psychology paper 3 ib

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Your Ultimate Guide for Acing IB Psychology Paper 3 (HL only)

Written By Rashi S.

Before beginning, feel free to check out how to tackle IB Psychology Paper 1 and Paper 2 if you have not yet and/or are interested!

Paper 3 (P3) is only for HL students, focusing on the research methods in psychology. It consists of 3 parts, all of which must be answered (no choice of questions). A research scenario is presented and students answer questions related to the methods and conclusions of it.

Question (Q) 1 consists of 3 parts, all of which must be answered for a total of 3 marks each, 9 marks in total.

  1. (a) Identify the research method used and outline two characteristics of the method.

I do not recommend using bullet points for this question; nevertheless, ensure that your answer is clear for the examiner. Generally, the IB requires that the number of maximum marks you can gain on a question is the number of points that you need to make. In this case, you need to make three points as the question is worth three marks; one mark for identifying the correct research method and two marks for stating its two correct characteristics. Additionally, I would recommend mentioning an additional point to the two points that you are already made, to ensure that you maximize the number of marks you earn (i.e. in case the point you make is not on the mark scheme or a point made is ambiguous).

• The research method used is semi-structured interviews. Some characteristics of it are that the interviewer pre-determines topics or themes to explore. Moreover, it contains both open-ended and close-ended questions; whilst the former allows the respondents to elaborate, the latter invites brief and precise answers. Lastly, semi-structured interviews are informal and conversational, facilitating a rapport between the interviewer and the interviewee.

(b) Describe the sampling method used in the study.

The strategy to employ for tackling this question is the same as the one used in 1(a). This question requires that you correctly identify the sampling method used in the study (1 mark), and state two correct characteristics of the sampling method (2 marks). I do not recommend using bullet points for this question as well and recommend mentioning an additional point to the two points that you have already made.

• The sampling method used is purposive sampling. Participants are chosen because they possess characteristics salient to the research study, in this case, those who have some experience with taking drugs. Participants are recruited through advertising in places where those with the selected criteria can be found. In this case, in school magazines, for instance. Finally, purposive sampling may include snowball sampling.

(c) Suggest an alternative or additional research method giving one reason for your choice.

For this question, I recommend suggesting an additional research method instead of an alternative one. This is because it is suggesting an additional research method is easier to justify instead of arguing for using an alternative method.

• An additional research method is to utilize a quantitative survey, in which objective questions are used to gain insights from respondents. Subsequently, interviews can be conducted with some randomly selected participants to gain deeper insight into their cultural identity. The survey would enable the researchers to design questions to elicit the required data. Moreover, it can be quantified to make comparisons and enables larger samples size compared to only 19 participants, as in the study.

N.B. Connect your answer to the stimulus material presented when you can.

  Q2 on the exam can be on any ONE of the two prompts (no choice) for a total of 6 marks.

  1. Describe the ethical considerations that were applied in the study and explain if further ethical considerations could be applied.

• You are required to write about six different ethical considerations (because question = 6 marks maximum)
• The question is divided into two parts: first, students need to write about the three ethical considerations that were taken in the study, and second, you must explain three additional ethical considerations that can be accounted for. Although the question mentions “ if further ethical considerations could be applied,” it is, in fact, not asking that. Instead, think of it as “ how further ethical considerations could be applied”
• Thus, this requires you to explain three additional ethical considerations which were not mentioned/taken in the stimulus material.
• Informed consent or parental consent (if the participant is a minor)
• Confidentiality
• Right to withdraw before the study, during the study, or after the study
• Any use of concealment or deception is justified
• Approval from an ethics review board
• Coercion (is there any pressure to participate?)

  2.Describe the ethical considerations in reporting the results and explain additional ethical considerations that could be taken into         account when applying the findings of the study.

• This question is different from the first one in that it specifically asks students to refer to ethical considerations that could be taken into account when applying the findings of the study and not general additional ethical considerations.
• Your answer can refer to any of the following:
• Anonymity/pseudo anonymization: involves removing names or using fake names respectively for the publication of results
• Right to withdraw
• Informed consent/parental consent: informing people how their data will be used
• Debriefing: informing people how the results will be reported/published

N.B. Connect your answer to the stimulus material presented, at least once.

  Q3 on the exam is on any ONE of the three prompts (no choice) for a total of 9 marks.

