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PYC1502: Psychology in Society
May/June Examination 2026 — Covers 2023 to 2025 Past Papers
⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆
PSYCHOLOGY — University of South Africa (UNISA)
Exam Revision Guide
PYC1502
Module Code:
Psychology in Society
Module Name:
May/June 2023, 2024 & 2025
Paper / Exam:
May/June Examination 2026
Prepared for:
All 8 Study Units
Coverage:
100 (50 MCQ × 2 marks each)
Total Marks:
Use this guide to revise thoroughly. Focus on understanding, not memorisation. All
questions reflect the style and content of authentic UNISA PYC1502 past papers.
Exam Revision Notes | PYC1502 | 2023–2025
,PYC1502 | Exam Revision 2023–2025 Psychology in Society
Study Unit 1 — Psychology as a Science MCQ Questions
Question 1 [2 marks]
Question: The primary goal of psychology that involves predicting what will happen next
is called . . .
1. description
2. explanation
3. prediction
4. control
Answer: Correct answer: 3 — Prediction.
Psychology has four main goals, and it’s easy to mix them up. Here’s the thing — each
goal builds on the one before it.
• Description is the starting point: simply observing and recording behaviour as
accurately as possible.
• Explanation goes a step further — asking why behaviour occurs.
• Prediction is exactly what it sounds like: using knowledge already gathered to say
what will happen under certain conditions. That’s option 3.
• Control is the final goal — being able to change or manage behaviour based on
predictions.
Option 1 is wrong because description doesn’t anticipate anything. Option 2 confuses
cause with forecast.
Exam Tip
The UNISA exam frequently tests the sequence of the four goals. Remember them in
order: D-E-P-C (Describe, Explain, Predict, Control). Each question usually gives a
scenario and asks which goal it illustrates.
Page 2 of 30
, PYC1502 | Exam Revision 2023–2025 Psychology in Society
Question 2 [2 marks]
Question: A researcher observes that learners who sleep fewer than six hours perform
worse in class. This research is best described as . . .
1. an experiment
2. a case study
3. a correlational study
4. a survey
Answer: Correct answer: 3 — A correlational study.
A correlational study measures the relationship between two variables without ma-
nipulating either of them. Sleep hours and class performance are simply observed and
linked — no independent variable is being controlled. So option 3 is correct.
Option 1 is wrong because an experiment requires manipulation of an independent vari-
able and a control group. Option 2 (case study) focuses on a single individual in depth.
Option 4 (survey) collects self-reported data via questionnaires, not observations of
natural behaviour.
Example
Think about a study that finds a link between smartphone use and anxiety. No-
body is told to use their phone more or less — the researcher simply measures
both. That’s correlational. No manipulation, no causation claim.
Question 3 [2 marks]
Question: The approach in psychology that focuses on unconscious processes and early
childhood experiences is the . . .
1. humanistic approach
2. behaviourist approach
3. cognitive approach
4. psychoanalytic approach
Page 3 of 30
]]
PYC1502: Psychology in Society
May/June Examination 2026 — Covers 2023 to 2025 Past Papers
⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆
PSYCHOLOGY — University of South Africa (UNISA)
Exam Revision Guide
PYC1502
Module Code:
Psychology in Society
Module Name:
May/June 2023, 2024 & 2025
Paper / Exam:
May/June Examination 2026
Prepared for:
All 8 Study Units
Coverage:
100 (50 MCQ × 2 marks each)
Total Marks:
Use this guide to revise thoroughly. Focus on understanding, not memorisation. All
questions reflect the style and content of authentic UNISA PYC1502 past papers.
Exam Revision Notes | PYC1502 | 2023–2025
,PYC1502 | Exam Revision 2023–2025 Psychology in Society
Study Unit 1 — Psychology as a Science MCQ Questions
Question 1 [2 marks]
Question: The primary goal of psychology that involves predicting what will happen next
is called . . .
1. description
2. explanation
3. prediction
4. control
Answer: Correct answer: 3 — Prediction.
Psychology has four main goals, and it’s easy to mix them up. Here’s the thing — each
goal builds on the one before it.
• Description is the starting point: simply observing and recording behaviour as
accurately as possible.
• Explanation goes a step further — asking why behaviour occurs.
• Prediction is exactly what it sounds like: using knowledge already gathered to say
what will happen under certain conditions. That’s option 3.
• Control is the final goal — being able to change or manage behaviour based on
predictions.
Option 1 is wrong because description doesn’t anticipate anything. Option 2 confuses
cause with forecast.
Exam Tip
The UNISA exam frequently tests the sequence of the four goals. Remember them in
order: D-E-P-C (Describe, Explain, Predict, Control). Each question usually gives a
scenario and asks which goal it illustrates.
Page 2 of 30
, PYC1502 | Exam Revision 2023–2025 Psychology in Society
Question 2 [2 marks]
Question: A researcher observes that learners who sleep fewer than six hours perform
worse in class. This research is best described as . . .
1. an experiment
2. a case study
3. a correlational study
4. a survey
Answer: Correct answer: 3 — A correlational study.
A correlational study measures the relationship between two variables without ma-
nipulating either of them. Sleep hours and class performance are simply observed and
linked — no independent variable is being controlled. So option 3 is correct.
Option 1 is wrong because an experiment requires manipulation of an independent vari-
able and a control group. Option 2 (case study) focuses on a single individual in depth.
Option 4 (survey) collects self-reported data via questionnaires, not observations of
natural behaviour.
Example
Think about a study that finds a link between smartphone use and anxiety. No-
body is told to use their phone more or less — the researcher simply measures
both. That’s correlational. No manipulation, no causation claim.
Question 3 [2 marks]
Question: The approach in psychology that focuses on unconscious processes and early
childhood experiences is the . . .
1. humanistic approach
2. behaviourist approach
3. cognitive approach
4. psychoanalytic approach
Page 3 of 30
