OxfordAQA International A Level Psychology
OxfordAQA International A Level Psychology 3.4.1 Scientific Approaches in Psychology Exam Questions
Free OxfordAQA International A Level Psychology revision for 3.4.1 Scientific Approaches in Psychology: what you need to know, common mistakes and exam-style questions with answers. Covers the learning approach, classical and operant conditioning, social learning theory, the cognitive approach, cognitive neuroscience and the biological approach.
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About OxfordAQA International A Level Psychology 3.4.1 Scientific Approaches in Psychology
Scientific approaches in psychology is the first section of Unit 4, Approaches and application, on the OxfordAQA International A2 Psychology course. You study the major approaches and how they explain behaviour: the learning approach, including behaviourism with Pavlov's classical conditioning and Skinner's operant conditioning, and social learning theory with Bandura's research; the cognitive approach, with schemas, theoretical and computer models and cognitive neuroscience; and the biological approach, with genes, biological structures, neurochemistry and evolution. Because Unit 4 is synoptic, you are expected to use examples from topics across the course. Examiners ask you to outline, apply and compare approaches.
What you need to know
- Behaviourism Behaviour is learned from the environment. Pavlov's classical conditioning showed dogs learning to salivate to a bell paired with food. Skinner's operant conditioning showed behaviour shaped by consequences: positive and negative reinforcement increase behaviour and punishment decreases it.
- Social learning theory Learning occurs indirectly through observing models, imitation and identification, and vicarious reinforcement. Bandura added mediational processes: attention, retention, motor reproduction and motivation. In Bandura, Ross and Ross (1961) children who saw an aggressive model were more aggressive towards a Bobo doll.
- Cognitive approach Studies internal mental processes using inference from behaviour. Schemas shape how we interpret information. Theoretical models, such as the multi-store model, and computer models compare the mind to information processing.
- Cognitive neuroscience Links mental processes to brain structures using techniques such as brain scanning, for example identifying areas active during memory or language tasks.
- Biological approach Behaviour is explained by genes, biological structures and neurochemistry. Genotype is the genetic make-up; phenotype is how genes are expressed through interaction with the environment. Evolution suggests behaviours that aided survival and reproduction were naturally selected.
- Comparing approaches Approaches differ on nature and nurture, determinism, reductionism and scientific method. Strong answers make direct comparisons rather than describing each approach separately.
Common mistakes in 3.4.1 Scientific Approaches in Psychology
- Confusing negative reinforcement with punishment. Negative reinforcement removes something unpleasant and increases a behaviour.
- Describing social learning theory as pure behaviourism. It includes the cognitive mediational processes between observation and imitation.
- Saying the cognitive approach studies the mind directly. Mental processes are inferred from behaviour.
- Treating genotype and phenotype as the same thing. Phenotype depends on both genes and environment.
- Comparing approaches only by describing each one. Identify a point of comparison, such as views on free will, and contrast them directly.
Try three 3.4.1 Scientific Approaches in Psychology exam-style questions
1. Explain what is meant by vicarious reinforcement. (2 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Learning that occurs by observing the consequences of another person's behaviour; if the model is rewarded, the observer is more likely to imitate the behaviour.
2. Outline the four mediational processes in social learning theory. (4 marks)
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Attention: the observer must notice the behaviour; retention: the behaviour must be remembered; motor reproduction: the observer must be able to perform it; motivation: there must be a reason to imitate, such as expected reward.
3. Compare the learning approach with the biological approach. (16 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
A strong answer would outline both approaches and then compare directly: nurture versus nature, environmental versus biological determinism, stimulus-response versus biological reductionism, shared commitment to scientific methods, the use of animal research in both, and differences in applications such as behaviour therapies versus drug treatments, using examples from across the course.
3.4.1 Scientific Approaches in Psychology FAQs
What does OxfordAQA International A Level Psychology 3.4.1 Scientific Approaches in Psychology cover?
It covers the learning approach including classical and operant conditioning and social learning theory, the cognitive approach including cognitive neuroscience, and the biological approach.
Which unit is 3.4.1 Scientific Approaches in Psychology examined in?
It is examined in Unit 4 (PS04), Approaches and application, a synoptic unit with three compulsory sections.
How do I bring in synoptic examples for approaches?
Link each approach to topics you studied earlier: behaviourism to phobias, social learning to aggression or work behaviour, the cognitive approach to memory and depression, and the biological approach to schizophrenia, sleep and biopsychology.
