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Psychology AS/A Level
The Key Issues
What the specification says…Describe and apply
For each approach and application we must …o describe one key issue which is of relevance to today’s society o apply concepts, theories and/or research (as appropriate) from the Approach or Application
Stimulus material in the exam
It is also noted in the specification that you may be given a short extract to read, that you have not seen before and will be asked to apply scientific knowledge and processes to this unfamiliar situation.
This means that it is wise for us to look at one issue in detail but also to look at a few other situations as well so that you feel more comfortable applying ideas to a brand new area; this said most of the extracts we have seen so far, have all be drawn from issues mentioned in the key Edexcel textbooks, so it definitely makes sense to consider these.
Writing an excellent key issues essay
How long should I spend on the essay?
You could be asked a short answer question of up to a maximum of around 6 marks but you could be faced with a 12 mark essay in paper 1-3 or even an 18 marker in Paper 4. The table below reviews the timings for your exams and the mark allocations.
Duration Maximum mark allocation
Time per mark Extended answer mark allocation
Suggested timing for essays
Rough idea of word count
Paper 1 80 minutes
60 marks 1 min 20 seconds 1 x 12 marker approx. 15-16 minutes per essay
300-500 words
Paper 2 100 minutes
80 marks 1 min 15 seconds 1 x 12 marker approx. 15 minutes per essay
300-500 words
Paper 3 90 minutes
60 marks 1 min 30 seconds 2 x 12 markers approx. 18 minutes per essay
400-600 words
Paper 4 120 minutes
90 marks 1 min 20 seconds 1x 18 marker approx. 24 minutes per essay
400-600 words allowing for careful planning
Note about Paper 4 in particular: Extended answer are out of 18 and of this up to 6 marks are awarded for structure and focus. This means that a relatively significant proportion of the 24 minutes should be invested in careful planning since a third of marks are awarded for an answer which is …coherent, well structured and focused with clear with effective use of appropriate terminology.
Marking of extended answers:
The extended answers are band marked and the generic descriptors top a top band essay are given in the first column of the table below. The second column gives you ideas about how to achieve this in a typical key issues essay.
“Describe and explain one key issue from the social approach (12)”
How to achieve this in a key issues essay
Candidates will offer a response which is relevant and focused on the question, and addresses the main issues contained in it.
Sustained analysis and evaluation with evidence of reasoned argument and of judgement and reaching conclusions
Analysis is supported by accurate factual material, which is relevant to the question; good use of evidence.
The skills needed to produce convincing extended writing in place.
Excellent organisation, clarity and planning.
Very few syntactical and/or spelling errors may be found.
The Social ApproachSuitable examples from the spec: blind obedience to authority in a prison setting (for example the Abu Ghraib situation), obedience during conflict resulting in harm to others (for example My Lai Massacre, Vietnam 1968), football violence, race riots (for example St Paul’s, Bristol 1980), cult behaviour.
Describing the issue… (don’t forget to ‘issuefy’!’)One key issue from the social approach is ...
What exactly is this issue all about?
Who does this issue impact upon? Where this is issue most relevant?
Why should we care?! Why is this important to society?
Explain this issue using ideas from the social approach…
The first column prompts you to think about the whole approach and gives some ‘pegs’ to ‘hang your ideas’ on. The second column is for you to try and use the information from the approach to explain the issue described above. Be sure that this second column relates directly to specific aspects of the issue described.
How do these relate to the key issue? (Don’t forget to use specific examples from your description)
Defining the approach: What are the key assumptions of the social approach?
Defining the approach: What are the key terms from the social approach?
Content: What research (theories/studies) did we study in the social approach?
Key Studies: What were our key studies in the social approach?
Evaluate...
Implications: What could happen to society if we people accept this perspective?
Research evidence: Is this explanation supported by relevant studies and can the studies be considered credible evidence?
Comparing with an alternative explanation(s):What is the alternative?
What are the implications of this alternative?
How do the two explanations compare? Is one stronger than the other- is there better evidence for one than the other? Are the implications better or worse for society?
Drawing conclusions...
In conclusion it would appear that...
The Cognitive ApproachSuitable examples from the spec: flashbulb memory, reliability of eyewitness testimony, the use of the cognitive interview.
Describing the issue… (don’t forget to ‘issuefy’!’)One key issue from the cognitive approach is ...
What exactly is this issue all about?
Who does this issue impact upon? Where this is issue most relevant?
Why should we care?! Why is this important to society?
Explain this issue using ideas from the cognitive approach…
The first column prompts you to think about the whole approach and gives some ‘pegs’ to ‘hang your ideas’ on. The second column is for you to try and use the information from the approach to explain the issue described above. Be sure that this second column relates directly to specific aspects of the issue described.
