Classification & Diagnosis of Schizophrenia (AQA A Level Psychology): Exam Questions

A psychologist investigated cognitive processing in two groups of people with schizophrenia. People in Group A showed positive symptoms of schizophrenia, and people in Group B showed negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Each person completed a cognitive task and was given an overall score. The psychologist then calculated average scores for each group. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1

Using the data in Table 1, explain how the distribution of scores in Group A differs from the distribution of scores in Group B.

Briefly outline and evaluate one study of validity in relation to diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Discuss reliability and/or validity in relation to the diagnosis and classification of schizophrenia.