Specification

One practical research exercise to gather data relevant to topics covered in social psychology. This practical research exercise must adhere to ethical principles in both content and intention. In conducting the practical research exercise, you must: 

  • design and conduct a questionnaire to gather both qualitative and quantitative data to look for a difference in the data 
  • consider questionnaire construction, sampling decisions and ethical issues 
  • collect and present an analysis of quantitative data using measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode as appropriate, measures of dispersion, (including range and standard deviation as appropriate), table and graphical representations (summary table, frequency table, bar graph, histogram, as appropriate) 
  • collect and present an analysis of qualitative data using thematic analysis 
  • consider strengths and weaknesses of the questionnaire 
  • write up the procedure, results and discussion section of a report. 

Suitable examples 

  • A questionnaire to see if males perceive themselves to be more obedient than females. 
  • A questionnaire into self-reported levels of conformity based on scenarios.

Past Paper Questions

2 Markers
  • Describe the sampling technique you used in your practical investigation. (2) June 2016
  • Describe how you analysed the qualitative data from your social practical investigation. (2) October 2018
  • Describe how you controlled one variable in your social practical investigation. (2) October 2019
  • Explain one weakness of the qualitative data you collected in your social practical investigation. (2) October 2019
3 Marker
  • Explain one improvement you could make to the procedure of your practical investigation. (3) June 2016
4 Marker
  • Explain one strength and one weakness of how you analysed the qualitative data from your social practical investigation. (4) October 2018
  • Explain two ways you could improve the sample of participants you used in your social practical investigation. (4)
8 Marker
  • Discuss how you designed and conducted your questionnaire. (8) January 2017