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Hi! These are my A-Level notes, essays and resources I used to sit the 2018 summer exams, in AQA Psychology, AQA Economics and AQA English Literature (achieving A*A*A). Hope you find these useful.
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Hi! These are my A-Level notes, essays and resources I used to sit the 2018 summer exams, in AQA Psychology, AQA Economics and AQA English Literature (achieving A*A*A). Hope you find these useful.
Psychology
AQA Psychology A-level: Research Methods 1
AQA Psychology A-level: Research Methods (part 1)
From specification 7181, 7182 - Psychology in context (paper 2) I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!
Includes
The basis of experiments
Variables and control
Experimental methods
Experimental design
Non-experimental methods
Sampling techniques
Pilot studies, content analysis and ethical issues
AQA Psychology A-level: Research Methods 2
AQA Psychology A-level: Research Methods (part 2)
From specification 7181, 7182 - Psychology in context - paper 2 (I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!)
Includes
Reliability and validity - measuring, improving, evaluation
Extraneous variables
Data handling - types of data, presentation/display of data, measures of CT, dispersion and standard deviation
Probability and significance - statistical and inferential tests, type 1 vs type 2 errors
Inferential tests
Features of science, writing the scientific report, peer review and evaluation
AQA Psychology A-Level: Cognition and Development (A* notes)
AQA Psychology A-level: Cognition and Development
From specification 7181, 7182 - Issues and options in Psychology - paper 3 (I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!)
Includes
Piaget’s theory of development, schemas, motivation to learn, assimilation/accomodation and evaluation
4 stages of intellectual development and evaluation of studies
Vygotsky’s theory of development - language, zone of proximal development, scaffolding and evaluation
Baillargeon and infant abilities - violation of expectation research (VOE), physical reasoning and evaluation
Selman’s perspective-taking research, stages of perspective taking and evaluation
Theory of mind - false belief tasks, eyes tasks, biological basis, role in ASD and evaluation
Mirror neuron system - role of mirror neurons, relation to evolution, relation to ASD and evaluation
AQA A-Level Psychology - Forensic Psychology Exam Practice A* Exemplar Essays
AQA Psychology A-level: Forensic Psychology
From specification 7181, 7182 - Issues and options in Psychology - paper 3 (I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!)
Here are my practice exam questions
Includes:
Outline and evaluate methods of measuring crime (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate the top-down approach of offender profiling (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate the bottom-up approach of offender profiling (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate one or more biological explanation for offending behaviour (16 marks)
Discuss Eysenck’s theory of criminal personality as an explanation for offending behaviour (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate cognitive explanations for offending behaviour (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate differential association theory as an explanation for offending behaviour (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate the psychodynamic explanation for offending (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate custodial sentencing as a way of dealing with offending behaviour (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate behaviour modification as a way of dealing with offending behaviour (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate anger management as a way of dealing with offending behaviour (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate restorative justice programmes as a way of dealing with offending behaviour (16 marks)
AQA Psychology A-level: Eating Behaviour (A* notes)
AQA Psychology A-level: Eating behaviour
From specification 7181, 7182 - Issues and options in Psychology - paper 3 (I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!)
Includes
Evolutionary explanations for food preferences, taste aversion, neophobia and evaluation
Role of learning - classical and operant conditioning, social influence; family, media, peer etc. and evaluation
Cultural influence in eating - norms, meat-eating, learning and evaluation
Neural mechanisms - dual-centre model of eating - Lateral hypothalamus and ventro-medial hypothalamus
Hormonal mechanisms - role of ghrelin and leptin, studies and evaluation
Explanations for anorexia nervosa (AN)*
Genetic explanations - twin studies, candidate-gene and genome-wide associate studies and evaluation
Neural explanations - role of serotonin and dopamine and evaluation
Psychodynamic approach - Family Systems Theory (FST) and evaluation
Social learning theory - modelling, vicarious reinforcement, media, Dittmar et al’s Barbie study (2006)
Cognitive theory - cognitive distortions, irrational beliefs, cognitive inflexibility and evaluation
Explanations for obesity
Genetic explanations - family/twin studies, polygenic determination and ‘thrifty’ gene hypothesis
Neural explanations -hypothalamus, leptin, serotonin and dopamine and evaluation
Psychological explanations - restraint theory, disinhibition, boundary model and evaluation
Success and failure of dieting - spiral model, ironic process theory, restrained eating and disinhibition
Theory of hedonic eating
Evaluation of success and failure of dieting with key studies
Overview of key biological components in eating behaviour
AQA Psychology A-level: Approaches in Psychology (A* notes)
AQA Psychology A-level: Approaches in Psychology
From specification 7181, 7182 - Psychology in context - paper 2 (I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!)
