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Research methods: AQA A‑Level Psychology questions

Every AQA A-Level Psychology exam question on 4.2.3 Research methods, 2020–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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669 questions

  1. Q20

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    12 marks4.2.3 Research methods4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 20: Design a study to investigate students’ experiences of online learning. In your answer you will gain credit for providing appropriate details of the following:

  2. Q04

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    4 marks4.2.3 Research methods4.2.3.2 Data handling and analysis
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 04: The researcher noticed that a lot of the children who did well on the musical ability test also seemed to do well on the motor skills test. Suggest how the rese

  3. Q12

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    4 marks4.2.3 Research methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 12: After the study had taken place, the psychologist did a follow-up study and interviewed 10 participants to see if they had used any techniques to help them reca

  4. Q20

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    1 mark4.2.3 Research methods4.1.3 Attachment
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 20: Which one of the following best describes Ainsworth’s Strange Situation procedure? Shade one box only. [1 mark] A Controlled observation combined with a laborat

  5. Q12

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    4 marks4.2.3 Research methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 12: Explain how the researcher could have used content analysis to analyse the parents’ diaries. [4 marks]

  6. Q14

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    3 marks4.2.3 Research methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 14: The researcher decided to interview some of the parents about their child’s play. Explain why the data collected from the interview might have improved upon the

  7. Q18

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    3 marks4.2.3 Research methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 18: Identify the type of experiment used in this study. Justify your answer. [3 marks]

  8. Q11

    June 2024 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks4.2.3 Research methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 11: Identify the type of interview used in this study. Explain your answer. [2 marks]

  9. Q19

    June 2024 · AS Paper 2

    6 marks4.2.3.1 Scientific processes4.2.3 Research methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 19: Psychologists often observe the behaviour of children. Suggest how you could carry out an observation of obedient behaviour in Year 5 primary school children. I

  10. Q01

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    2 marks4.2.3 Research methods4.1.1 Social influence
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 01: Which two of the following best describe Zimbardo’s prison study? Shade two boxes only. [2 marks] A Controlled observation B Covert observation C Laboratory exp

  11. Q13

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    1 mark4.2.3 Research methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 13: Patients with depression were asked to keep a daily diary of their experiences as part of their therapy. Two researchers analysed the same extracts from the dia

  12. Q14

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    2 marks4.2.3 Research methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 14: Explain one way in which the researchers could have used content analysis to analyse diary extracts in this investigation. [2 marks]

  13. Q13

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    4 marks4.2.3 Research methods4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 13: Explain how this might have affected the validity of the data collected. [4 marks]

  14. Q21

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    4 marks4.2.3 Research methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 21: Suggest how you could measure the co-variables, time spent swimming and anxiety levels, for your study. [4 marks] Co-variable 1 Co-variable 2

  15. Q03.3

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    4 marks4.2.3 Research methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 03.3: Investigator effects sometimes occur in interviews. Explain two modifications that would help to minimise investigator effects in this study. [4 marks] Modifica

  16. Q09

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    4 marks4.2.3 Research methods4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 09: Explain why the researcher used a controlled observation and a standardised script in this study. [4 marks]

  17. Q10

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    1 mark4.2.3 Research methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 10: Identify one limitation of controlled observations. [1 mark]

  18. Q19

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    12 marks4.2.3 Research methods4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 19: Design the experiment to investigate whether watching the new TV programme leads to an increase in positive social behaviours in the children, compared with wat

  19. Q03

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    4 marks4.3.1 Issues and debates4.2.3 Research methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 03: What is meant by a causal explanation? Explain why it was appropriate to claim that there was a causal explanation in this case. [4 marks]

