AQA PSYCHOLOGY A LEVEL 2021
PAPER 2 MARK SCHEME | Paper Code
7182/2 | Psychology in Context | Actual MS
June 2021 | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
eneral Marking Guidance
G
All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must mark the first
candidate in exactly the same way as they mark the last.
Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be rewarded for what they
have shown they can do rather than penalised for omissions.
Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not according to their perception
of where the grade boundaries may lie.
There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark scheme should be used
appropriately.
All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded. Examiners should
always award full marks if deserved, i.e. if the answer matches the marking scheme.
Examiners should also be prepared to award zero marks if the candidate's response is
not worthy of credit according to the marking scheme.
Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide the principles by which
marks will be awarded and exemplification may be limited.
When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the mark scheme to a
candidate's response, the team leader must be consulted.
Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has replaced it with an
alternative response.
SECTION A: APPROACHES IN PSYCHOLOGY
Total for this section: 24 marks
01 Outline the way in which Pavlov studied classical conditioning.
[4 marks]
Marks for this question: AO1 = 4
Table
, evel Mark Description
L
2 3-4 Knowledge of Pavlov's studies of classical conditioning is clear and
generally well detailed. The answer is generally coherent with appropriate use of
terminology.
1 1-2 Knowledge of Pavlov's studies of classical conditioning is limited. The
answer as a whole lacks clarity and has inaccuracies. Terminology is either absent or
inappropriately used.
0 0 No relevant content.
Possible content:
Pavlov conducted experiments studying the salivation reflex in dogs
Dogs naturally salivate when presented with food (unconditioned stimulus →
unconditioned response)
Pavlov paired a neutral stimulus (bell/metronome) with the presentation of food
After repeated pairings, the bell alone caused salivation (conditioned stimulus →
conditioned response)
Demonstrated learning by association/temporal contiguity
Used laboratory conditions with precise measurement of salivation using collection
tubes
Additional guidance:
Credit references to Pavlov's discovery of psychic reflexes
Credit detail about the experimental procedure including the use of dogs in harnesses
Credit understanding of acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery, generalisation
and discrimination if linked to Pavlov's methodology
Information presented in a diagram can be credited if clearly labelled
Common errors that do NOT gain credit:
Describing Skinner's operant conditioning studies
Confusing UCS/CS/UCR/CR relationships
Simply stating "Pavlov used dogs" without methodological detail
02 Some critics have said that Pavlov's studies may lack ecological validity. What is
meant by the term ecological validity?
[2 marks]
Marks for this question: AO1 = 2
2 marks for a clear and coherent explanation.
1 mark for a limited/muddled explanation.
Acceptable answers:
Ecological validity refers to the extent to which research findings can be generalised to
real-life settings [1 mark]
, It concerns whether the behaviour studied in an artificial/laboratory environment is
representative of how people (or animals) would behave in their natural environment [1
mark]
The degree to which an experiment reflects the natural situation being investigated [2
marks]
Additional guidance:
Credit reference to mundane realism (everyday realism) as an alternative term
Credit answers that contrast laboratory settings with natural environments
Accept answers that focus on the artificiality of the research setting
What does NOT gain credit:
References to reliability or validity in general without specific focus on ecological
validity
Confusing with external validity (though this is related, it is not the same)
Simply stating "whether the study can be repeated"
03 Jemima and Lily are identical twins. Lily complains to Jemima, "I don't understand it.
If we have the same genes, how come you have clearer skin than me and are much
better at netball?" Jemima laughs and replies, "Lily, we may be identical twins, but we
are not identical people." Using your knowledge of genotype and phenotype, explain
Lily's and Jemima's comments.
[4 marks]
Marks for this question: AO2 = 4
Table
Level Mark Description
2 3-4 Application of knowledge of genotype and phenotype to the scenario is
clear and effective. The answer is generally coherent with appropriate use of
terminology.
1 1-2 Application of knowledge of genotype and phenotype to the scenario is
limited. The answer as a whole lacks clarity and has inaccuracies. Terminology is either
absent or inappropriately used.
0 0 No relevant content.
Possible content:
Lily and Jemima have identical genotypes (genotype refers to the genetic make-up of an
individual) [1 mark]
Lily and Jemima do not have identical phenotypes (phenotype refers to the observable
characteristics of an individual as a result of their genotype AND their environment) [1
mark]
Although Lily and Jemima have the same genes, Jemima might practice netball more or
have started lessons earlier than Lily; these environmental factors may make her better
at netball [1 mark]
PAPER 2 MARK SCHEME | Paper Code
7182/2 | Psychology in Context | Actual MS
June 2021 | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
eneral Marking Guidance
G
All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must mark the first
candidate in exactly the same way as they mark the last.
Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be rewarded for what they
have shown they can do rather than penalised for omissions.
Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not according to their perception
of where the grade boundaries may lie.
There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark scheme should be used
appropriately.
All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded. Examiners should
always award full marks if deserved, i.e. if the answer matches the marking scheme.
Examiners should also be prepared to award zero marks if the candidate's response is
not worthy of credit according to the marking scheme.
Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide the principles by which
marks will be awarded and exemplification may be limited.
When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the mark scheme to a
candidate's response, the team leader must be consulted.
Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has replaced it with an
alternative response.
SECTION A: APPROACHES IN PSYCHOLOGY
Total for this section: 24 marks
01 Outline the way in which Pavlov studied classical conditioning.
[4 marks]
Marks for this question: AO1 = 4
Table
, evel Mark Description
L
2 3-4 Knowledge of Pavlov's studies of classical conditioning is clear and
generally well detailed. The answer is generally coherent with appropriate use of
terminology.
1 1-2 Knowledge of Pavlov's studies of classical conditioning is limited. The
answer as a whole lacks clarity and has inaccuracies. Terminology is either absent or
inappropriately used.
0 0 No relevant content.
Possible content:
Pavlov conducted experiments studying the salivation reflex in dogs
Dogs naturally salivate when presented with food (unconditioned stimulus →
unconditioned response)
Pavlov paired a neutral stimulus (bell/metronome) with the presentation of food
After repeated pairings, the bell alone caused salivation (conditioned stimulus →
conditioned response)
Demonstrated learning by association/temporal contiguity
Used laboratory conditions with precise measurement of salivation using collection
tubes
Additional guidance:
Credit references to Pavlov's discovery of psychic reflexes
Credit detail about the experimental procedure including the use of dogs in harnesses
Credit understanding of acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery, generalisation
and discrimination if linked to Pavlov's methodology
Information presented in a diagram can be credited if clearly labelled
Common errors that do NOT gain credit:
Describing Skinner's operant conditioning studies
Confusing UCS/CS/UCR/CR relationships
Simply stating "Pavlov used dogs" without methodological detail
02 Some critics have said that Pavlov's studies may lack ecological validity. What is
meant by the term ecological validity?
[2 marks]
Marks for this question: AO1 = 2
2 marks for a clear and coherent explanation.
1 mark for a limited/muddled explanation.
Acceptable answers:
Ecological validity refers to the extent to which research findings can be generalised to
real-life settings [1 mark]
, It concerns whether the behaviour studied in an artificial/laboratory environment is
representative of how people (or animals) would behave in their natural environment [1
mark]
The degree to which an experiment reflects the natural situation being investigated [2
marks]
Additional guidance:
Credit reference to mundane realism (everyday realism) as an alternative term
Credit answers that contrast laboratory settings with natural environments
Accept answers that focus on the artificiality of the research setting
What does NOT gain credit:
References to reliability or validity in general without specific focus on ecological
validity
Confusing with external validity (though this is related, it is not the same)
Simply stating "whether the study can be repeated"
03 Jemima and Lily are identical twins. Lily complains to Jemima, "I don't understand it.
If we have the same genes, how come you have clearer skin than me and are much
better at netball?" Jemima laughs and replies, "Lily, we may be identical twins, but we
are not identical people." Using your knowledge of genotype and phenotype, explain
Lily's and Jemima's comments.
[4 marks]
Marks for this question: AO2 = 4
Table
Level Mark Description
2 3-4 Application of knowledge of genotype and phenotype to the scenario is
clear and effective. The answer is generally coherent with appropriate use of
terminology.
1 1-2 Application of knowledge of genotype and phenotype to the scenario is
limited. The answer as a whole lacks clarity and has inaccuracies. Terminology is either
absent or inappropriately used.
0 0 No relevant content.
Possible content:
Lily and Jemima have identical genotypes (genotype refers to the genetic make-up of an
individual) [1 mark]
Lily and Jemima do not have identical phenotypes (phenotype refers to the observable
characteristics of an individual as a result of their genotype AND their environment) [1
mark]
Although Lily and Jemima have the same genes, Jemima might practice netball more or
have started lessons earlier than Lily; these environmental factors may make her better
at netball [1 mark]