However, before discussing the questions and how to answer them, it is salient to note that the top most markband for P3 Q3 mentions the following:

• 7 – 9: The question is understood and answered in a focused and effective manner with an accurate argument that addresses the requirements of the question. The response contains accurate references to approaches to research with regard to the question, describing their strengths and limitations. The response makes effective use of the stimulus material.

From my research, there seems to be ambiguity regarding how exactly to earn the 9 points in Q3 and it is not as clear-cut as it is for the previous questions.  Therefore, from a quality answer key from Pamoja online IB psychology, I mention the principle characteristics of two answers for two prompts and direct you to a sample answer for the third one:

    1.Discuss how a researcher could ensure that the results of the study are credible.

• Begin by defining “credibility”
• Moreover, you can discuss the internal validity, member checking, peer debriefing, and triangulation. Provide a definition for each of this concept before discussing it and relating it to the stimulus material.

    2.Discuss how the researcher in the study could avoid bias.

• Start by defining “bias”
• Moreover, you can discuss sampling bias, researcher bias, participant bias, and triagulation. Similar to above, provide a definition for each of this concept before discussing it and relating it to the stimulus material.

        3.Discuss the possibility of generalizing/transfering the findings of the study. The relevant term, generalizing or transferability is used in exams depending on whether the question relates to a quantitative or qualitative study.

• When I was in the IB DP, Dixon’s IB psychology website and youtube videos were of huge help; hence, I suggest utilizing this resource. Scroll to the bottom of this blog to see an example answer for this question.

Time yourself

P3 is one hour. Thus, I recommended using 10 mins for Q1, 20 mins for Q2, and 25 mins for Q3, leaving the last 5 mins to proofread.

Related Posts:

Your Ultimate Guide for Acing IB Psychology Paper 1 | IB | ++tutors (plusplustutors.com)

Your Ultimate Guide for Acing IB Psychology Paper 2 | IB | ++tutors (plusplustutors.com)

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Paper 3 – Answering Question 1

As your exams fast approach you, in this lesson, I give you some very quick guidelines on how you can answer questions 1 (a), (b) and (c) on paper 3; and provide you with model answers for the same. First, lets read the stimulus material that follows –

The stimulus material presented below is based on a study investigating the impact of music on cognitive performance. Cognitive performance refers to an individual’s ability to process and retain information, solve problems, and make decisions.

1 Research suggests that music can have a significant influence on cognitive performance. The hypothesis of this study was that listening to classical music would enhance participants’ performance on a memory task.

5 The sample for this study consisted of high school students (N = 50) who volunteered to participate in the experiment during their free time. The participants were evenly divided between males and females, representing a diverse range of academic backgrounds. Informed consent was obtained from all participants, and their confidentiality was maintained throughout the study. Participants’ names were not disclosed in the research report.

10 During individual sessions, participants were asked to complete a series of memory tasks. Prior to the task, each participant was randomly assigned to either the experimental group (music condition) or the control group (no music condition). Participants in the experimental group listened to classical music playing softly in the background, while those in the control group completed the task in a quiet environment.

15 The memory task consisted of a list of 20 words that participants were asked to memorize within a given time limit. After a brief interval, participants were then asked to recall as many words as possible. The number of correctly recalled words served as the measure of cognitive performance.

20 The results indicated that participants in the experimental group, who listened to classical music while performing the memory task, showed a significantly higher number of correctly recalled words compared to those in the control group. The researchers concluded that classical music has a positive effect on cognitive performance and can be used as a potential aid in memory-related tasks.

Now, let’s understand how to answer the questions, one at a time-

Answering 1(a)

1a. Identify the method used and outline two characteristics of the method.

The format for answering this question is as follows-

• Step 1 – Name the research method used;
• Step 2 – State one characteristic of the method used;
• Step 3 – Link the stated characteristic in step 2 to the stimulus material;
• Step 4 – State one more characteristic of the method used;
• Step 5 – Link the stated characteristic in step 4 to the stimulus material

Let’s apply these steps to the format presented above-

• It is a true experiment .
• A true experiment involves manipulation of the independent variable .
• In the given stimulus material, the independent variable is exposure to music while performing a memory task, manipulated at two levels – (1) classical music; (2) no music .
• A true experiment involves random assignment of participants to different conditions.
• As stated in the stimulus material, participants were randomly assigned to the music and no music conditions .