Includes
Origins of psychology - introspection, Wundt, empiricism and evaluation
Behaviourist approach - classical conditioning and Pavlov, operant conditioning and Skinner - evaluation
Social learning theory - Bandura’s modelling, imitation, identification, meditational process and evaluation
Cognitive approach - schema, computer models, cognitive neuroscience and evaluation
Biological approach - genetic basis, genotype vs phenotype, evolution, biological structures and evaluation
Psychodynamic approach - unconscious mind, structure of personality, defence mechanisms, psychosexual stages and evaluation
Humanistic approach - free will, self actualisation, congruence and conditions of worth and evaluation
COMPARISON OF APPROACHES (A03) - views on development, nature vs nurture, reductionism, determinism, views on abnormal behaviour
AQA Psychology A-level: Attachment (A* notes)
AQA Psychology A-level: Attachment
From specification 7181, 7182 - Introductory topics in Psychology (I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!)
Includes
Caregiver-infant interaction
Attachment vs bond, features of attachment and importance of attachment
Studies of early interaction and findings
Reciprocity, Tronick et al (1979), and interactional synchrony, Condon and Ogston (1971)
Attachment development
Schaffer and Emerson longitudinal study and evaluation
Stages of attachment and evaluation
Attachment figures - Grossman (2002) and fathers as primary caregivers, and evaluation
Animal studies
Lorenz’s geese studies and evaluation - imprinting for survival and critical period
Harlow’s monkey study and evaluation, including experiment variations and findings
Explanations for attachment
Learning theory - classical conditioning and operant conditioning (Skinner) - and evaluation
Bowlby’s monotropic theory and evaluation - instinctive attachment, monotropy, internal working model etc.
Types of attachment
Ainsworth’s Strange Situation (1970) and evaluation of attachment types
Causes of individual differences in attachment
Cultural variations in attachment - Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) and evaluation
Deprivation
Bowlby’s theory of Maternal Deprivation and 44 thieves study, and evaluation
Romanian orphan study - Rutter et al and evaluation
Effects of institutionalisation, disinhibited attachment and evaluation
Influence of early attachment
Hazen and Shaver (1987) - study for internal working model
Evidence for behaviour influenced by internal working model and evaluation
AQA Psychology A-level: Memory (A* notes)
AQA Psychology A-level: Memory
From specification 7181, 7182 - Introductory topics in Psychology (I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!)
Includes:
The Multi-store model of memory - Atkinson and Shiffrin - detailed explanation of components and evaluation
The Working Memory model - detailed explanation of central executive, visuo-spatial sketchpad, phonological loop and episodic buffer and evaluation
Types of long-term memory (Tulving 1985)
Procedural vs declarative memory, episodic vs semantic memory and evaluation
Explanations for forgetting - interference theory and evaluation and retrieval failure and evaluation
Eye witness testimony - impact of misleading information through leading questions, post-event discussion and evaluation of misleading information
Effect of anxiety on EWT (positive and negative effect plus studies) and evaluation
Improving the accuracy of EWT - The Cognitive Interview and evaluation
AQA Psychology A-level: Social Influence (A* notes)
AQA Psychology A-level: Social Influence
From specification 7181, 7182 - Paper 1: Introductory topics in Psychology (I achieved an A* in Psycholology A-level in 2018, across all three papers)
Includes a lot of evaluation! - AO3 needed for high marks!
