Scientific processes: AQA A‑Level Psychology questions

Every AQA A-Level Psychology exam question on 4.2.3.1 Scientific processes, 2020–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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669 questions

Q12
June 2025 · Paper 1
2 marks4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
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Q13
June 2025 · Paper 1
2 marks4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
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Q14
June 2025 · Paper 1
2 marks4.2.3.1 Scientific processes 4.2.3.2 Data handling and analysis
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Q15
June 2025 · Paper 1
2 marks4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
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Q09
June 2025 · Paper 2
2 marks4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
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Q10
June 2025 · Paper 2
3 marks4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
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Q11
June 2025 · Paper 2
1 mark4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
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Q12
June 2025 · Paper 2
4 marks4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
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Q17
June 2025 · Paper 2
2 marks4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
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Q18
June 2025 · Paper 2
4 marks4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
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Q19
June 2025 · Paper 2
4 marks4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
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Q20
June 2025 · Paper 2
12 marks4.2.3 Research methods 4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
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Q02
June 2025 · AS Paper 1
2 marks4.2.3.1 Scientific processes 4.1.1 Social influence
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Q11
June 2025 · AS Paper 1
3 marks4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
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Q01
June 2024 · Paper 1
4 marks4.1.1 Social influence 4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
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Q09
June 2024 · Paper 2
2 marks4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
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Q13
June 2024 · Paper 2
4 marks4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
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Q17
June 2024 · Paper 2
4 marks4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
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Q19
June 2024 · Paper 2
4 marks4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
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Q20
June 2024 · Paper 2
4 marks4.2.3.1 Scientific processes
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All 118 questions on Scientific processes, as a list

June 2025, Paper 1, Q12 (2 marks): To conduct the observation of mother-infant pairs, the researchers needed examples of reciprocal behaviours that they could record. Suggest two examples of reci
June 2025, Paper 1, Q13 (2 marks): Outline one way in which the reciprocal behaviours could be sampled in this study. [2 marks]
June 2025, Paper 1, Q14 (2 marks): The two researchers compared their data to assess inter-observer reliability. This produced a correlation coefficient of +0.26 Briefly explain what a correlatio
June 2025, Paper 1, Q15 (2 marks): Outline one way in which the reliability of the two researchers could be improved. [2 marks]
June 2025, Paper 2, Q09 (2 marks): The researcher chose to use a non-directional hypothesis for this study. Explain why a non-directional hypothesis is appropriate in this case. [2 marks]
June 2025, Paper 2, Q10 (3 marks): Write an appropriate hypothesis for this study. [3 marks]
June 2025, Paper 2, Q11 (1 mark): Which one of the following best describes the sampling method used in this study? Shade one box only. [1 mark] A Opportunity B Random C Systematic D Volunteer
June 2025, Paper 2, Q12 (4 marks): Evaluate the sampling method the researcher used in this study. [4 marks]
June 2025, Paper 2, Q17 (2 marks): The researcher used a different group of people in each condition, which could have affected the results. Outline one change the researcher could have made to d
June 2025, Paper 2, Q18 (4 marks): Explain one or more possible implications of the findings of this study for the economy. [4 marks]
June 2025, Paper 2, Q19 (4 marks): Explain how the researcher’s study illustrates one or more features of science. [4 marks]
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:
June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q02 (2 marks): In psychology, participants are often deceived about the real aims of the research. Explain why researchers often use deception in conformity research studies.
