AQA A-level PSYCHOLOGY 7182/3 Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology Question Paper + Mark scheme [MERGED] June 2026

AQA A-level PSYCHOLOGY 7182/3 Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology Question Paper + Mark scheme [MERGED] June 2026

AQA

A-level

PSYCHOLOGY

7182/3

Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology

Question Paper + Mark scheme [MERGED]

June 2026

IB/G/June22/E8

7182/3

Time allowed: 2 hours

Materials

For this paper you must have:

• an AQA 16-page Answer Book.

You may use a calculator.

Instructions

• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.

• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7182/3.

• In Section A, you should answer all questions.

• In Section B, choose one topic. Answer all questions on the topic you choose.

• In Section C, choose one topic. Answer all questions on the topic you choose.

• In Section D, choose one topic. Answer all questions on the topic you choose.

• Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked.

Information

• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.

• The maximum mark for this paper is 96.

• You will be marked on your ability to:

– use good English

– organise information clearly

– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.

A-level

PSYCHOLOGY

Paper 3 Issues and options in psychology

2

IB/G/June22/7182/3

0 1 Outline what is meant by soft determinism.

[2 marks]

A psychologist investigated the effect of the presence of a friend on mood. She used a

controlled laboratory experiment. She asked a group of participants to rate their

happiness on a scale.

In Condition 1 (Alone Condition), participants completed the scale after sitting alone in a

room for 30 minutes.

In Condition 2 (Friend Condition), the same participants completed the same scale after

sitting for 30 minutes in a room with a friend.

The conditions were counterbalanced.

The psychologist analysed the results of the study using a Wilcoxon test. The analysis

showed that happiness ratings were significantly higher in the Friend Condition.

0 2 Explain two reasons why it was appropriate to use a Wilcoxon test in this situation.

Refer to the description of the study in your answer.

[4 marks]

The psychologist claimed to have demonstrated a causal explanation for happiness.

0 3 What is meant by a causal explanation? Explain why it was appropriate to claim that

there was a causal explanation in this case.

[4 marks]

0 4 Using an example of a research study you have learned about in psychology, outline

what is meant by a nomothetic approach to psychological investigation.

[4 marks]

Section A

Issues and debates in psychology

Answer all questions in this section.

3

IB/G/June22/7182/3

Turn over â–º

0 5 Referring to the example used in your answer to Question 04, briefly explain how

the same behaviour might be studied using an idiographic approach to psychological

investigation.

[2 marks]

There are many examples of socially sensitive research in psychology.

0 6 Outline what social sensitivity means in the context of psychology. Explain how

researchers in psychology could deal with issues related to social sensitivity.

[8 marks]

Turn over for Section B

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