Hodder Education's
Psychology Review Centre Spread on some of the issues and debates can be found here |
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Listen to OCR Psychology's podcast on Expert Answers on Psychological Studies, Areas and Debates here
Debates in Psychology
The debates and issues in psychology discuss some of the important arguments about conducting research and explaining behaviour.
The debates and issues in psychology discuss some of the important arguments about conducting research and explaining behaviour.
- What your views on the debates are ...
- Inform which areas and perspectives you will work in ...
- And how you will research behaviour.
For each of the debates, you need to be able to:
- Explain its defining principles and concepts
- Outline the different positions within each debate (e.g. free will, hard, soft, environmental determinism)
- Discuss research which illustrates it
- Evaluate its strengths and weaknesses
- Hypothesise applications of each side of the debate
- Compare how each debate is different from and similar to the other debates.
Exam Paper Questions on the Debates
This is part of paper 2 section B.
You could be asked to
This is part of paper 2 section B.
You could be asked to
- outline the debate
- outline the different sides people take on the debate (e.g. nature - interactionism - nurture)
- explain the principles of each of its sides
- explain which Core Studies link with the debate
- compare how one debate is similar / different to another
- link the debate to an area/ perspective
Independent Learning
Prepare your answers to these example exam questions. The students who did this in 2018 achieved the highest grades.
Prepare your answers to these example exam questions. The students who did this in 2018 achieved the highest grades.
| paper_2_section_b_question_bank.docx |
Comparing the Debates
This is a very difficult task to do. You need to be able to say how each are similar and different to each other. This is a popular question in Paper 2 section B.
This is a very difficult task to do. You need to be able to say how each are similar and different to each other. This is a popular question in Paper 2 section B.
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Comparison Questions
Many students only get half marks when comparing, as they forget to do the first two things in this mark scheme.
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Independent Learning
Using the comparisons above, prepare your answer to the following question, adding in the names of the different areas / perspectives. Explain how .... is different to the .... view. Support your answer with evidence from core studies. (15) |
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Strengths and Weaknesses Questions
You could be asked to evaluate the areas / perspectives in Paper 2 Section B. This will mean that you have to know strengths and weaknesses of the areas in general (not just the Core Studies). Use the P-E-E-C-C structure to develop your answer.
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P - E - E - C - C
Point - Explanation - Example – Conclusion - Challenge
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Point
Explanation – because / this means …
Example – this is shown by the study by …
Conclusion - this matters / is helpful / is a problem because …
Challenge - however / alternatively ...
Explanation – because / this means …
Example – this is shown by the study by …
Conclusion - this matters / is helpful / is a problem because …
Challenge - however / alternatively ...
Independent Learning
Prepare your answers to the example exam questions above. The students who did this in 2018 achieved the highest grades.
Prepare your answers to the example exam questions above. The students who did this in 2018 achieved the highest grades.
Linking and Locating Questions
The specification expects you to know how each of the debates can be illustrated by examples from the 20 core.
Remember there are 3 parts to show here:
Remember there are 3 parts to show here:
- knowledge of the debate - be prepared to explain what it means, such as referring to its principles
- knowledge of the core study - remember that good AO1 makes full use of key terms
- How #2 shows / links to #1
Independent Learning
Prepare your answers to this question, filling in the names of the areas / perspectives:
Explain how any 1 core study supports the ... view of the ...debate. (5)
Prepare your answers to this question, filling in the names of the areas / perspectives:
Explain how any 1 core study supports the ... view of the ...debate. (5)
Paper 3 Options - B Style Questions
The debates are really important for answering the Paper 3 options (Child and Crime). The 15 mark question will link a debate with the topic area.
The debates are really important for answering the Paper 3 options (Child and Crime). The 15 mark question will link a debate with the topic area.
