How should I structure my answer to an 18 mark AQA AS Psychology Specification A Question?

Here is how I would structure an answer to a question that asks you to outline and evaluate a theory or explanation. This is not the only way that these questions can be answered, this is only intended as a guide. The most important thing is that you remember to use commentary (after you have described something, explain what it means or how it relates to something else) and evaluation (what are the strengths and weaknesses? or what evidence is there for and against?) Commentary and evaluation should consitute twice as much of your essay as description - it is worth twice as many marks!

Note: There are six marks available for AO1 – the outline, and 12 marks available for AO2 – the evaluation.

Outline the theory/explanation

Give a clear outline of the theory/explanation that you have been asked to outline. Make sure that you include all key points of the theory. It is very important that you expand on these points and explain the meaning of any terminology. E.g., "Monotropy is the idea that children form a special attachment to one primary caregiver and this relationship forms the basis of all future relationships."

Back it up with a study

If you are evaluating an explanation or theory, the best arguments about how good it is come from studies: if a theory is supported by actual data that is a strong argument that it is a good theory. It makes sense to have the first study you mention be one that supports the theory. Do not spend ages describing the minute details of the study when the question has asked you to evaluate a theory; instead, outline the findings and add commentary saying how the findings support or do not support the theory.

Criticise the study

You have said that a study supports the theory, but no study is perfect. What is good about the study in terms of supporting the theory you are discussing. For example, is it high in ecological validity? If it is high in ecological validity it shows that the theory may be valid in real life situations (so tell the examiner!).

Next, what weakness(es) does the study have, that mean(s) that it may not support the theory after all? (if it was high in EV then extraneous variables were probably not well controlled – can you think of an extraneous variable that may have affected the results?)

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE CRITICISMS YOU USE HERE RELEVANT TO THE QUESTION, SO IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH A STUDY THAT DOES NOT AFFECT HOW THE RESULTS RELATE TO THE THEORY YOU ARE DISCUSSING IT IS PROBABLY BEST TO LEAVE IT OUT. DO NOT GO OVERBOARD WITH CRITICISMS HERE, REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE DISCUSSING A THEORY, NOT THE PARTICULAR STUDY.

Back up your criticism with a study that does not support the theory

Again, just outline the findings and add some commentary explaining why this study does not support the theory.

Strengths of this study – why is this study better than the previous one?

Weaknesses of this study…

Another study to support/refute the theory/explanation…

Do not forget the commentary that says how the study supports the theory.

Other strengths and Weaknesses of the Theory

Examples

Does the theory seem to make sense with regard to our everyday experiences. To get marks for this you must say how it relates to everyday experience.

Gender bias – Has all the research been carried out on males? Are there assumptions that the theory makes that make it gender biased (e.g., Freud’s assumes that females are morally weaker than men; Bowlby’s theory may have been biased because of the political climate of men returning home from the war and women had demonstrated that they were capable of doing men’s jobs…)

Culture bias – Does the theory only apply to western cultures? Make sure you explain why.

This work by Keiron Walsh is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.