Edexcel A Level Psychology
Edexcel A Level Psychology Topic 4: Learning Theories Exam Questions
Free Edexcel A Level Psychology exam questions for Topic 4: Learning Theories, with a mark scheme for every pack. Covers classical and operant conditioning, social learning theory, phobias and therapies, Observations, animal research and the Little Albert study.
Topic 4: Learning Theories exam questions
1 question pack of real past exam questions, each with its mark scheme. Do not stop after a few: answer as many as you can without notes, then mark every answer with the mark scheme. The more questions you do, the more quickly you will spot how examiners ask about each idea.
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About Edexcel A Level Psychology Topic 4: Learning Theories
Learning Theories is Topic 4 of Edexcel A Level Psychology and is assessed on Paper 1, Foundations in Psychology. It explains how behaviour is learned through classical conditioning (Pavlov), operant conditioning (Skinner) and social learning theory (Bandura), and applies these to the acquisition of phobias and to treatments such as systematic desensitisation and flooding. Methods content includes observation, content analysis, the use of animals in research and the chi-squared test. The classic study is Watson and Rayner (1920), Little Albert, and you study one contemporary study. You also carry out an observational practical. Examiners often ask for application to a scenario and evaluation of therapies.
What you need to know
- Classical conditioning Learning by association: a neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus until it produces a conditioned response (Pavlov's dogs). Key terms include extinction, spontaneous recovery and stimulus generalisation.
- Operant conditioning Skinner showed behaviour is shaped by consequences. Positive reinforcement adds something pleasant, negative reinforcement removes something unpleasant, and punishment reduces behaviour; reinforcement schedules and shaping are also needed.
- Social learning theory Bandura emphasised observation, modelling, vicarious reinforcement and the processes of attention, retention, reproduction and motivation. Bandura et al. (1961, 1963, 1965) studied imitation of aggression towards a Bobo doll.
- Phobias and therapies Phobias can be explained by classical conditioning and maintained by operant conditioning. Systematic desensitisation uses relaxation and a hierarchy of fears; flooding uses prolonged exposure to the feared object.
- Classic study: Watson and Rayner (1920) Little Albert was conditioned to fear a white rat by pairing it with a loud noise; the fear generalised to similar objects such as a rabbit and a fur coat. The study raises serious ethical issues.
- Methods and practical Observations (structured, naturalistic, participant, covert), tallying, inter-observer reliability, content analysis, the ethics of animal research (Scientific Procedures Act 1986) and the chi-squared test.
Common mistakes in Topic 4: Learning Theories
- Confusing negative reinforcement with punishment; negative reinforcement increases behaviour by removing an unpleasant stimulus.
- Labelling the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli incorrectly in Little Albert; the loud noise is the UCS and the white rat becomes the CS.
- Writing that Bandura's children were rewarded for aggression in the 1961 study; vicarious reinforcement was manipulated in the 1965 study.
- Describing flooding as gradual exposure; it is immediate, prolonged exposure until anxiety reduces.
- Stating that Watson and Rayner extinguished Albert's fear; Albert left before any attempt was made to remove it.
Try three Topic 4: Learning Theories exam-style questions
1. Using Little Albert as an example, identify the UCS, NS and CR in classical conditioning. (3 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
UCS: the loud noise made by striking a steel bar; NS: the white rat before conditioning; CR: fear of the white rat after conditioning.
2. Describe systematic desensitisation as a therapy for phobias. (4 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Based on classical conditioning and counterconditioning; the client learns relaxation techniques; together with the therapist they build a fear hierarchy from least to most frightening; the client works through each step while relaxed until anxiety is gone; the phobic object becomes associated with relaxation instead of fear.
3. A chi-squared test is carried out on a 2 x 2 table. The row total is 30, the column total is 40 and the grand total is 80. Calculate the expected frequency for that cell and state the degrees of freedom. (2 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Expected frequency = (row total x column total) ÷ grand total = (30 x 40) ÷ 80 = 15; degrees of freedom = (rows - 1) x (columns - 1) = 1.
Topic 4: Learning Theories FAQs
What does Edexcel A Level Psychology Topic 4 Learning Theories cover?
It covers classical conditioning, operant conditioning, social learning theory, explanations and treatments of phobias, observational methods, content analysis, animal research, chi-squared, Watson and Rayner (1920) and one contemporary study.
Which paper is Learning Theories examined in?
Learning Theories is examined on Paper 1, Foundations in Psychology.
Which Bandura studies should I know for Learning Theories?
Learn the 1961 Bobo doll study on imitation of aggression, the 1963 study comparing live, filmed and cartoon models, and the 1965 study on vicarious reinforcement and punishment of the model.
