Edexcel GCSE Psychology Exam Questions with Correct Answers Latest 2025
What is 'quantitative data'? - Answers Data in the form of numbers and statistics. It can be more easily
analysed in graphs and tables and tends to come from studies with large samples
What is 'qualitative data'? - Answers Data that is descriptive, e.g. pictures or words, rather than
numbers. It can be more difficult to analyse and tends to come from studies with small samples because
of the depth required.
Explain one difference between qualitative and quantitative data. - Answers Quantitative data is
numerical whereas qualitative data is non-numerical.
What is 'primary data'? - Answers Data the researcher has gathered themselves for a specific piece of
research. This can be expensive and time-consuming to gather.
What is 'secondary data'? - Answers Data a researcher uses that was gathered previously, perhaps by
different researchers, for a different purpose. This can be cheaper and quicker to gather as it already
exists.
Explain one difference between primary and secondary data. - Answers Primary data is collected by the
researcher themselves, whereas secondary data has been collected by someone else previously.
Describe the features of a laboratory experiment. - Answers Conducted under controlled conditions with
extraneous variables tightly controlled. The researcher directly manipulates the IV. Participants are
aware they are being studied.
Explain one strength of using a laboratory experiment. - Answers High control over extraneous vairables
means findings are high in internal validity (being sure that only the IV has affected the DV) plus use of
standardised procedures means the research can be replicated to check the reliability / consistency of
findings.
Explain one weakness of using a laboratory experiment. - Answers Knowing they are being studied,
participants may display demand characteristics. Also, the artifical lab environment is usually much
different from real life settings, so findings may lack ecological validity.
Describe the features of a field experiment. - Answers Carried out in natural settings, the researcher
directly manipulates the IV. Participants usually unaware they are being studied.
Explain one strength of using a field experiment. - Answers Being conducted in the natural setting means
findings are high in ecological valdidity.
Explain one weakness of using a field experiment. - Answers In the natural setting, it is difficult to control
extraneous variables, so findings might lack internal validity in comparison to lab experiments. Also,
unaware they are being studied, participants are often unable to provide informed consent.
, Describe the features of a natural experiment. - Answers People's behaviour is studied in the real-life
setting. The researcher DOES NOT manipulate the IV; rather, it is naturally occuring.
Explain one strength of using a natural experiment. - Answers Natural experiments posses high levels of
ecological validity, being conducted in the natural environment. Also, they allow psychologists to study
areas which it may have been unethical for them to create or manipulate themselves.
Explain one weakness of using a natural experiment. - Answers There is no control over extraneous
variables, so findings may lack internal validity. Also, the opportunity to carry out a natural experiment
may occur only very rarely.
Describe the features of a structured interview. - Answers Qs are decided in advance. They are asked in
the same order for all participants. They are suitable for large-scale studies to get information from lots
of respondents.
Explain one strength and one weakness of using a structured interview. - Answers Strengths: lots of data
can be gathered relatively quickly. Interviewers require little training. Using the same Qs, in the same
order, the interviews can be repeated, so findings can be checked for consistency (reliability).
Weaknesses: participants are not able to respond freely - they have to answer only the pre-determined
Qs. This can reduce the usefulness and the validity of the findings.
Describe the features of an unstructured interview. - Answers Only the broad topic is decided in
advance. Suitable for gathering in-depth information from small groups of respondents.
Explain one strength and one weakness of using an unstructured interview. - Answers Strenghts:
without set questions, participants can justify their answers in their own words, which can improve the
detail and validity of findings. Weaknesses: more time consuming / costly. Interviewers require lots of
training. Impossible to replicate as the Qs are different each time.
Describe the features of a semi-structured interview. - Answers Qs mostly decided in advance but can be
supplemented with additional questions which the interviewer thinks are important at the time.
Explain what is meant by a 'social desirability bias'. - Answers Occurs when a respondent may answer a
question in a way that is socially acceptable.
Explain what is meant by 'interviewer effects. - Answers When the behaviour or attitude of the
interviewer impacts the way a respondent answers questions.
What is an 'open question' and what type of data does this produce? - Answers Does not have pre-set
responses and people can answer however they like and in detail. Produces qualitative data.
What is a 'closed question' and what type of data does this produce? - Answers Has a pre-set list of
answers that a respondent can chose from (e.g. yes/no). Produces quantitative data as answers can be
tallied up.
