Examination Board: AQA, for Specification, Please See

Psychology

Please note: This qualification is linear (ie, Pupils must sit all modules in Y14 to achieve a full A Level, even if they have sat the AS modules in Y13.) AS grades do not contribute to overall A-Level qualificiation

Examination Board: AQA, for specification, please see

Psychology is the study of people: how they think, their behaviour and their emotions in social situations and the motivations underlying such behaviour.

The course focuses on the following Assessment Objectives:

AO1- Knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures.

AO2- Application of knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures.

AO3- Analyse, interpret and evaluations scientific information, ideas and evidence in order to make judgements and reach conclusions and develop and refine practical design and procedures.

Course content and assessment schedule:

AS Qualification (1 year)

Paper / Duration / Examination period / Brief outline of main content
Paper 1: Introductory topics in psychology / 1 hour 30 mins (72 marks- 50% of AS / May 2016 / Social Influence: Types of conformity, Zimbardo’s study, obedience, minority influence and social change.
Memory: Multi-store model of memory, long-term memory, working memory, accuracy of eye witness testimony and the cognitive interview.
Attachment: Care-giver interactions, animal studies of attachment, Ainsworth’s ‘Strange Situation’, Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation, Romanian orphan studies and the influence of early attachment.
Paper 2: Psychology in context / 1 hour 30 mins (72 marks- 50% of AS / May 2016 / Psychopathology: Definitions of abnormality, the behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics of phobias, depression and OCD, the behavioural approach to treating phobias, the cognitive approach to explaining and treating depression, the biological approach to explaining and treating OCD.
Biopsychology: Divisions of the nervous system: central and peripheral (somatic and autonomic), structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurons, function of the endocrine system and the fight or flight response.
Research Methods: Experimental methods, observation techniques, self-report, correlations, the scientific process to include aim, hypotheses, sampling, control etc. and data handling and analysis.

A-Level qualification (2 years)

Qualities/skills needed to succeed in the course

Tasks at both AS and A2 include a range from the following: multiple choice, short answers and extended writing tasks.

Pupils will be required to write a number of essay style questions at both at AS and A2 level and, as a result, should have a high standard of written communication. Pupils should be capable of interpreting information, applying knowledge and learned theories to a number of different scenarios. Potential candidates for this course should have a genuine interest in Psychological development and its effects on human behaviour.

Entry Requirements:

Compulsory GCSE subjects / Minimum Grade
English Language / B
Mathematics / B
Double Award Science / BB