

The controls used

Types of questions asked
Data collection method used
m

Ethical issues
Results, including quantitative data, and/or
qualitative data and how it is represented and
interpreted
Sa

Conclusions drawn
Strengths, including methodological issues
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables
Weaknesses, including methodological issues
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables
The issue of application of psychology to everyday
life and how it relates to the study
The individual and situational explanations debate
and how it relates to the study
The nature versus nurture debate and how it
relates to the study
The issue of the use of children in psychological
research and how it relates to the study

7
Approaches, Issues, and Debates AS

Milgram’s social core study on obedience

Assumptions of the social approach and how they
relate to this core study
The psychology that is being investigated
The background
The aim
The procedures
The research method used
The number of participants and where they are
from
The sampling method used
The controls used
Data collection method used
Ethical issues

l
Results, including quantitative data, and/or

ia
qualitative data and how it is represented and
interpreted
Conclusions drawn

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Strengths, including methodological issues
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables
Weaknesses, including methodological issues at
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables
The issue of application of psychology to everyday
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life and how it relates to the study
The individual and situational explanations debate
and how it relates to the study
The nature versus nurture debate and how it
relates to the study
Perry et al.’s social core study on personal space
pl

Assumptions of the social approach and how they

relate to this core study
The psychology that is being investigated
m

The background
The aims
The procedures
Sa

The research method used

The number of participants and where they are
from
The sampling method used
The experimental design used
The controls used
Types of questions asked
Data collection method used
Independent and dependent variables used
Ethical issues
Results, including quantitative data, and/or
qualitative data and how it is represented and
interpreted

8
 AS Approaches, Issues, and Debates

Conclusions drawn
Strengths, including methodological issues
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables
Weaknesses, including methodological issues
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
generalisability, and control of variables
The issue of application of psychology to everyday
life and how it relates to the study
The individual and situational explanations debate
and how it relates to the study
The nature versus nurture debate and how it
relates to the study
Piliavin et al.’s social core study on subway Samaritans
Assumptions of the social approach and how they

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relate to this core study

ia
The psychology that is being investigated
The background
The aims

er
The procedures
The research method used
The number of participants and where they are
from
The sampling method used
The experimental design used
at
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The controls used
Data collection method used
Independent and dependent variables used
Ethical issues
Results, including quantitative data, and/or
qualitative data and how it is represented and
pl

interpreted
Conclusions drawn
Strengths, including methodological issues
m

such as: research method, reliability, validity,

generalisability, and control of variables
Weaknesses, including methodological issues
such as: research method, reliability, validity,
Sa

generalisability, and control of variables

The issue of application of psychology to everyday
life and how it relates to the study
The individual and situational explanations debate
and how it relates to the study