  20. Q10.4

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    3 marks4.2.3 Research methods
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 10.4: Explain why the psychologist could not conclude that stress caused illness on the basis of the data in Figure 1. [3 marks]
All 30 questions on Research methods, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2, Q20 (12 marks): Design a study to investigate students’ experiences of online learning. In your answer you will gain credit for providing appropriate details of the following:
  2. June 2025, Paper 3, Q04 (4 marks): The researcher noticed that a lot of the children who did well on the musical ability test also seemed to do well on the motor skills test. Suggest how the rese
  3. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q12 (4 marks): After the study had taken place, the psychologist did a follow-up study and interviewed 10 participants to see if they had used any techniques to help them reca
  4. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q20 (1 mark): Which one of the following best describes Ainsworth’s Strange Situation procedure? Shade one box only. [1 mark] A Controlled observation combined with a laborat
  5. June 2024, Paper 2, Q12 (4 marks): Explain how the researcher could have used content analysis to analyse the parents’ diaries. [4 marks]
  6. June 2024, Paper 2, Q14 (3 marks): The researcher decided to interview some of the parents about their child’s play. Explain why the data collected from the interview might have improved upon the
  7. June 2024, Paper 2, Q18 (3 marks): Identify the type of experiment used in this study. Justify your answer. [3 marks]
  8. June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q11 (2 marks): Identify the type of interview used in this study. Explain your answer. [2 marks]
  9. June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q19 (6 marks): Psychologists often observe the behaviour of children. Suggest how you could carry out an observation of obedient behaviour in Year 5 primary school children. I
  10. June 2023, Paper 1, Q01 (2 marks): Which two of the following best describe Zimbardo’s prison study? Shade two boxes only. [2 marks] A Controlled observation B Covert observation C Laboratory exp
  11. June 2023, Paper 1, Q13 (1 mark): Patients with depression were asked to keep a daily diary of their experiences as part of their therapy. Two researchers analysed the same extracts from the dia
  12. June 2023, Paper 1, Q14 (2 marks): Explain one way in which the researchers could have used content analysis to analyse diary extracts in this investigation. [2 marks]
  13. June 2023, Paper 2, Q13 (4 marks): Explain how this might have affected the validity of the data collected. [4 marks]
  14. June 2023, Paper 2, Q21 (4 marks): Suggest how you could measure the co-variables, time spent swimming and anxiety levels, for your study. [4 marks] Co-variable 1 Co-variable 2
  15. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q03.3 (4 marks): Investigator effects sometimes occur in interviews. Explain two modifications that would help to minimise investigator effects in this study. [4 marks] Modifica
  16. June 2022, Paper 2, Q09 (4 marks): Explain why the researcher used a controlled observation and a standardised script in this study. [4 marks]
  17. June 2022, Paper 2, Q10 (1 mark): Identify one limitation of controlled observations. [1 mark]
  18. June 2022, Paper 2, Q19 (12 marks): Design the experiment to investigate whether watching the new TV programme leads to an increase in positive social behaviours in the children, compared with wat
  19. June 2022, Paper 3, Q03 (4 marks): What is meant by a causal explanation? Explain why it was appropriate to claim that there was a causal explanation in this case. [4 marks]
  20. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q10.4 (3 marks): Explain why the psychologist could not conclude that stress caused illness on the basis of the data in Figure 1. [3 marks]
  21. November 2021, Paper 2, Q09 (1 mark): Which of the following best describes the experimental method used in this study? Shade one box only. [1 mark] A Field experiment B Laboratory experiment C Natu
  22. November 2021, Paper 2, Q16 (2 marks): Explain one limitation of assessing sleep quality using a rating scale of 1–10. [2 marks]
  23. November 2021, Paper 2, Q18 (2 marks): participants from first-year students at the university. On the day of the study, each student participant was asked, ‘How many hours did you sleep last night?’
  24. November 2020, Paper 1, Q12 (3 marks): Studies of attachment often involve naturalistic observations. Suggest one way in which studies of attachment could be improved by using controlled observations
  25. November 2020, Paper 2, Q08 (2 marks): A survey of hospital patients has found that a new drug, Zapurpain, is as effective as other pain medication. Explain one limitation of asking hospital patients
  26. November 2020, Paper 2, Q15 (2 marks): Explain why it would not be appropriate for the researchers to conclude that increased recreational screen time reduces academic performance. [2 marks]
  27. November 2020, Paper 2, Q25 (12 marks): Design the observation to investigate pupils’ social interaction in the playground. In your answer you will be awarded credit for providing appropriate details
  28. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q08 (2 marks): Researchers discovered a strong positive correlation between the number of therapy sessions attended by people with obsessive-compulsive disorder and their well
  29. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q13 (2 marks): Which two of the following procedures did the researchers use in this study? Shade two boxes. [2 marks] A Controlled observation B Event sampling C Natural expe
  30. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q14 (2 marks): Explain why watching students covertly should reduce demand characteristics in this study. [2 marks]

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