That’s it! Now, let’s combine all the points above to prepare our model answer to 1.(a)-

Ans. The research method is a true experiment. One characteristic of a true experiment is that it involves manipulation of the independent variable. In the given stimulus material, the independent variable is ‘exposure to music while performing a memory task,’ manipulated at two levels – (1) classical music; and (2) no music. Another characteristic of this method is that it involves random assignment of participants to different conditions. As stated in the stimulus material, participants were randomly assigned to either the ‘music’ or ‘no music’ conditions.

Answering 1(b)

1b. Describe the sampling method used in the study.

• Step 1 – Name the sampling method used;
• Step 2 – Explain how it is the sampling method used in the stimulus material;
• Step 3 – State one characteristic of the method used;
• Step 4 – Link the stated characteristic in step 3 to the stimulus material;
• Step 5 – State one more characteristic of the method used;
• Step 6 – Link the stated characteristic in step 5 to the stimulus material
• The sampling method used is self-selected sampling .
• As stated in the stimulus material, high school students volunteered to participate in the experiment during their free time.
• One characteristic of this method is that it is a non-probability sampling method .
• In the given stimulus material, the aim is general – that classical music will enhance performance on a memory test. However, only high school students from the general population are represented in the sample.
• One more characterisitc of this method is that some announcement is made regarding the study, post which interested individuals take a decision on participation.
• It can be presumed from the given stimulus material, that an announcement must have been made in the high school following which volunteers must have participated in the experiment.

That’s it! Now, let’s combine all the points above to prepare our model answer to 1.(b)-

Ans. The sampling method used is self-selected sampling. As stated in the stimulus material, high school students volunteered to participate in the experiment during their free time. One characteristic of this method is that it is a non-probability sampling method. In the given stimulus material, the aim is general – that classical music will enhance performance on a memory test. However, only high school students from the general population are represented in the sample. One more characterisitc of this method is that some announcement is made regarding the study, post which interested individuals take a decision on participation. It can be presumed from the given stimulus material, that an announcement must have been made in the high school following which volunteers must have participated in the experiment.

Answering 1(c)

1c. Suggest an alternative or additional research method giving one reason for your choice.

• Step 1 – Name the alternative/additional method used;
• Step 2 – Explain the method in a brief statement;
• Step 3 – Explain how it could be used in the stimulus material;
• Step 4 – State one strength of using this alternative/additional method;
• Step 5 – Link the stated strength in step 4 to the stimulus material
• A field experiment could have been used in place of a true experiment as an alternative method .
• This method involves investigating the effects of manipulation of an independent variable in natural settings .
• The same experiment could be conducted in a classroom , in which students were learning a subject like history , which requires a lot of memorization. The researchers could take a history teacher into confidence and ask her to play classical music softly in the background while teaching for one class while teaching a particular lesson; and to not play any music while teaching the same lesson in another class.
• A field experiment results in more ecologically valid results as compared to a true experiment.
• For the given study, researchers would be able to infer that memory is enhanced in real settings where it is frequently used , such as a classroom by exposure to classical music.

That’s it! Now, let’s combine all the points above to prepare our model answer to 1.(c)-

Ans. A field experiment could have been used in place of a true experiment as an alternative method. This method involves investigating the effects of manipulation of an independent variable in natural settings. The same experiment could be conducted in a classroom, in which students were learning a subject like history, which requires a lot of memorization. The researchers could take a history teacher into confidence and ask her to play classical music softly in the background while teaching for one class while teaching a particular lesson; and to not play any music while teaching the same lesson in another class. The reason for using a field experiment would be that it results in more ecologically valid results as compared to a true experiment. For the given study, researchers would be able to infer that memory is enhanced in real settings where it is frequently used, such as a classroom by exposure to classical music.

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IB Psychology Exam Banks + Past Papers

Travis Dixon January 30, 2023 Revision and Exam Preparation

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The links below will take you to a list of the most probably exam questions you’ll be asked about each topic in IB Psychology. They also include questions from past papers. 

PAPER ONE SL/HL

• Paper 1: Biological approach ( Link)
• Paper 1: Cognitive approach ( Link )
• Paper 1: Sociocultural approach ( Link )

PAPER ONE HL Extensions

• Paper 1: HL Ext Bio Animal Studies ( Link )
• Paper 1: HL Ext Cog Technology & Cognition ( Link )
• Paper 1: HL Ext Soc/cult Globalization ( Link )
• Paper 2: Human Relationships ( Link )
• Paper 2: Abnormal Psychology ( Link )

Travis Dixon is an IB Psychology teacher, author, workshop leader, examiner and IA moderator.