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AQA A Level Psychology Paper 2
Questions and Correct Answers/ Latest
Update / Already Graded
When did psychology emerge?
What 3 things had happened by the end of the 19th Century?
Ans: - The 19th Century when philosophers, physiologists and
physicians applied the scientific method to study the mind.
1) Psychology became defined as 'the science of mental life,
both of its phenomena and their conditions'.
2) Introspection was developed to expose the mind to scientific
research.
3) First experimental psychology labs appeared in universities.
Who is classed as the father of experimental psychology?
Ans: - Wundt, opened the first psychology lab in Germany and
developed introspection as a method of studying the mind.
- First person to be called a psychologist.
Define 'introspection'.
Ans: - The first systematic experimental attempt to study the
mind by breaking up awareness into basic structures of
thoughts, images and sensations.
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- This isolation is called structuralism.
What is Wundt's contribution to psychology?
Ans: 1) Wrote the first psychology textbook.
2) Set up the first experimental psychology lab.
3) Used the scientific method to study the structure of
sensation and perception.
4) Showed that introspection could be used to study mental
states.
What is a strength and a limitation of Wundt's methods?
Ans: - Strength: Some of his methods are scientific, recorded
the introspections in a controlled lab environment, also used
standardised procedures.
- Limitation: Some aspects of his research are not scientific,
relied on participants self-reporting their 'private' mental
processes, subjective data and cannot establish general
principles.
In terms of psychology emerging as a science, what key things
happened in the 1900s?
Ans: - Early behaviourists (e.g. Watson;1913) rejected
introspection as it is subjective, they also argued that
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psychology should only study phenomena that can be observed
and measured.
In terms of psychology emerging as a science, what key things
happened in the 1930s?
Ans: - Behaviourist scientific approach dominated psychology.
- Skinner (1953) brought natural sciences' ideologies to
psychology.
In terms of psychology emerging as a science, what key things
happened in the 1950s?
Ans: - Cognitive approach used scientific procedures to study
mental processes.
- Psychologists started to use inference to study mental
processes.
In terms of psychology emerging as a science, what key things
happened in the 1990s?
Ans: - Biological approach introduced technological advances
into their research.
- e.g. fMRI, EEG and advanced genetic research.
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
AQA A Level Psychology Paper 2
Questions and Correct Answers/ Latest
Update / Already Graded
When did psychology emerge?
What 3 things had happened by the end of the 19th Century?
Ans: - The 19th Century when philosophers, physiologists and
physicians applied the scientific method to study the mind.
1) Psychology became defined as 'the science of mental life,
both of its phenomena and their conditions'.
2) Introspection was developed to expose the mind to scientific
research.
3) First experimental psychology labs appeared in universities.
Who is classed as the father of experimental psychology?
Ans: - Wundt, opened the first psychology lab in Germany and
developed introspection as a method of studying the mind.
- First person to be called a psychologist.
Define 'introspection'.
Ans: - The first systematic experimental attempt to study the
mind by breaking up awareness into basic structures of
thoughts, images and sensations.
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |2
- This isolation is called structuralism.
What is Wundt's contribution to psychology?
Ans: 1) Wrote the first psychology textbook.
2) Set up the first experimental psychology lab.
3) Used the scientific method to study the structure of
sensation and perception.
4) Showed that introspection could be used to study mental
states.
What is a strength and a limitation of Wundt's methods?
Ans: - Strength: Some of his methods are scientific, recorded
the introspections in a controlled lab environment, also used
standardised procedures.
- Limitation: Some aspects of his research are not scientific,
relied on participants self-reporting their 'private' mental
processes, subjective data and cannot establish general
principles.
In terms of psychology emerging as a science, what key things
happened in the 1900s?
Ans: - Early behaviourists (e.g. Watson;1913) rejected
introspection as it is subjective, they also argued that
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |3
psychology should only study phenomena that can be observed
and measured.
In terms of psychology emerging as a science, what key things
happened in the 1930s?
Ans: - Behaviourist scientific approach dominated psychology.
- Skinner (1953) brought natural sciences' ideologies to
psychology.
In terms of psychology emerging as a science, what key things
happened in the 1950s?
Ans: - Cognitive approach used scientific procedures to study
mental processes.
- Psychologists started to use inference to study mental
processes.
In terms of psychology emerging as a science, what key things
happened in the 1990s?
Ans: - Biological approach introduced technological advances
into their research.
- e.g. fMRI, EEG and advanced genetic research.
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
