PSYCHOLOGY EXAM REVISION

What is the difference between a null and alternative hypothesis? How are they developed?

What are experimental and control groups?

What is a placebo effect? Use examples.

What are 3 experimental designs? How are they different?

What are the different types of variables? Provide examples.

What are the methods of data collection? Describe them

What types of data are there? Examples?

Compare different statistical tests (when should each be used)?

Range (what are they? When are they used?)

Standard deviation (what are they? When are they used?)

P-values (what are they? When are they used?)

Pearson’s correlation (what are they? When are they used?)

Conclusions and generalisations (what are they? When are they used?)

UNIT 1 TOPIC 2 - Construct a diagram and label the components of a neuron (including the synapse). Describe function of each.

What is the autonomic nervous system?

What is the somatic nervous system?

UNIT 1 TOPIC 3 - What is plasticity in relation to the brain?

What changes take place in the brain during infancy and adolescence?

What is the role of attachment in psychological development with reference to the works of Konrad Lorenz, Harry Harlow, John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth.

Summarise the findings of (look at these individually) Konrad Lorenz, Harry Harlow, John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth in relation to the factors that influence the formation of attachment, use examples from the studies.

How does early abuse or deprivation have detrimental effects on cognitive development with reference to the study by Michael Rutter?

UNIT 1 TOPIC 4 - Identify that the arousal continuum looks at the fact that hyperarousal (total awareness) and unconscious (complete lack of awareness) are at two different ends of a continuum and dependent on consciousness and awareness, different states lie at different points on this continuum.

- Compare selective and divided attention.

What is the sleep-wake cycle?

What is the purpose of sleep (restoration and evolutionary theories)?

Why does the sleep cycle change over time (newborn-elderly)? Which theory supports this?

UNIT 1 TOPIC 4 - Identify that the arousal continuum looks at the fact that hyperarousal (total awareness) and unconscious (complete lack of awareness) are at two different ends of a continuum and dependent on consciousness and awareness, different states lie at different points on this continuum.

What is the sleep-wake cycle?

What is the purpose of sleep (restoration and evolutionary theories)?

Why does the sleep cycle change over time (newborn-elderly)? Which theory supports this?

UNIT 2 TOPIC 2 - What is intelligence? Refer to different models of intelligence.

What are the types of intelligence tests and scales (intelligence quotient IQ, Standford Binet scale and Welcher’s Intelligence Scales for adults (WAIS-IV) and children (WISC-IV))?

Reliability and validity of intelligence tests?

To what extent is intelligence inherited (link to twin, family and adoption studies)?

- Limitations of twin studies?

- What is the Minnesota twin study of twins reared apart, 1990 (What was done (method), results, reliability and validity?)?

- Nature vs Nurture on intelligence.

UNIT 2 TOPIC 3 - What is adaptive behaviour?

- What is maladaptive behaviour?

- Differentiate between adaptive and maladaptive behaviours. Provide examples to support your response.

- What are the approaches to normality (sociocultural, functional, historical, situational, medical, and statistical approaches)?

- What is ‘abnormal’ behaviour?

- What is the statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM) (5th ed)?

- What is the international classification of diseases (ICD) (10th ed)?

- Are they considered reliable and valid. Why?

UNIT 2 TOPIC 4 - What is the Biopsychosocial approach to understanding a psychological disorder (George Engel 1980)?

- What are the perceived causes of anxiety disorders?

UNIT 2 TOPIC 5 - What is subjective wellbeing – define (Ed Diener 1984)?

- What is psychological wellbeing – define (Carol Ryff 1995)?

- What is the broaden and build theory? (Barbra Fredrickson 2004)

- How do the above 3 (individually) influence happiness?

- What is the flow experience? (Nakamura and Csikszentmihalyi 2002)

- How does the flow experience influence positive affect, life satisfaction, performance, and learning?