How do these relate to the key issue? (Don’t forget to use specific examples from your description)
Defining the approach: What are the key assumptions of the cognitive approach?
Defining the approach: What are the key terms from the cognitive approach?
Content: What research (theories/studies) did we study in the cognitive approach?
Key Studies: What were our key studies in the cognitive approach?
Evaluate...
Implications: What could happen to society if we people accept this perspective?
Research evidence: Is this explanation supported by relevant studies and can the studies be considered credible evidence?
Comparing with an alternative explanation(s):What is the alternative?
What are the implications of this alternative?
How do the two explanations compare? Is one stronger than the other- is there better evidence for one than the other? Are the implications better or worse for society?
Drawing conclusions...
In conclusion it would appear that...
The Psychodynamic ApproachSuitable examples from the spec: effectiveness of psychoanalysis in treating abnormal and normal clients, debate concerning the issue of false memory and repression, debate concerning relationship of early childhood experience to later sexual orientation, debate about whether dreams have meaning.
Describing the issue… (don’t forget to ‘issuefy’!’)One key issue from the psychodynamic approach is ...
What exactly is this issue all about?
Who does this issue impact upon? Where this is issue most relevant?
Why should we care?! Why is this important to society?
Explain this issue using ideas from the psychodynamic approach…
The first column prompts you to think about the whole approach and gives some ‘pegs’ to ‘hang your ideas’ on. The second column is for you to try and use the information from the approach to explain the issue described above. Be sure that this second column relates directly to specific aspects of the issue described.
How do these relate to the key issue? (Don’t forget to use specific examples from your description)
Defining the approach: What are the key assumptions of the psychodynamic approach?
Defining the approach: What are the key terms from the psychodynamic approach?
Content: What research (theories/studies) did we study in the psychodynamic approach?
Key Studies: What were our key studies in the psychodynamic approach?
Evaluate...
Implications: What could happen to society if we people accept this perspective?
Research evidence: Is this explanation supported by relevant studies and can the studies be considered credible evidence?
Comparing with an alternative explanation(s):What is the alternative?
What are the implications of this alternative?
How do the two explanations compare? Is one stronger than the other- is there better evidence for one than the other? Are the implications better or worse for society?
Drawing conclusions...
In conclusion it would appear that...
The Biological ApproachSuitable examples from the spec: the debate over whether autism is an extreme male brain condition, the debate over whether transgender operations are ethical, the issue/debate of using drugs in pregnancy.
Describing the issue… (don’t forget to ‘issuefy’!’)One key issue from the biological approach is ...
What exactly is this issue all about?
Who does this issue impact upon? Where this is issue most relevant?
Why should we care?! Why is this important to society?
Explain this issue using ideas from the biological approach…
The first column prompts you to think about the whole approach and gives some ‘pegs’ to ‘hang your ideas’ on. The second column is for you to try and use the information from the approach to explain the issue described above. Be sure that this second column relates directly to specific aspects of the issue described.
How do these relate to the key issue? (Don’t forget to use specific examples from your description)
Defining the approach: What are the key assumptions of the biological approach?
Defining the approach: What are the key terms from the biological approach?
Content: What research (theories/studies) did we study in the biological approach?
Key Studies: What were our key studies in the biological approach?
Evaluate...
Implications: What could happen to society if we people accept this perspective?
Research evidence: Is this explanation supported by relevant studies and can the studies be considered credible evidence?
Comparing with an alternative explanation(s):What is the alternative?
What are the implications of this alternative?
How do the two explanations compare? Is one stronger than the other- is there better evidence for one than the other? Are the implications better or worse for society?
Drawing conclusions...In conclusion it would appear that...
The Learning ApproachSuitable examples from the spec: the influence of advertising on people’s behaviour, the increase of female violence related to changing role models, the influence of role models on anorexia.
Describing the issue… (don’t forget to ‘issuefy’!’)One key issue from the learning approach is ...
What exactly is this issue all about?
Who does this issue impact upon? Where this is issue most relevant?
Why should we care?! Why is this important to society?
Explain this issue using ideas from the learning approach…
The first column prompts you to think about the whole approach and gives some ‘pegs’ to ‘hang your ideas’ on. The second column is for you to try and use the information from the approach to explain the issue described above. Be sure that this second column relates directly to specific aspects of the issue described.
How do these relate to the key issue? (Don’t forget to use specific examples from your description)
Defining the approach: What are the key assumptions of the learning approach?
Defining the approach: What are the key terms from the learning approach?
Content: What research (theories/studies) did we study in the learning approach?
Key Studies: What were our key studies in the learning approach?