What is 'quantitative data'? - Answers Data in the form of numbers and statistics. It can be more easily
analysed in graphs and tables and tends to come from studies with large samples
What is 'qualitative data'? - Answers Data that is descriptive, e.g. pictures or words, rather than
numbers. It can be more difficult to analyse and tends to come from studies with small samples because
of the depth required.
Explain one difference between qualitative and quantitative data. - Answers Quantitative data is
numerical whereas qualitative data is non-numerical.
What is 'primary data'? - Answers Data the researcher has gathered themselves for a specific piece of
research. This can be expensive and time-consuming to gather.
What is 'secondary data'? - Answers Data a researcher uses that was gathered previously, perhaps by
different researchers, for a different purpose. This can be cheaper and quicker to gather as it already
exists.
Explain one difference between primary and secondary data. - Answers Primary data is collected by the
researcher themselves, whereas secondary data has been collected by someone else previously.
Describe the features of a laboratory experiment. - Answers Conducted under controlled conditions with
extraneous variables tightly controlled. The researcher directly manipulates the IV. Participants are
aware they are being studied.
Explain one strength of using a laboratory experiment. - Answers High control over extraneous vairables
means findings are high in internal validity (being sure that only the IV has affected the DV) plus use of
standardised procedures means the research can be replicated to check the reliability / consistency of
findings.
Explain one weakness of using a laboratory experiment. - Answers Knowing they are being studied,
participants may display demand characteristics. Also, the artifical lab environment is usually much
different from real life settings, so findings may lack ecological validity.
Describe the features of a field experiment. - Answers Carried out in natural settings, the researcher
directly manipulates the IV. Participants usually unaware they are being studied.
Explain one strength of using a field experiment. - Answers Being conducted in the natural setting means
findings are high in ecological valdidity.
Explain one weakness of using a field experiment. - Answers In the natural setting, it is difficult to control
extraneous variables, so findings might lack internal validity in comparison to lab experiments. Also,
unaware they are being studied, participants are often unable to provide informed consent.
, Describe the features of a natural experiment. - Answers People's behaviour is studied in the real-life
setting. The researcher DOES NOT manipulate the IV; rather, it is naturally occuring.
Explain one strength of using a natural experiment. - Answers Natural experiments posses high levels of
ecological validity, being conducted in the natural environment. Also, they allow psychologists to study
areas which it may have been unethical for them to create or manipulate themselves.
Explain one weakness of using a natural experiment. - Answers There is no control over extraneous
variables, so findings may lack internal validity. Also, the opportunity to carry out a natural experiment
may occur only very rarely.
Describe the features of a structured interview. - Answers Qs are decided in advance. They are asked in
the same order for all participants. They are suitable for large-scale studies to get information from lots
of respondents.
Explain one strength and one weakness of using a structured interview. - Answers Strengths: lots of data
can be gathered relatively quickly. Interviewers require little training. Using the same Qs, in the same
order, the interviews can be repeated, so findings can be checked for consistency (reliability).
Weaknesses: participants are not able to respond freely - they have to answer only the pre-determined
Qs. This can reduce the usefulness and the validity of the findings.
Describe the features of an unstructured interview. - Answers Only the broad topic is decided in
advance. Suitable for gathering in-depth information from small groups of respondents.
Explain one strength and one weakness of using an unstructured interview. - Answers Strenghts:
without set questions, participants can justify their answers in their own words, which can improve the
detail and validity of findings. Weaknesses: more time consuming / costly. Interviewers require lots of
training. Impossible to replicate as the Qs are different each time.
Describe the features of a semi-structured interview. - Answers Qs mostly decided in advance but can be
supplemented with additional questions which the interviewer thinks are important at the time.
Explain what is meant by a 'social desirability bias'. - Answers Occurs when a respondent may answer a
question in a way that is socially acceptable.
Explain what is meant by 'interviewer effects. - Answers When the behaviour or attitude of the
interviewer impacts the way a respondent answers questions.
What is an 'open question' and what type of data does this produce? - Answers Does not have pre-set
responses and people can answer however they like and in detail. Produces qualitative data.
What is a 'closed question' and what type of data does this produce? - Answers Has a pre-set list of
answers that a respondent can chose from (e.g. yes/no). Produces quantitative data as answers can be
tallied up.
