Detailed booklet for research methods practical activities for OCR A-level Psychology students. Includes data analysis (including inferential statistical tests with step-by-step instructions for practice).
4 practical studies for students to complete:
An experiment
An observation
A self-report study
A correlation study
Contains:
Background information and example of previous research
Aims and hypothesis writing (alternate, null, one-tailed, two-tailed)
Method and materials information is provided for students
Asks students to identify: the DV, the IV, how they will recruit their sample, identify the sampling method they’ve described, ethical considerations they will need to consider, specific questions about the procedure
Difference or relationship?
Level of measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval)
Raw data tables
An inferential statistical test for each piece of research (Wilcoxon T test, Chi-square test, variance and standard deviation and Spearman’s Rho correlation analysis)
Critical value tables
Writing significance statements
Writing research conclusions
Discussion of research: does it match previous findings? What does it mean for the topic its in?
Methodological evaluation
A Short Guide to Statistical Tests. This booklet contains all the information students need for the inferential statistics section of OCR A Level Psychology.
It includes:
How to know which test to use
Levels of measurement (nominal/ordinal/interval)
Significance levels
How to tell if your result is significant (+ a nice easy rule for remembering!)
Binomial sign test instructions
Chi-square instructions
Wilcoxon T instructions
Mann-Whitney U instructions
Spearman’s rho instructions
How to interpret correlations & correlation coefficients
OCR A-level Psychology - Mental Health (all 3 topics) Lessons, Activities, Assessments Bundle
Historical Context of Mental Health
The Medical Model
Alternatives to the Medical Model
Includes:
Powerpoint lessons
Worksheet activities
Revision activities
Exam questions
Exam practice and exemplar answers
Mark schemes
Assessments
Includes PowerPoints, Word docs and PDFs
A3 sheet for revising ‘Responses to People in Need’ from Social Psychology.
OCR A-Level Psychology specification.
Piliavin (1969), Levine (2001) and compare and contrast the studies.
OCR GCSE Psychology Paper 1 - 4 Topics, Revision Checklists, RAG Activity
Includes topic checklists for Research Methods, Criminal Behaviour, Psychological Problems and Development.
Students can rate their confidence with each section of topic knowledge.
Word files, 4 checklists.
OCR A-level Psychology - Component 3 Mental Health - Revision Activities (10 activities, 12 pages)
Covers:
Historical Context of Mental Health
The Medical Model
Alternatives to the Medical Model
Powerpoint file, 12 pages, a3 size
OCR A-level Psychology - Mental Health - Alternatives to Medical Model topic Lessons, Activities, Assessment
Includes 6 lessons (some double lessons)
Activities and worksheets
Revision activities
Exam practice
Exemplar answers
Assessment
Assessment mark scheme
32 files. Powerpoints, PDFs and Word docs
OCR A-level Psychology - Mental Health - Medical Model topic Lessons, Activities, Assessment
Includes 7 lessons (some double lessons)
Activities and worksheets
Revision activities
Exam practice
Exemplar answers
Assessment
Assessment mark scheme
25 files. Powerpoints, PDFs and Word docs
OCR A-level Psychology - Child Psychology Topics 1-6 (lessons, worksheets, revision, assessments)
Powerpoints
Worksheets, handouts and activities
Exam style questions
Mark schemes
Exemplar answers
Assessment
TOPIC 1- INTELLIGENCE
At least two definitions of intelligence
Spearman’s theory of intelligence
One multiple intelligence theory
At least one other theory of intelligence
Biological factors that can influence intelligence (sex, hormones, genetics)
Method of assessing intelligence- Raven’s Progressive Matrices
Strengths and limitations of this method of assessing intelligence
Core study- Van Leeuwen et al
Methodological strengths and limitations of Van Leeuwen et al
How intelligence relates to different debates x3
TOPIC 2- PRE-ADULT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
How the brain develops in early childhood in general
Brain development that makes adolescents more likely to take risks
Core study- Barkley-Levenson and Galvan
Methodological strengths and limitations of Barkley-Levenson and Galvan
One method for reducing risk-taking- Graduated Driver Licensing Schemes
Strengths and limitations of introducing GDLs
How pre-adult brain development relates to different debates x3
TOPIC 3- PERCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT
Perceptual abilities that develop early on in an infant’s life
Definitions/explanations of different depth cues
How we can study infant/animal perceptual development
Core study- Gibson and Walk
Methodological strengths and limitations of Gibson and Walk One play strategy for developing perception- Sensory Integrative therapy
Strengths and limitations of this therapy
How perceptual development relates to different debates x3
TOPIC 4- COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
Piaget’s theory of cognitive development
How Piaget’s theory has influenced education practices
Vygotsky’s theory of cognitive development
How Vygotsky’s theory could influence education practices
Core study- Wood et al
Methodological strengths and limitations of Wood et al
Strategies for improving revision and learning- mnemonics/rehearsal
Strengths and limitations of these strategies
How cognitive development relates to different debates x3
TOPIC 5- DEVELOPMENT OF ATTACHMENT
How attachments develop in childhood
Methods for measuring attachment
Cultural differences in attachment
The impact of failing to develop attachments
Core study- Ainsworth and Bell
Methodological strengths and limitations of Ainsworth and Bell
Strategies for developing attachment friendly environments- key workers
Strengths and limitations of these strategies
How attachment development relates to different debates x3
TOPIC 6- IMPACT OF ADVERTISING ON CHILDREN
How stereotyping occurs in adverts
How children can be influenced by television advertising
Core study- Johnson and Young
Methodological strengths and limitations of Johnson and Young
One strategy to reduce the impact of advertising – Media Smart/Be Adwise
Strengths and limitations of these strategies
How attachment development relates to different debates x3
Contains PowerPoints, PDFs, Word docs
A3 sheet for revising ‘Responses to People in Authority’ from Social Psychology.