Types of conformity - compliance, identification and internalisation
Explanations for conformity - normative and informational social influence
Factors affecting conformity - group size, unanimity, task difficulty and relevant studies
Evaluation of conformity (A03)
Conformity to social roles - Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison experiment and evaluation
Explanations for obedience - Agentic state and legitimacy of authority
Situational variables: proximity, location and uniform
Dispositional explanations - the Authoritarian personality and evaluation
Resistance to social influence and social change
Explanations for resistance - locus of control, social support and evaluation
Role of minority influence - commitment, consistency and flexibility principles and evaluation
Role of social influence in social change, Civil Rights, snowballing effect
AQA Psychology A-level: Forensic Psychology (A* notes)
AQA Psychology A-level: Forensic Psychology
From specification 7181, 7182 - Issues and options in Psychology - paper 3 (I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!)
Includes
Defining crime - cultural/historical issues, measuring crime using official statistics, victim/offender surveys
Evaluation of measuring crime
Top-down approach - organised vs disorganised offenders, stages of top down approach and evaluation
Bottom-up approach - investigate psychology, forensic awareness, geographical profiling, circle theory, criminal geographical targeting (CGT) and evaluation
Biological explanations for offending - atavistic form, Lombroso, environmental influence and evaluation
Genetic explanations for offending - twin studies, candidate genes and evaluation
Neural explanations for offending - pre-frontal cortex, limbic system, brain injury, mirror neurons and evaluation
Psychological explanations - Eysenck’s criminal personality, role of socialisation and evaluation
Cognitive explanations - distortions; hostile attribution bias, minimalisation, moral reasoning and evaluation
Differential association theory - crime as learned behaviour, pro-criminal attitudes, reoffending and evaluation
Psychodynamic explanation - inadequate superego, maternal deprivation and evaluation
Dealing with offending behaviour
Custodial sentencing, psychological effects and evaluation
Behaviour modification; reinforcement and conditioning, Hobbs and Holt’s token economy and evaluation
Anger management - stress inoculation model, Keen et al and evaluation
Restorative justice - RJC, features of process and evaluation
AQA Psychology A-level: Biopsychology (A* notes)
AQA Psychology A-level: Biopsychology
From specification 7181, 7182 - Psychology in context - paper 2 (I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!)
Includes:
Nervous system - Division of nervous system - CNS and peripheral nervous system; somatic vs autonomic
Endocrine system - glands, pituitary gland; anterior vs posterior, flight/fight response; appraisal, HPA/SAM
Types of neurons, synaptic transmission, EPSP and IPSP
Localisation of function- motor/somatosensory areas, visual centres, auditory centres, language centres
Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area and evaluation
Lateralisation and split-brain study - Sperry and Gazzaniga (1967) and evaluation
Brain plasticity - Boyke et al, Kuhn et al, Davidson et al and evaluation
Functional recovery - stem cells, neural unmasking, animal vs human studies and evaluation
Ways of studying the brain - FMRI and evaluation, EEG and evaluation, ERPs and evaluation, post-mortem and evaluation
Biological rhythms - circadian rhythms, sleep-wake cycle, Siffre’s cave study, Folkard et al and evaluation
Ultradian rhythms and evaluation - BRAC and sleep stages
Infradian rhythms and evaluation - weekly, monthly and annual rhythms
Endogenous pacemakers; SCN, pineal gland and melatonin and evaluation
Exogenous zeitgebers; light, social cues, jet lag studies and evaluation
AQA Psychology A-level: Psychopathology (A* notes)
AQA Psychology A-level: Psychopathology
From specification 7181, 7182 - Introductory topics in Psychology (I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!)
Includes
Definitions for abnormality and evaluation of each
Phobias - types of phobia, behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics of phobias
Behavioural explanations for phobias - two-process model, Watson and Rayner (1920) and evaluation
Alternative explanations - biological preparedness Seligman (1970)/ Ohman et al (1975) and social learning theory and evaluation
Behavioural approach to treating phobias - systematic desensitization, flooding and evaluation
OCD -behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics of OCD
Biological explanations of OCD - genetic basis (candidate genes) and neural basis (neurotransmitters/brain structures) and evaluation
Biological approach to treating OCD - drug therapy, SSRIs and SNRIs and evaluation
Depression - categories, behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics of depression
Cognitive explanation for depression - Beck’s Negative Triad and Ellis’ ABC model and evaluation
Cognitive approach to treating depression - CBT, Beck’s cognitive therapy, REBT and evaluation
Bundle
AQA A-Level Psychology Notes (Papers 1, 2&3 Bundle)
From A-level specification 7181, 7182
(I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!) Here is a complete bundle of all my notes.
