AQA PSYCHOLOGY A LEVEL PAPER 3 MS 2026/2027
AQA EXAMINATION BOARD | 7182 SPECIFICATION
45 Questions with Complete Marking Scheme | A+ Graded
Question 1: [2 Marks] Define what is meant by ‘alpha bias’ in psychological research.
• Mark Scheme:
o 1 mark for a basic definition (e.g., exaggerating differences).
o 2 marks for a clear definition with context (e.g., The tendency to exaggerate the
differences between men and women, often devaluing one gender in comparison
to the other).
Question 2: [2 Marks] Explain how ‘beta bias’ might occur within the nature-nurture debate.
• Mark Scheme:
o 1 mark for identifying beta bias (ignoring/minimizing differences).
o 2 marks for application to nature-nurture (e.g., Assuming that behaviour is
universal and ignoring that biological or environmental factors may affect
sexes/cultures differently, such as assuming fight-or-flight applies to both sexes
when it may be female-specific 'tend-and-befriend').
Question 3: [4 Marks] Outline androcentrism in psychological research. Provide one example.
• Mark Scheme:
o 1 mark for defining androcentrism (male-centered view/normalizing male
behaviour).
o 1 mark for explaining the consequence (female behaviour is seen as abnormal or
deficient).
o 2 marks for a valid example (e.g., PMS being classified as a mental disorder;
Freud’s theory of penis envy; Asch’s study using only male participants to
generalize to all humans).
Question 4: [2 Marks] Distinguish between ethnocentrism and cultural relativism.
, • Mark Scheme:
o 1 mark for distinguishing ethnocentrism (judging other cultures by the standards
of one’s own, viewing own culture as superior).
o 1 mark for distinguishing cultural relativism (the idea that norms and values can
only be understood within the context of the specific culture).
Question 5: [4 Marks] Briefly evaluate the concept of cultural bias in psychological research.
• Mark Scheme:
o AO3 (Evaluation):
o 1 mark for identifying a problem (e.g., imposed etic – forcing Western constructs
on other cultures).
o 1 mark for elaboration (e.g., This leads to misinterpretation of behaviour, such as
attachment styles differing in collectivist cultures like Japan).
o 1 mark for alternative perspective (e.g., Researchers like Jahoda advocate for
cross-cultural research to develop universal theories).
o 1 mark for cohesive point (e.g., However, cross-cultural research itself may suffer
from researcher bias in interpretation).
Question 6: [2 Marks] Identify two types of determinism.
• Mark Scheme:
o 1 mark for first type (e.g., Hard, Soft, Biological, Environmental, Psychic).
o 1 mark for second type (different from the first).
Question 7: [4 Marks] Explain the difference between hard determinism and soft determinism.
Refer to psychological approaches in your answer.
• Mark Scheme:
o 1 mark for explaining hard determinism (all behaviour has a cause; free will is an
illusion; e.g., Behaviourist or Biological approach).
o 1 mark for explaining soft determinism (behaviour has causes but we have some
choice/agency; e.g., Cognitive or Humanistic approach).
o 2 marks for effective contrast/clarity of psychological reference (e.g., Skinner
(hard) vs. James (soft)).
AQA EXAMINATION BOARD | 7182 SPECIFICATION
45 Questions with Complete Marking Scheme | A+ Graded
Question 1: [2 Marks] Define what is meant by ‘alpha bias’ in psychological research.
• Mark Scheme:
o 1 mark for a basic definition (e.g., exaggerating differences).
o 2 marks for a clear definition with context (e.g., The tendency to exaggerate the
differences between men and women, often devaluing one gender in comparison
to the other).
Question 2: [2 Marks] Explain how ‘beta bias’ might occur within the nature-nurture debate.
• Mark Scheme:
o 1 mark for identifying beta bias (ignoring/minimizing differences).
o 2 marks for application to nature-nurture (e.g., Assuming that behaviour is
universal and ignoring that biological or environmental factors may affect
sexes/cultures differently, such as assuming fight-or-flight applies to both sexes
when it may be female-specific 'tend-and-befriend').
Question 3: [4 Marks] Outline androcentrism in psychological research. Provide one example.
• Mark Scheme:
o 1 mark for defining androcentrism (male-centered view/normalizing male
behaviour).
o 1 mark for explaining the consequence (female behaviour is seen as abnormal or
deficient).
o 2 marks for a valid example (e.g., PMS being classified as a mental disorder;
Freud’s theory of penis envy; Asch’s study using only male participants to
generalize to all humans).
Question 4: [2 Marks] Distinguish between ethnocentrism and cultural relativism.
, • Mark Scheme:
o 1 mark for distinguishing ethnocentrism (judging other cultures by the standards
of one’s own, viewing own culture as superior).
o 1 mark for distinguishing cultural relativism (the idea that norms and values can
only be understood within the context of the specific culture).
Question 5: [4 Marks] Briefly evaluate the concept of cultural bias in psychological research.
• Mark Scheme:
o AO3 (Evaluation):
o 1 mark for identifying a problem (e.g., imposed etic – forcing Western constructs
on other cultures).
o 1 mark for elaboration (e.g., This leads to misinterpretation of behaviour, such as
attachment styles differing in collectivist cultures like Japan).
o 1 mark for alternative perspective (e.g., Researchers like Jahoda advocate for
cross-cultural research to develop universal theories).
o 1 mark for cohesive point (e.g., However, cross-cultural research itself may suffer
from researcher bias in interpretation).
Question 6: [2 Marks] Identify two types of determinism.
• Mark Scheme:
o 1 mark for first type (e.g., Hard, Soft, Biological, Environmental, Psychic).
o 1 mark for second type (different from the first).
Question 7: [4 Marks] Explain the difference between hard determinism and soft determinism.
Refer to psychological approaches in your answer.
• Mark Scheme:
o 1 mark for explaining hard determinism (all behaviour has a cause; free will is an
illusion; e.g., Behaviourist or Biological approach).
o 1 mark for explaining soft determinism (behaviour has causes but we have some
choice/agency; e.g., Cognitive or Humanistic approach).
o 2 marks for effective contrast/clarity of psychological reference (e.g., Skinner
(hard) vs. James (soft)).
