1
Examination instructions
The examination paper contains:
A A scenario context
B A questionnaire
C A mini manual
D A discussion meeting
You are required to:
• Read the scenario context (A), the questionnaire (B) and the mini manual (C). These
sections are included in this document. They provide information required for answering the
questions raised in the discussion meeting. The questions raised in the discussion meeting
(D) are the exam questions. These questions are provided online. You find them on the
myUnisa in the PYC2606 space. Go to ‘self-assessment’ and open the “Mock Exam for
PYC2606’ assessment.
• Consider each question that is raised in the discussion meeting. People have different
opinions. You have to consider these opinions and decide which opinion you agree with
most, which one second most and which one least
• For example, if you agree most with the opinion offered by Jan, second most with the
opinion offered by Banti and least with Lindi’s opinion your response is Jan, Banti, Lindi
• A list of potential responses is provided. From this list, select the response that corresponds
to your response.
Please note the following:
The work you submit has to be your own. In this examination you are not allowed to be
assisted by somebody else in formulating your responses, or to assist a fellow student
in formulating their responses.
This is a mock examination. Therefore your answers do not count any marks.
, 2
Scenario context A
You have recently been appointed as the psychologist at a school. The school board and the parent
association are becoming increasingly concerned about illegal drug use amongst learners at the
school. Your predecessor began a preventative programme, but the programme was aimed mainly
at disseminating information. You realise that you also have to identify and target learners who are
at risk for illegal drug use. You decide that the easiest and most economical way of doing this is to
use a questionnaire to identify learners at risk. This will allow you to tailor prevention programmes to
accommodate the needs and circumstances of these learners.
You consult academic literature on the issue of drug abuse and the use of illegal drugs. In the
literature you come across an interesting fact, namely that there is a correlation between alcohol
abuse and the tendency to abuse other drugs or to use illegal drugs. Thus information about learners’
use of alcohol could indicate whether they should be considered at risk for drug abuse in general.
You also notice that many of the publications refer to a particular theory that explains how behaviour
can be predicted. You think the theory could be important because it could help to predict whether
somebody would actually begin to abuse drugs or use illegal drugs. You search the literature for
papers on this theory, and come across two articles explaining what the authors refer to as ‘the theory
of planned behaviour’.
According to the theory of planned behaviour there are psychological factors that predict whether or
not a person will execute a particular form of behaviour. Behaviour is preceded by the intention to
execute the behaviour. The stronger the intention to execute the behaviour the more likely a person
is to actually execute the behaviour in question. Three factors underlie the intention to execute
behaviour. These factors are the person’s attitude towards the behaviour, his/her subjective norm
concerning the behaviour and his/her perceived control with regard to the behaviour. Thus a person
will form a strong intention to act (execute a particular form of behaviour) if he/she feels positive
about the behaviour (positive attitude), thinks the behaviour is socially acceptable (positive subjective
norm) and that nothing stops him/her from executing the behaviour (positive control).
You contact several test publishers and finally come across a questionnaire called the Alcohol use
Intention Questionnaire (AIQ). You order the questionnaire from the test publisher. When the AIQ
arrives you decide to conduct a thorough analysis to determine whether the questionnaire is a
scientifically valid and reliable instrument. There are four psychology students undergoing practical
training at the school under your guidance. You ask them to study the questionnaire (B) and its mini
manual (C) and you schedule two meetings (D and E) to discuss the instrument.
Examination instructions
The examination paper contains:
A A scenario context
B A questionnaire
C A mini manual
D A discussion meeting
You are required to:
• Read the scenario context (A), the questionnaire (B) and the mini manual (C). These
sections are included in this document. They provide information required for answering the
questions raised in the discussion meeting. The questions raised in the discussion meeting
(D) are the exam questions. These questions are provided online. You find them on the
myUnisa in the PYC2606 space. Go to ‘self-assessment’ and open the “Mock Exam for
PYC2606’ assessment.
• Consider each question that is raised in the discussion meeting. People have different
opinions. You have to consider these opinions and decide which opinion you agree with
most, which one second most and which one least
• For example, if you agree most with the opinion offered by Jan, second most with the
opinion offered by Banti and least with Lindi’s opinion your response is Jan, Banti, Lindi
• A list of potential responses is provided. From this list, select the response that corresponds
to your response.
Please note the following:
The work you submit has to be your own. In this examination you are not allowed to be
assisted by somebody else in formulating your responses, or to assist a fellow student
in formulating their responses.
This is a mock examination. Therefore your answers do not count any marks.
, 2
Scenario context A
You have recently been appointed as the psychologist at a school. The school board and the parent
association are becoming increasingly concerned about illegal drug use amongst learners at the
school. Your predecessor began a preventative programme, but the programme was aimed mainly
at disseminating information. You realise that you also have to identify and target learners who are
at risk for illegal drug use. You decide that the easiest and most economical way of doing this is to
use a questionnaire to identify learners at risk. This will allow you to tailor prevention programmes to
accommodate the needs and circumstances of these learners.
You consult academic literature on the issue of drug abuse and the use of illegal drugs. In the
literature you come across an interesting fact, namely that there is a correlation between alcohol
abuse and the tendency to abuse other drugs or to use illegal drugs. Thus information about learners’
use of alcohol could indicate whether they should be considered at risk for drug abuse in general.
You also notice that many of the publications refer to a particular theory that explains how behaviour
can be predicted. You think the theory could be important because it could help to predict whether
somebody would actually begin to abuse drugs or use illegal drugs. You search the literature for
papers on this theory, and come across two articles explaining what the authors refer to as ‘the theory
of planned behaviour’.
According to the theory of planned behaviour there are psychological factors that predict whether or
not a person will execute a particular form of behaviour. Behaviour is preceded by the intention to
execute the behaviour. The stronger the intention to execute the behaviour the more likely a person
is to actually execute the behaviour in question. Three factors underlie the intention to execute
behaviour. These factors are the person’s attitude towards the behaviour, his/her subjective norm
concerning the behaviour and his/her perceived control with regard to the behaviour. Thus a person
will form a strong intention to act (execute a particular form of behaviour) if he/she feels positive
about the behaviour (positive attitude), thinks the behaviour is socially acceptable (positive subjective
norm) and that nothing stops him/her from executing the behaviour (positive control).
You contact several test publishers and finally come across a questionnaire called the Alcohol use
Intention Questionnaire (AIQ). You order the questionnaire from the test publisher. When the AIQ
arrives you decide to conduct a thorough analysis to determine whether the questionnaire is a
scientifically valid and reliable instrument. There are four psychology students undergoing practical
training at the school under your guidance. You ask them to study the questionnaire (B) and its mini
manual (C) and you schedule two meetings (D and E) to discuss the instrument.
