AQA A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY 7182 1 PAPER
1 INTRODUCTORY TOPICS IN
PSYCHOLOGY MARK SCHEME JUNE 2020
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION 2026
SOLVED QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
⩥ Standardised instructions. Answer: The instructions given to each
participant are kept identical - to help prevent experimenter bias.
⩥ When was Wundt's lab established?. Answer: 1879
⩥ Genotype. Answer: An organism's genetic makeup, or allele
combinations.
⩥ Phenotype. Answer: The set of observable characteristics of an
individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the
environment.
⩥ Concordance rates - MZ. Answer: 100%
⩥ Concordance rates - DZ. Answer: 50%
,⩥ Genetic Tests. Answer: reveals an individuals genotype, but will only
show whether a person has predispositions to developing a specific
conditions
⩥ Evolution. Answer: Genes have adapted to become useful to our
survival and are passed onto offspring
⩥ Nervous System. Answer: System of nerves which allows you to
register touch, move, breathe, feel and think. Made up of neurons
⩥ Central Nervous System (CNS). Answer: consists of the brain and
spinal cord
⩥ Neurochemistry. Answer: Relating to chemicals in the brain that
regulate psychological functioning
⩥ Nuerotransmitters. Answer: Chemical messengers, across the synapse,
bind with receptors
⩥ BA: Supporting Evidence (Strength). Answer: Lots of supporting
evidence; supports the assumption that genetics are involved in causes of
behaviour because when there is a higher proportion of genes shared, the
disorder is MORE likely
, ⩥ BA: Practical Applications (Strength). Answer: Real-life applications
to support the approach. This means that there is evidence for the
biological basis of some disorders.
⩥ BA: Correlational Data (Weakness). Answer: Correlation between
neurotransmitter levels and mental disorders. This means it is only a
relationship. Cannot be concluded that neurotransmitter levels cause the
behaviour.
⩥ BA: Contradictory Evidence (Weakness). Answer: Concordance rates
in twin studies are never 100%. This suggests that behaviour is not
purely genetic. Approach fails to recognise the role of the environment
on behaviour.
⩥ BA: Deterministic View (Weakness). Answer: Suggests no conscious
control over human behaviour. This means that individuals do not have
free will over their behaviour.
⩥ Classical Conditioning (Pavlov). Answer: learning occurs through the
pairing of a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned response that
produces an automatic response.
⩥ Operant Conditioning (Skinner). Answer: assumes that behaviour is
based on learning through consequence.
1 INTRODUCTORY TOPICS IN
PSYCHOLOGY MARK SCHEME JUNE 2020
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION 2026
SOLVED QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
⩥ Standardised instructions. Answer: The instructions given to each
participant are kept identical - to help prevent experimenter bias.
⩥ When was Wundt's lab established?. Answer: 1879
⩥ Genotype. Answer: An organism's genetic makeup, or allele
combinations.
⩥ Phenotype. Answer: The set of observable characteristics of an
individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the
environment.
⩥ Concordance rates - MZ. Answer: 100%
⩥ Concordance rates - DZ. Answer: 50%
,⩥ Genetic Tests. Answer: reveals an individuals genotype, but will only
show whether a person has predispositions to developing a specific
conditions
⩥ Evolution. Answer: Genes have adapted to become useful to our
survival and are passed onto offspring
⩥ Nervous System. Answer: System of nerves which allows you to
register touch, move, breathe, feel and think. Made up of neurons
⩥ Central Nervous System (CNS). Answer: consists of the brain and
spinal cord
⩥ Neurochemistry. Answer: Relating to chemicals in the brain that
regulate psychological functioning
⩥ Nuerotransmitters. Answer: Chemical messengers, across the synapse,
bind with receptors
⩥ BA: Supporting Evidence (Strength). Answer: Lots of supporting
evidence; supports the assumption that genetics are involved in causes of
behaviour because when there is a higher proportion of genes shared, the
disorder is MORE likely
, ⩥ BA: Practical Applications (Strength). Answer: Real-life applications
to support the approach. This means that there is evidence for the
biological basis of some disorders.
⩥ BA: Correlational Data (Weakness). Answer: Correlation between
neurotransmitter levels and mental disorders. This means it is only a
relationship. Cannot be concluded that neurotransmitter levels cause the
behaviour.
⩥ BA: Contradictory Evidence (Weakness). Answer: Concordance rates
in twin studies are never 100%. This suggests that behaviour is not
purely genetic. Approach fails to recognise the role of the environment
on behaviour.
⩥ BA: Deterministic View (Weakness). Answer: Suggests no conscious
control over human behaviour. This means that individuals do not have
free will over their behaviour.
⩥ Classical Conditioning (Pavlov). Answer: learning occurs through the
pairing of a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned response that
produces an automatic response.
⩥ Operant Conditioning (Skinner). Answer: assumes that behaviour is
based on learning through consequence.
