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Paper 2B Practice
Choose an unseen study to evaluate using 2 or more of the given concepts (15 marks, holistic).
No practice studies available yet.
Self-Question Toolkit by Concept
Use these prompts to generate analytical points for any unseen study in Section B.
BIAS
"Whose assumptions are baked into this study?"
- Who was sampled? (gender, age, culture) → gender bias or cultural bias?
- Does the study assume a particular cultural norm? → Western/ethnocentric bias?
- Could the researcher's own expectations have influenced design or interpretation? → Researcher bias
- Are findings being generalised beyond the sample? → Sampling bias
CAUSALITY
"Can we actually say X caused Y?"
- Was there an IV manipulated and a DV measured? (Is it even an experiment?)
- Were extraneous variables controlled? What individual differences might have interfered?
- Could the relationship be bidirectional or explained by a third variable?
- Is internal validity compromised? (demand characteristics, confounds)
- Is external validity limited? (lab setting, artificial task — can we generalise?)
MEASUREMENT
"Are we measuring what we think we're measuring?"
- How was the DV operationalised? Is this a valid measure of the construct?
- Were self-report measures used? → Social desirability bias, demand characteristics
- Is the scale reliable? (test-retest, inter-rater reliability)
- Is the operationalisation reductionist — does it oversimplify a complex construct?
RESPONSIBILITY
"Did the researchers act ethically?"
- Was informed consent obtained? Was deception used?
- Were participants protected from psychological or physical harm?
- Was the right to withdraw clearly communicated?
- Were data stored confidentially? Was anonymity preserved?
- Are there wider societal implications of publishing these findings?
Quick Checklist Before You Write
1
Have I named the concept clearly?2
Have I explained what the concept means in general?3
Have I applied it specifically to this study (with direct references)?4
Have I evaluated — what does this limitation mean for the study's conclusions?5
Have I linked it to another concept where possible?6
Does my conclusion follow logically from my arguments?