Specification at a glance

Assessment overview

All components include synoptic assessment

Students must complete all components (01, 02 and 03) to be awarded the OCR 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:

• Issues in mental health.

Students must also select two topics from the following:

• Child psychology
• Criminal psychology
• Environmental psychology
• Sports and exercise psychology.

Assessment overview

* Indicates inclusion of synoptic assessment

Students must complete both components (01 and 02) to be awarded the OCR AS 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 five 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.