Evaluate...
Implications: What could happen to society if we people accept this perspective?
Research evidence: Is this explanation supported by relevant studies and can the studies be considered credible evidence?
Comparing with an alternative explanation(s):What is the alternative?
What are the implications of this alternative?
How do the two explanations compare? Is one stronger than the other- is there better evidence for one than the other? Are the implications better or worse for society?
Drawing conclusions...
In conclusion it would appear that...
The Criminal ApplicationSuitable examples from the spec: the issue of the reliability of eyewitness testimony, the use of offender profiling, the debate about whether a criminal is ‘born or made’.
Describing the issue… (don’t forget to ‘issuefy’!’)One key issue from the Criminal Application is ...
What exactly is this issue all about?
Who does this issue impact upon? Where this is issue most relevant?
Why should we care?! Why is this important to society?
Explain this issue using ideas from the Criminal Application…
The first column prompts you to think about the whole approach and gives some ‘pegs’ to ‘hang your ideas’ on. The second column is for you to try and use the information from the approach to explain the issue described above. Be sure that this second column relates directly to specific aspects of the issue described.
How do these relate to the key issue? (Don’t forget to use specific examples from your description)
Defining the approach: What are the key assumptions of the Criminal Application?
Defining the approach: What are the key terms from the Criminal Application?
Content: What research (theories/studies) did we study in the Criminal Application?
Key Studies: What were our key studies in the Criminal Application?
Evaluate...
Implications: What could happen to society if we people accept this perspective?
Research evidence: Is this explanation supported by relevant studies and can the studies be considered credible evidence?
Comparing with an alternative explanation(s):What is the alternative?
What are the implications of this alternative?
How do the two explanations compare? Is one stronger than the other- is there better evidence for one than the other? Are the implications better or worse for society?
Drawing conclusions...
In conclusion it would appear that...
The Child ApplicationSuitable examples from the spec: the issue of day-care and its effects on child development, the issue of how the negative effects of deprivation could be alleviated, the issue as to what extent autism has a biological explanation.
Describing the issue… (don’t forget to ‘issuefy’!’)One key issue from the Child Application is ...
What exactly is this issue all about?
Who does this issue impact upon? Where this is issue most relevant?
Why should we care?! Why is this important to society?
Explain this issue using ideas from the Child Application…
The first column prompts you to think about the whole approach and gives some ‘pegs’ to ‘hang your ideas’ on. The second column is for you to try and use the information from the approach to explain the issue described above. Be sure that this second column relates directly to specific aspects of the issue described.
How do these relate to the key issue? (Don’t forget to use specific examples from your description)
Defining the approach: What are the key assumptions of the Child Application?
Defining the approach: What are the key terms from the Child Application?
Content: What research (theories/studies) did we study in the Child Application?
Key Studies: What were our key studies in the Child Application?
Evaluate...
Implications: What could happen to society if we people accept this perspective?
Research evidence: Is this explanation supported by relevant studies and can the studies be considered credible evidence?
Comparing with an alternative explanation(s):What is the alternative?
What are the implications of this alternative?
How do the two explanations compare? Is one stronger than the other- is there better evidence for one than the other? Are the implications better or worse for society?
Drawing conclusions...
In conclusion it would appear that...
The Clinical ApplicationSuitable examples from the spec: the issue of day-care and its effects on child development, the issue of how the negative effects of deprivation could be alleviated, the issue as to what extent autism has a biological explanation.
Describing the issue… (don’t forget to ‘issuefy’!’)One key issue from the Clinical Application is ...
What exactly is this issue all about?
Who does this issue impact upon? Where this is issue most relevant?
Why should we care?! Why is this important to society?
Explain this issue using ideas from the Clinical Application …
The first column prompts you to think about the whole approach and gives some ‘pegs’ to ‘hang your ideas’ on. The second column is for you to try and use the information from the approach to explain the issue described above. Be sure that this second column relates directly to specific aspects of the issue described.
How do these relate to the key issue? (Don’t forget to use specific examples from your description)
Defining the approach: What are the key assumptions of the Clinical Application?
Defining the approach: What are the key terms from the Clinical Application?
Content: What research (theories/studies) did we study in the Clinical Application ?
Key Studies: What were our key studies in the Clinical Application ?
Evaluate...
Implications: What could happen to society if we people accept this perspective?
Research evidence: Is this explanation supported by relevant studies and can the studies be considered credible evidence?
Comparing with an alternative explanation(s):What is the alternative?
What are the implications of this alternative?
How do the two explanations compare? Is one stronger than the other- is there better evidence for one than the other? Are the implications better or worse for society?
Drawing conclusions...
In conclusion it would appear that...