Assessment overview
Component |
Marks |
Duration |
Weighting |
insert text |
Research methods (01)
|
90 |
2 hours |
30% |
|
Psychological themes through core studies (02)
|
105 |
2 hours |
35% |
|
Applied psychology (03)
|
105 |
2 hours |
35% |
|
All components include synoptic assessment
Students must complete all components (01, 02 and 03) to be awarded the A Level in Psychology.
Content overview
Component 01: Research methods
This component develops knowledge and understanding of planning, conducting, analysing and reporting psychological research across a range of experimental and non-experimental methodologies and techniques. Students carry out their own small-scale practical activities.
Students need to be familiar with the four main techniques for collecting/analysing data:
- Self-report
- Experiment
- Observation
- Correlation.
Component 02: Psychological themes through core studies
Introduces some of the central areas of investigation in psychology organised in ten key themes, each represented by a classic and a contemporary core study. The core studies reflect the contribution of psychology to an understanding of individual, social and cultural diversity.
Component 03: Applied psychology
Students consider a number of methodological issues and how they relate to a range of topics.
There is one compulsory section:
Students must also select two topics from the following:
- Child psychology
- Criminal psychology
- Environmental psychology
- Sports and exercise psychology.