June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q11 (3 marks): The psychologist used an independent groups design and randomly allocated participants to the two conditions. Explain how the psychologist could have randomly a
June 2024, Paper 1, Q01 (4 marks): Outline one ethical issue that has arisen in social influence research. Refer to one or more social influence studies in your answer. [4 marks]
June 2024, Paper 2, Q09 (2 marks): A psychologist conducted a case study of a patient who had difficulty sleeping. Briefly explain one ethical issue the psychologist would need to consider in thi
June 2024, Paper 2, Q13 (4 marks): The researcher was concerned about the reliability of the content analysis. How might the researcher have assessed the reliability of the content analysis in th
June 2024, Paper 2, Q17 (4 marks): Explain how the researcher could have obtained informed consent from the parents for this study. [4 marks]
June 2024, Paper 2, Q19 (4 marks): Explain how a pilot study could be carried out to improve this study. [4 marks]
June 2024, Paper 2, Q20 (4 marks): 4-year-old children at nursery B. The researcher used a stratified sample of 10 4-year-old children for the study. 2 0 Explain how the researcher might have obt
June 2024, Paper 3, Q06 (3 marks): A psychologist studied the effects of using different social media platforms. There were 60 participants. The psychologist assigned the first 30 people on the a
June 2024, Paper 3, Q08 (1 mark): After conducting the study, the psychologist wrote up a psychological report. Which section of the psychological report should include information about how the
June 2024, Paper 3, Q12 (3 marks): A psychologist studied the effects of sex-role stereotyping in the media. There were 60 participants. The psychologist assigned the first 30 people on the alpha
June 2024, Paper 3, Q14 (1 mark): After conducting the study, the psychologist wrote up a psychological report. Which section of the psychological report should include information about how the
June 2024, Paper 3, Q18 (3 marks): A psychologist studied the effects of using familiar play materials in a conservation experiment. There were 60 participants, all six years old. The psychologis
June 2024, Paper 3, Q20 (1 mark): After conducting the study, the psychologist wrote up a psychological report. Which section of the psychological report should include information about how the
June 2024, Paper 3, Q39 (3 marks): In psychological reporting it is usual to present book references in an accepted format. The reference below includes some, but not all, of the necessary pieces
June 2024, Paper 3, Q40 (2 marks): A prison officer investigating institutional aggression has devised a questionnaire for prisoners to complete. The questionnaire consists of a series of stateme
June 2024, Paper 3, Q43 (3 marks): In psychological reporting it is usual to present book references in an accepted format. The reference below includes some, but not all, of the necessary pieces
June 2024, Paper 3, Q44 (2 marks): A police trainer investigating offender profiling has devised a questionnaire for police officers to complete. The questionnaire consists of a series of stateme
June 2024, Paper 3, Q47 (3 marks): In psychological reporting it is usual to present book references in an accepted format. The reference below includes some, but not all, of the necessary pieces
June 2024, Paper 3, Q48 (2 marks): A social worker investigating nicotine addiction has devised a questionnaire for smokers to complete. The questionnaire consists of a series of statements about
June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q04 (2 marks): Studies of social influence are often criticised for using volunteer sampling to select participants. Explain how you could use a different sampling technique t
June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q10 (4 marks): Explain one strength and one limitation of using volunteer sampling in this study. [4 marks]
June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q11 (2 marks): The psychologist used closed questions on the questionnaire. Explain one reason why it might have been better to use open questions rather than closed questions
June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q12 (2 marks): The psychologist was concerned that the number of correct answers recalled would be affected by the participants taking part in both conditions of the experimen
June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q12 (3 marks): One of the psychologist’s questions asked the teachers to rate the general level of obedience for their class as a whole on a scale of 1–10. A rating of 1 meant
June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q13 (1 mark): Write one suitable open question the psychologist could use in their interview. [1 mark]
June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q14 (2 marks): Identify the population the psychologist was interested in studying. [2 marks]
June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q15 (1 mark): Identify the sample used by the psychologist in the study. [1 mark]
June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q16 (2 marks): Explain how the psychologist might have selected the five schools using random sampling. [2 marks]
June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q17 (3 marks): Identify one ethical issue that should have been addressed in this study. Explain why it should have been addressed and how it could have been dealt with. [3 ma
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
June 2023, Paper 1, Q04 (2 marks): Outline what is meant by standardisation and suggest one way standardisation could have been used in this experiment. [2 marks]
June 2023, Paper 1, Q05 (2 marks): Outline what is meant by randomisation and suggest one way randomisation could have been used in this experiment. [2 marks]
June 2023, Paper 1, Q15 (4 marks): Explain how the reliability of this content analysis could be improved. [4 marks]
June 2023, Paper 2, Q10 (1 mark): Which of the following types of hypothesis is not appropriate for the psychologist to use in their study? Shade one circle only. [1 mark] A Directional hypothes
