Paper 2 Guidance (DP IB Psychology): Revision Note

Paper 2 section A guidance

• Paper 2 is taken by both HL and SL Psychology students

• You will be given 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete Paper 2

• Paper 2 has 2 sections:

  • Section A

  • Section B

• Paper 2 is weighted at 25% for SL

• Paper 2 is weighted at 35% for HL

• Paper 2 is worth 35 marks in total

Section A: short-answer questions (SAQs)

• Section A consists of four compulsory short-answer questions (SAQs)

  • They are based on the class practicals you conducted throughout your IB Psychology course

• You will be tested on your knowledge and understanding of one research method used in your class practicals

  • Experiment

  • Observation

  • Survey/questionnaire

  • Interview

• In paper 2 Section A:

  • Questions 1 and 2 are worth 4 marks each

  • Questions 3 and 4 are worth 6 marks each

    • The total for Section A is 20 marks

Example questions

• Question 1: Describe the method you used in your class practical.

  • Describe how you used an experiment in your class practical, focusing on its aim and procedure [4 marks]

  Question 2: Explain how a specific concept relates to your class practical.

  • Explain the concept of measurement in relation to the experiment you conducted for your class practical [4 marks]

  Question 3: Compare and contrast the research method you used with another method.

  • Compare and contrast the methodology of the experiment in your class practical with the methodology of an observation [6 marks]

  Question 4: Design a new study on the same topic as your class practical, but using a different method (this will usually not be the same as Question 3).

  • Design a questionnaire to investigate the same topic you studied in your class practical [6 marks]

Paper 2 section B guidance

• Section B consists of one compulsory ERQ based on an unseen research study provided in the exam paper

  • This is not a study you need to prepare for in advance for it will be presented in the question

• You must discuss the study with reference to two or more concepts:

  • Bias

  • Causality

  • Change

  • Measurement

  • Perspective

  • Responsibility

• The research study that you are presented with may be experimental (e.g., lab experiment) or non-experimental (e.g., interview)

  • It will be drawn from one of the four contexts

    • Health & Wellbeing

    • Human Development

    • Human Relationships

    • Learning & Cognition

• The ERQs is worth 15 marks

  • The total for Section B is 15 marks

Example question

• Discuss X study with reference to two or more of the following concepts: causality, change, perspective and/or responsibility' [15 marks]