OCR Psychology: AS Revision Guide

Cara Flanagan

• Publisher: Psychology Press
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781135141998
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: History & Theory in Psychology
• Index: Psychology

This is a comprehensive student revision guide for those taking the OCR AS Psychology exam. It summarises the specification material clearly and attractively, so that information can be easily digested and retained.

Packed full of revision tips and techniques, the book includes a number of unique and helpful features:

• Overviews of the OCR specification content
• Coverage of all the core studies
• A separate chapter dedicated to research methods and preparing for the exam
• A large number of exam-style questions and answers, annotated with teacher comments
• Separate sections for each unit exam on how to answer questions successfully
• A comprehensive glossary of important terms and their definitions, to aid understanding of the material.

OCR Psychology: AS Revision Guide provides the detailed information which will aid students in their preparation
for the exam.

Although a companion to OCR Psychology: AS Core Studies and Psychological Investigations, Third Edition, by Philip Banyard and Cara Flanagan, this revision guide can be used alongside any OCR AS-Level Psychology textbook.

G542 SPECIFICATION AND EXAM

The G542 specification

This unit examines the candidates' knowledge and understanding of the 15 core studies.

It also examines their ability to make evaluative points about the studies and their ability to see the studies in the wider perspective of psychological approaches/perspectives, theories, issues, concepts and methods.

Candidates will be asked questions relating to:

● Specific aspects of the core studies.

● Theories and research surrounding the core studies.

● The approaches/perspectives, issues and methods arising from the core studies.

● Specific aspects of core studies.

● The background to the studies (the context).

● Theories on which studies are based.

● Psychological perspectives applicable to the studies.

● Other research pertinent to the studies.

● The information in the studies.

● The methods used in the studies.

● The way the results are analysed and presented; the conclusions that can be drawn from the studies.

● Strengths and limitations of the studies.

● The general psychological issues illustrated by the studies.

● Evaluations of all of the above.

The G542 exam

2 hours

Total 120 marks

70% of total AS mark

The paper is divided into three sections:

Section A Core studies

Total 60 marks

All questions are compulsory

For each core study there will be one question worth 4 marks (a total of 15 questions). These questions may be parted. The questions will ask about specific aspects of the core studies.

Section A advice

Thorough knowledge of the core studies is essential. You need to know the specific details.

Section B Core studies, methods and issues

Total 36 marks

There is one question (with six parts) but a choice between three core studies.

Questions will cover aims, procedures and results of core studies as well as research methods used and issues named in the specification. For example:

Choose one of the following core studies [three studies named] and answer parts (a) – (f) on this study.

(a) Outline the aim of this study. [2]

(b) Describe the sample used in this study and suggest one advantage of using this sample. [6]

(c) Outline the procedure of this study. [6]

(d) Outline the findings of this study. [6]

(e) Discuss the reliability of the findings of this study. [6]

(f) Describe and evaluate changes that could be made to the way this study was conducted. [10]

Section B advice

To gain high marks you must:

Provide detail The mark schemes on the facing page show that detail is used to assess your answer. Include numbers!

Focus Many students make the mistake of including irrelevant information. For example, when asked about the procedure of a study they include information about the sample or the findings. Irrelevant information gains no marks.

Contextualise Your answer must refer to the core study.

Elaborate You must state your answer and then explain it.

Section C Approaches and perspectives

Total 24 marks

A choice between two questions

Questions take the following form:

(a) Outline one assumption of the XXX approach. [2]

(b) With reference to named core study, describe how the XXX approach could explain the topic studied. [4]

(c) Describe one similarity and one difference between any core studies that take the XXX approach. [6]

(d) Discuss strengths and weaknesses of the XXX approach using examples from any core studies that take this approach. [12]

Section C advice

Detail, focus, contextualisation, elaboration are all important.

In addition, be aware of the following advice:

Question (a) The word ‘behaviour’ must appear in your answer.

Question ...