June 2023, Paper 2, Q11 (2 marks): Explain why a repeated measures design was more appropriate than an independent groups design in this study. [2 marks]
June 2023, Paper 2, Q12 (3 marks): Describe how the psychologist could have counterbalanced the students across the experimental conditions. [3 marks]
June 2023, Paper 2, Q13 (4 marks): Explain how this might have affected the validity of the data collected. [4 marks]
June 2023, Paper 2, Q20 (4 marks): participants using random or stratified sampling. 2 0 Explain how a sample of 20 participants could be selected for your study using either random or stratified
June 2023, Paper 2, Q23 (2 marks): Briefly explain one reason why research should be peer reviewed. [2 marks]
June 2023, Paper 2, Q24 (6 marks): Identify two ethical issues in the design and conduct of psychological research. In each case, explain how the issue you have identified could be dealt with. [6
June 2023, Paper 3, Q18 (4 marks): In a study into the effectiveness of a new drug therapy for schizophrenia, researchers gave one group of patients the new drug and another group of patients a p
June 2023, Paper 3, Q21 (4 marks): In a study into the effectiveness of a new drug therapy for limiting appetite, researchers gave one group of patients the new drug and another group of patients
June 2023, Paper 3, Q24 (4 marks): In a study into the effectiveness of a new drug therapy for stress, researchers gave one group of patients the new drug and another group of patients a placebo
June 2023, Paper 3, Q28 (4 marks): Different participants were used in each condition of the experiment, which might have affected the results. Explain one way in which the experiment could be ch
June 2023, Paper 3, Q33 (4 marks): Different participants were used in each condition of the experiment, which might have affected the results. Explain one way in which the experiment could be ch
June 2023, Paper 3, Q38 (4 marks): Different participants were used in each condition of the experiment, which might have affected the results. Explain one way in which the experiment could be ch
June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q03.2 (4 marks): Explain how the sample of 10 participants could have been obtained from the students at the school using stratified sampling. [4 marks]
June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q06.3 (4 marks): The psychologist completed her research and submitted it to be peer reviewed. Briefly explain two reasons why conducting a peer review might improve psychologic
June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q09 (2 marks): Outline what is meant by an aim. Write a suitable aim for this study. [2 marks]
June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q12 (2 marks): Briefly explain how the psychologist would carry out a pilot study in this case. [2 marks]
June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q13 (2 marks): Should the hypothesis for the follow-up study be directional or non-directional? Explain your answer. [2 marks]
June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q14 (3 marks): Write a suitable experimental hypothesis for the follow-up study. [3 marks]
June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q15 (3 marks): Identify one extraneous variable that could have affected the results of the follow-up study. Suggest why it would have been important to control this extraneou
June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q16 (3 marks): Explain how the psychologist could have used random sampling to select the students in the follow-up study. [3 marks]
June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q17 (2 marks): Briefly explain one problem with using random sampling in the follow-up study. [2 marks]
June 2022, Paper 2, Q09 (4 marks): Explain why the researcher used a controlled observation and a standardised script in this study. [4 marks]
June 2022, Paper 2, Q11 (4 marks): Give two behavioural categories that the observers could have used in the observation to assess the pre-school children’s social behaviour. Explain why your cho
June 2022, Paper 2, Q12 (4 marks): Describe how the observers could use time sampling to record the social behaviour of each child during the five-minute period. [4 marks]
June 2022, Paper 2, Q13 (4 marks): Explain one strength and one limitation of using time sampling for this observation. [4 marks]
June 2022, Paper 2, Q14 (4 marks): Explain how the reliability of the controlled observation could be assessed through inter-observer reliability. [4 marks]
June 2022, Paper 2, Q16 (2 marks): Explain one reason why collecting quantitative data could reduce the validity of this study. [2 marks]
June 2022, Paper 2, Q17 (3 marks): Explain one or more possible implications of this study for the economy. [3 marks]
June 2022, Paper 2, Q18 (3 marks): Describe features of the abstract section in a scientific report. [3 marks]
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
June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q07.1 (2 marks): Identify the experimental design used in this study. Justify your answer. [2 marks]
June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q07.2 (2 marks): Identify the operationalised dependent variable in this study. [2 marks]
June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q10.1 (3 marks): Write a suitable operationalised non-directional hypothesis for this investigation. [3 marks]
June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q10.2 (1 mark): Identify the sampling method used in this investigation. [1 mark]
June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q11.3 (3 marks): Outline how the psychologist could have obtained informed consent when conducting the follow-up study. [3 marks]
June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q11.4 (6 marks): In the follow-up study, the psychologist used a different group of people in each condition, which could have affected the results. Outline two ways in which th