INCLUDES:
Introductory Topics in Psychology
Social Influence
Memory
Attachment
Psychopathology
Psychology in Context
Approaches
Biopsychology
Research Methods
Issues and Options
Issues and Debates
Cognition and Development
Eating Behaviour
Forensic Psychology
Bundle
AQA Psychology A-Level Memory Bundle (A* Notes and Exemplar Essays)
** AQA Psychology A-level: Memory**
From specification 7181, 7182 - Introductory topics in Psychology (I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!)
NOTES:
The Multi-store model of memory - Atkinson and Shiffrin - detailed explanation of components and evaluation
The Working Memory model - detailed explanation of central executive, visuo-spatial sketchpad, phonological loop and episodic buffer and evaluation
Types of long-term memory (Tulving 1985)
Procedural vs declarative memory, episodic vs semantic memory and evaluation
Explanations for forgetting - interference theory and evaluation and retrieval failure and evaluation
Eye witness testimony - impact of misleading information through leading questions, post-event discussion and evaluation of misleading information
Effect of anxiety on EWT (positive and negative effect plus studies) and evaluation
Improving the accuracy of EWT - The Cognitive Interview and evaluation
EXAM QUESTIONS:
Outline and evaluate the multi-store model of memory (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate the working memory model (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate the types of long-term memory (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate interference theory as an explanation for forgetting (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate the effect of misleading information on eye witness testimony (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate the effect of anxiety on eye witness testimony (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate the use of the cognitive interview in improving the accuracy of eye witness testimony (16 marks)
Bundle
AQA Psychology A-Level Cognition and Development Bundle (A* Notes and Exemplar Essays)
AQA Psychology A-level: Cognition and Development
From specification 7181, 7182 - Issues and options in Psychology - paper 3 (I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!)
NOTES:
Piaget’s theory of development, schemas, motivation to learn, assimilation/accomodation and evaluation
4 stages of intellectual development and evaluation of studies
Vygotsky’s theory of development - language, zone of proximal development, scaffolding and evaluation
Baillargeon and infant abilities - violation of expectation research (VOE), physical reasoning and evaluation
Selman’s perspective-taking research, stages of perspective taking and evaluation
Theory of mind - false belief tasks, eyes tasks, biological basis, role in ASD and evaluation
Mirror neuron system - role of mirror neurons, relation to evolution, relation to ASD and evaluation
EXAM QUESTIONS:
Outline and evaluate Piaget’s theory of cognitive development (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate Piaget’s stages of cognitive development (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate Vygotsky’s theory of cognitive development (16 marks)
Discuss Baillargeon’s research into early infant abilities (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate Selman’s stages of perspective-taking (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate research into Theory of Mind (16 marks)
Discuss research into the role of the mirror neuron system in social cognition (16 marks)
Bundle
AQA Psychology A-Level: Attachment Bundle (A* Notes and Exemplar Essays)
AQA Psychology A-level: Attachment
From specification 7181, 7182 - Introductory topics in Psychology (I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!)
NOTES:
Caregiver-infant interaction
Attachment vs bond, features of attachment and importance of attachment
Studies of early interaction and findings
Reciprocity, Tronick et al (1979), and interactional synchrony, Condon and Ogston (1971)
Attachment development
Schaffer and Emerson longitudinal study and evaluation
Stages of attachment and evaluation
Attachment figures - Grossman (2002) and fathers as primary caregivers, and evaluation
Animal studies
Lorenz’s geese studies and evaluation - imprinting for survival and critical period
Harlow’s monkey study and evaluation, including experiment variations and findings
Explanations for attachment
Learning theory - classical conditioning and operant conditioning (Skinner) - and evaluation
Bowlby’s monotropic theory and evaluation - instinctive attachment, monotropy, internal working model etc.