OCR A-Level Psychology specification.
Milgram (1963), Bocchiaro (2012) and compare and contrast the studies.
A3 worksheet on Individual Differences Area, Psychodynamic Perspective for OCR A-Level Psychology.
The resource includes:
Assumptions of the perspective
Assumption 1: The Unconscious Mind - ID, Ego, Superego
Assumption 2: Early Experience Affects Adult Experience, Psychosexual Stages of Development (ages, key developmental task, adult fixation)
Assumption 3: Unconscious Information is Presented in Outward Communication (Freudian slips, dream analysis, talking therapy/association)
Evaluation/debates: free will vs. determinism, individual vs. situational, social sensitivity, psychology as a science, usefulness.
A3 sheet for revising ‘Understanding Disorders’ from Individual Differences Psychology.
OCR A-Level Psychology specification.
Freud (1909), Baron-Cohen (1999), evaluate and compare and contrast the studies.
A3 sheet for revising ‘Measuring Differences’ from Individual Differences Psychology.
OCR A-Level Psychology specification.
Gould (1982) and Hancock (2011), evaluate and compare and contrast the studies.
AQA GCSE PSYCHOLOGY REVISION PACK
COMPONENT 1: COGNITION AND BEHAVIOUR
*** 40 revision sessions
20-week revision plan
Over 130 revision tasks
Covers 4 topics: Development, Research Methods, Memory & Perception
Practice exam questions for every session**
Which students would benefit from this resource?
These tasks are designed for Year 11 GCSE students to complete over 2 sessions per week for 20 weeks. There are 40 sessions in total which cover all four topics in Component 1 (Paper 1) and includes exam practice questions in every session.
How long is each session?
It is designed as a 20-week-long revision plan, with a gradual increase in the amount of time the tasks should approximately take as students progress with the tasks.
Weeks 1-5 = 30 mins
Weeks 6-10 = 40 mins
Weeks 11=15 = 50 mins
Weeks 16 & 17 = 60 mins
Weeks 18-20 = 1 hour 45 mins (focus on AQA assessment resources and practice papers/mark schemes).
If students are struggling to complete 9-mark questions within the suggested time frame, I usually have them briefly plan their AO1s rather than attempt the whole question (or write it as a 6-marker!)
What does each session look like? What does it include?
Each session follows a similar format and includes 3-7 tasks (most have 3 or 4).
Tasks are instructional, include suggestions for revision techniques, includes suggestions for structuring an evaluation point, and practice exam questions which range from short-answer questions to 9-mark essays. E.g.:
’Development – Applying Piaget’s Theory to Education’ (Week 2, Session 1 – 30 minutes)
Task 1: learn the definitions of the three concepts (readiness, learning by discovery, individual learning). You can either create a table or a mindmap.
Task 2: learn how to apply each of Piaget’s stages to education. I suggest you list each stage, the developmental task (e.g. egocentrism) and an activity example (e.g. dressing up).
Task 3: learn the three evaluation points using the structure.
Task 4: answer the following exam-style questions.
Briefly explain how one of Piaget’s stages could be applied to education (2 marks)
The application of Piaget’s theory to education has been criticised. Use your knowledge of psychology to evaluate this application (5 marks)
Describe and evaluate the application of Piaget’s stages to education (9 marks)
Why doesn’t it follow the order I taught the topics in?
The tasks are grouped by topic in the following order: Development, Research Methods, Memory and Perception. This is the sequence of topics I personally use (I’m aware this may be unusual!) If students are confident, encourage stretch and challenge by having them complete tasks in a different order or picking at random, perhaps!
Textbook reference: Illuminate Publishing’s: ‘AQA PSYCHOLOGY FOR GCSE – STUDENT BOOK’ by authors Cara Flanagan, Dave Berry, Ruth Jones, Mark Jones, Rob Liddle. The book is approved by AQA.
A-Level Psychology - ‘Analyse psychological perspectives in relation to the nature/nurture debate’
7 page word file exploring the question. Applies each psychological approach to nature and nurture.
OCR A-level Psychology Y12 Components 1 & 2 Revision Pack
Designed for Y13 students underperforming after autumn term assessment. Can be set as a half-term task.
Covers research methods and glossary of terms task.
Core studies revision (all 20 studies)
Research methods part B 15-mark question exam practice with example questions to complete
Provides 3 overall targets, clear action steps and explanation of how it’ll help students improve.
Word doc file - 38 pages