November 2021, Paper 1, Q04 (4 marks): To assess the questionnaire’s validity, the researcher gave it to 30 participants and recorded the results. He then gave the same 30 participants an established
November 2021, Paper 2, Q02 (2 marks): Some critics have said that Pavlov’s studies may lack ecological validity. What is meant by the term ecological validity? [2 marks]
November 2021, Paper 2, Q10 (3 marks): Write a directional hypothesis the researcher might use for this study. [3 marks]
November 2021, Paper 2, Q11 (1 mark): Which of the following best describes the sampling method used in this study? Shade one box only. [1 mark] A Opportunity sampling B Stratified sampling C System
November 2021, Paper 2, Q12 (4 marks): Explain one strength and one limitation of using this sampling method in this study. [4 marks]
November 2021, Paper 2, Q14 (2 marks): Explain one way in which the researcher might deal with the deception in this study. [2 marks]
November 2021, Paper 2, Q15 (2 marks): Explain one reason why the researcher decided to include these additional questions on the questionnaire. [2 marks]
November 2021, Paper 2, Q17 (4 marks): Suggest one other extraneous variable that could have affected the results of this study. Explain why it would have been important to control this extraneous va
November 2021, Paper 2, Q19 (3 marks): Describe how the researcher could have used random sampling to obtain the students for this study. [3 marks]
November 2021, Paper 2, Q25 (8 marks): Discuss features of science. Refer to one or more examples of psychological research in your answer. [8 marks]
November 2021, Paper 3, Q02 (4 marks): What are behavioural categories? Explain why it was important to use behavioural categories in this observation. [4 marks]
November 2021, Paper 3, Q03 (4 marks): Suggest two better examples of friendly behaviours that the students could have used in their observation. Explain why these might be more valid examples of fri
November 2021, Paper 3, Q25 (1 mark): Psychology students sometimes propose hypotheses that are untestable. Which one of the following is essential for a testable hypothesis? Write the correct lette
November 2021, Paper 3, Q30 (1 mark): Psychology students sometimes propose hypotheses that are untestable. Which one of the following is essential for a testable hypothesis? Write the correct lette
November 2021, Paper 3, Q35 (1 mark): Psychology students sometimes propose hypotheses that are untestable. Which one of the following is essential for a testable hypothesis? Write the correct lette
November 2020, Paper 1, Q03 (3 marks): Researchers have identified different features of science, including: • replicability • theory construction • hypothesis testing. Explain how Asch’s conformity
November 2020, Paper 1, Q06 (1 mark): State one advantage of an independent groups design. [1 mark]
November 2020, Paper 2, Q12 (1 mark): In which section(s) of a scientific report would you expect to find reference to the results/findings of the investigation? Shade one circle only. [1 mark] A Th
November 2020, Paper 2, Q17 (2 marks): Complete Table 1 by ticking the statement that best describes the population and the sample in the psychologist’s experiment. Place one tick in each column. [2
November 2020, Paper 2, Q18 (1 mark): Briefly explain why a directional hypothesis would be most suitable for this experiment. [1 mark]
November 2020, Paper 2, Q19 (3 marks): Write an appropriate hypothesis for this experiment. [3 marks]
November 2020, Paper 2, Q23 (4 marks): One criticism of the study is that the pupils were not matched on their typical recreational screen time. Explain how the psychologist could have matched pupils
November 2020, Paper 2, Q24 (2 marks): Identify one other variable for which the psychologist could have matched the pupils. Explain how this might have affected the test performance if it was not co
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
November 2020, Paper 3, Q07 (2 marks): The student who carried out the study selected the two descriptions. He decided himself which social backgrounds were similar and which social backgrounds were
November 2020, Paper 3, Q12 (2 marks): The student who carried out the study selected the two pictures. He decided himself which were sex-stereotypical activities and which were non-sex-stereotypical
November 2020, Paper 3, Q17 (2 marks): The student who carried out the study selected the two pictures. He decided himself which picture showed unkind behaviours and which picture showed kind behavio
November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q03.1 (4 marks): Write a brief consent form that would have been suitable to obtain informed consent from the participants in this study. The consent form should: • include some
November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q03.2 (2 marks): Explain how using stratified sampling might improve the design of this study. [2 marks]
November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q05.3 (2 marks): Explain how using counterbalancing might improve the design of the study. [2 marks]
November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q04.3 (2 marks): The teacher concluded that smiley stickers may not have been the only thing that caused the difference in average scores between Group A and Group B. The teache
November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q12 (2 marks): Should the hypothesis for this observation be directional or non-directional? Explain your answer. [2 marks]
November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q16 (2 marks): Explain one way in which using open questions, in addition to closed questions, might improve the questionnaire. [2 marks]
November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q18 (4 marks): The researchers observed recordings of students in the library and obtained questionnaire responses from students in their investigations into workspace use. Br
November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q19 (4 marks): Explain what is meant by operationalisation and suggest two ways in which ‘type of work’ could be operationalised. [4 marks]

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