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Psychology

This specification has been designed to:

• encourage students to engage with the subject, by introducing new, contemporary topics
• generate practical classroom activities
• make conceptually demanding areas more accessible by setting them in context
• allow teachers to select a route through the optional topics that suits their students' interests.

GCE Psychology A (2180)

AS outline

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At AS, candidates will develop a broad knowledge and understanding of the core areas of psychology (social, cognitive, developmental, biological and individual differences) through a range of topics, chosen for their accessibility and popularity.

The AS specification has 2 units:

Unit 1: Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Research Methods

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Topic list

• Cognitive psychology, including memory and eyewitness testimony
• Developmental psychology, including early social development, attachment and the effects of day care
• Research methods, in the context of the topic areas.

Assessment

Structured compulsory questions based on Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Research Methods.

Questions include short answer, stimulus material and one 12 mark question requiring extended writing in which QWC will be assessed.

Unit 2: Biological Psychology, Social Psychology and Individual Differences

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Topic list

• Biological psychology, including stress, factors affecting stress, coping with stress and managing stress
• Social psychology, including majority and minority influence, obedience and independent behaviour
• Individual differences, including definitions of abnormality, approaches and therapies.

Assessment

Three compulsory structured questions; one based on Biological Psychology content, one based on Social Psychology content and one based on the Individual Differences content.

Questions include short answer, stimulus material and one 12 or more mark question requiring extended writing in which QWC will be assessed.

GCE Psychology A (2180)

A2 outline

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At A2, the specification offers a range of topic-based options which bring together explanations from different psychological approaches and engage students in issues and debates in psychology.

The A2 specification has 2 units:

Unit 3: Topics in Psychology

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Topic list

• Biological rhythms and sleep
• Perception
• Relationships
• Aggression
• Eating behaviour
• Gender
• Intelligence and learning
• Cognition and development.

Assessment

Three essay-style questions chosen from the eight topics.

QWC will be assessed in each essay.

Unit 4: Psychopathology, Psychology in Action and Research Methods

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Topic list

• Biological approach, behaviourism, social learning theory, cognitive, psychodynamic and humanistic approaches
• Comparison of approaches
• Debates in psychology
• Methods in psychology, inferential statistics, issues in research

Assessment

Three sections:

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