Types of attachment
Ainsworth’s Strange Situation (1970) and evaluation of attachment types
Causes of individual differences in attachment
Cultural variations in attachment - Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) and evaluation
Deprivation
Bowlby’s theory of Maternal Deprivation and 44 thieves study, and evaluation
Romanian orphan study - Rutter et al and evaluation
Effects of institutionalisation, disinhibited attachment and evaluation
Influence of early attachment
Hazen and Shaver (1987) - study for internal working model
Evidence for behaviour influenced by internal working model and evaluation
ESSAY QUESTIONS
Discuss research into early infant-caregiver interaction (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate research by Schaffer and Emerson into attachment (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate research into the stages of attachment (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate research the role of the father (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate animal studies into attachment (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate learning theory as an explanation for attachment (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate Bowlby’s monotropic theory as an explanation for attachment (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate Ainsworth’s ‘Strange Situation’ research (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate cultural variations of attachment (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation (16 marks)
Discuss research into the effects of institutionalization (16 marks) / Outline and evaluate Rutter’s study of Romanian orphans (16 marks)
Discuss research into the influence of early attachment (16 marks)
AQA A-Level Psychology - Cognition and Development Exam Practice A* Exemplar Essays
AQA Psychology A-level: Cognition and Development
From specification 7181, 7182 - Issues and options in Psychology - paper 3 (I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!)
Here are my exam practice questions
Includes:
Outline and evaluate Piaget’s theory of cognitive development (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate Piaget’s stages of cognitive development (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate Vygotsky’s theory of cognitive development (16 marks)
Discuss Baillargeon’s research into early infant abilities (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate Selman’s stages of perspective-taking (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate research into Theory of Mind (16 marks)
Discuss research into the role of the mirror neuron system in social cognition (16 marks)
AQA A-Level Psychology - Biopsychology Exam Practice A* Exemplar Essays
AQA Psychology A-level: Biopsychology
From specification 7181, 7182 - paper 2 (I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!)
These are my exam practice questions
Includes:
Describe the structure of the nervous system, with reference to the central and peripheral nervous systems (16 marks)
Describe the structure and role of the endocrine system, with reference to the flight or fight response (16 marks)
Describe the role of neurons and the process of synaptic transmission (8 marks)
Outline and evaluate research into the localisation of function (16 marks)
Discuss research into hemispheric lateralisation and split-brain study (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate research into brain plasticity (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate research into functional recovery (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate ways of studying the brain (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate research into circadian rhythms (16 marks)
Discuss research into infradian and/or ultradian rhythms (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate research into endogenous pacemakers and exogenous zeitgebers (16 marks)
AQA A-Level Psychology - Social Influence A* Exam Practice Exemplar Essays
AQA Psychology A-level: Social Influence
From specification 7181, 7182 - paper 1 (I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!)
These are my exam practice questions
Includes:
Outline and evaluate explanations for conformity (16 marks)
Discuss research by Asch into conformity (16 marks)
Discuss research by Zimbardo into conformity (16 marks)
Discuss research by Milgram into obedience (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate the situational factors affecting obedience (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate legitimacy of authority and the agentic state (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate Adorno’s authoritarian personality (16 marks)
Discuss social support as an explanation for the resistance to social influence (8 marks)
Outline and evaluate Rotter’s LOC as an explanation for resistance to social influence (16 marks)
Discuss research into minority influence and its implications on resistance of social influence (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate social change and its implications on resistance to social influence (16 marks)
AQA A-Level Psychology - Psychopathology A* Exam Practice Exemplar Essays
AQA Psychology A-level: Psychopathology
From specification 7181, 7182 - paper 1 (I achieved an A* in Psychology A-level in 2018, across all three papers. I prioritised revision on evaluation, necessary for accessing higher grade!)
These are my practice exam questions
Includes:
Outline and evaluate two ways of defining abnormality (16 marks) x2
Outline the characteristics of phobias (6 marks)
Outline the characteristics of OCD (6 marks)
Outline the characteristics of depression (6 marks)
Discuss behavioural explanations for phobias (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate the behavioural approach to treating phobias (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate one or more biological explanation for obsessive-compulsive disorder (16 marks) x2
Discuss the biological approach for treating OCD (16 marks)
Outline and evaluate one or more cognitive explanations for depression (16 marks) x2
Discuss the cognitive approach to treating depression (16 marks)