How many core studies are there in OCR A-Level Psychology?

There are 20 core studies in total, divided into five areas: social (4 studies), cognitive (4), developmental (4), biological (4), and individual differences (4). You need to know all 20 for your exams, including their aims, procedures, findings, conclusions, and evaluations.

Do I need to remember the exact dates and names of core studies?

Yes, you should know the year of publication and the full names of the researchers (e.g., Milgram, 1963; Loftus and Palmer, 1974). Examiners expect precise details, and including them shows good knowledge. However, you don't need to memorise every statistic—just the key findings.

How can I compare two core studies effectively in an exam?

Start by identifying a clear basis for comparison, such as methodology, ethics, or findings. Use a table to plan similarities and differences. For example, compare Milgram's lab experiment with Bocchiaro's field experiment: both study obedience/disobedience, but differ in setting, sample, and ethical issues. Always link your comparison to the question and evaluate the implications.

What are the most common exam questions on core studies?

Common question types include: 'Describe and evaluate one core study' (10 marks), 'Compare two core studies' (12 marks), and 'Discuss ethical issues in a core study' (8 marks). You may also be asked to apply findings to a scenario. Practice these formats using past papers.

How do I evaluate a core study for validity?

Consider both internal and external validity. Internal validity asks: did the study measure what it intended? For example, Milgram's study had high internal validity due to controlled variables. External validity asks: can findings be generalised? Milgram's sample of American men limits generalisability. Also consider ecological validity (realism) and temporal validity (relevance today).

Are there any core studies that are particularly hard to remember?

Students often struggle with the biological studies, like Dement and Kleitman (sleep and dreams) and Sperry (split-brain). To remember them, create mnemonics or link them to real-life examples. For Sperry, think of the 'left brain/right brain' myth. For Dement and Kleitman, remember the key finding: REM sleep is associated with dreaming.

Section A: Core studies

OCR

A-Level

Applied psychology (Component 03) requires learners to study one compulsory section, Issues in mental health, and two out of four optional applied psychology topics: Child psychology, Criminal psychology, Environmental psychology, or Sports and exercise psychology. The component focuses on background, key research, and applications, while requiring learners to apply methodological issues and debates across these topics.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

Topic Overview

Section A: Core Studies in OCR A-Level Psychology introduces students to 20 landmark psychological studies that form the foundation of the specification. These studies span five key areas: social psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, biological psychology, and individual differences. Each study is selected for its historical significance, methodological rigor, and contribution to psychological theory. Students must not only recall the aims, procedures, findings, and conclusions of each study but also critically evaluate them in terms of strengths, weaknesses, ethical issues, and real-world applications.

Understanding these core studies is essential because they are the basis for exam questions that require comparison, analysis, and application. For example, you might be asked to compare the methodology of Milgram's obedience study with that of Bocchiaro et al.'s study on disobedience. The core studies also help you develop key skills such as identifying research methods, evaluating validity, and discussing ethical considerations. Mastery of this section is crucial for achieving high marks in both Paper 1 and Paper 2, as well as for the synoptic element of the course.

The core studies are not isolated facts; they connect to broader psychological debates and issues. For instance, studies like Bandura's Bobo doll experiment link to the nature-nurture debate, while Loftus and Palmer's eyewitness testimony research relates to the reliability of memory. By studying these 20 studies, you build a toolkit of examples that you can use to support arguments in essays and short-answer questions. This section also prepares you for the Research Methods component, as each study exemplifies a particular design or technique.

Key Concepts

Core ideas you must understand for this topic

→Validity: The extent to which a study measures what it claims to measure. For example, Milgram's study has high internal validity due to controlled procedures but low ecological validity because the setting was artificial.
→Reliability: The consistency of a study's results. For instance, Loftus and Palmer's experiments on leading questions have been replicated, showing high reliability.
→Ethical issues: Many core studies raise ethical concerns, such as deception in Milgram's study or lack of informed consent in Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment. You must be able to discuss these using BPS guidelines.
→Sampling bias: Most core studies use small, unrepresentative samples (e.g., American male students in Milgram's study), limiting generalisability. This is a key evaluation point.
→Reductionism vs. holism: Some studies take a reductionist approach (e.g., biological studies like Dement and Kleitman's sleep research), while others are more holistic (e.g., Rosenhan's study of psychiatric labelling).

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Explanation and exemplification of background information for each topic
Description of key research and its relation to the topic area
Application of psychological knowledge to novel situations
Application of methodological issues and debates across the range of topics
Recognition of the contribution of key research to the topic
Consideration of how different areas of psychology inform understanding of applied psychology
Exploration of social, moral, cultural and spiritual issues where applicable
Recognition of how key research contributes to understanding individual, social and cultural diversity

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Explanation and exemplification of background information for each topic
Description of key research and its relation to the topic area
Application of psychological knowledge to novel situations
Application of methodological issues and debates across the range of topics
Recognition of the contribution of key research to the topic
Consideration of how different areas of psychology inform understanding of applied psychology
Exploration of social, moral, cultural and spiritual issues where applicable
Recognition of how key research contributes to understanding individual, social and cultural diversity
Recognition of how society makes decisions about scientific issues and how psychology contributes to the economy and society

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡Prepare for the application section by practicing with a variety of novel sources such as newspaper articles, blogs, or diary entries
💡Ensure you can link methodological issues (e.g., validity, reliability, sampling bias) to the specific key research studies
💡Practice applying the debates (e.g., nature/nurture, freewill/determinism) across all studied topics
💡Be ready to make evidence-based suggestions in relation to novel sources provided in the exam
💡Ensure you are familiar with the full references for all key research studies listed in Appendix 5f
💡Tip 1: When evaluating a core study, always use the GRAVE acronym: Generalisability, Reliability, Application, Validity, Ethics. This ensures you cover key points systematically and gain full marks on evaluation questions.
💡Tip 2: For comparison questions, use a table in your plan to compare two studies across criteria like method, sample, ethics, and findings. This helps you structure your answer clearly and avoid missing points.
💡Tip 3: Don't just describe the study—evaluate it. For example, instead of saying 'Milgram used a lab experiment', say 'Milgram used a lab experiment, which gave high control but low ecological validity, limiting generalisability to real-life situations.'

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Failing to apply methodological issues and debates to the specific applied topics
Inability to relate key research to novel situations provided in the exam
Lack of depth in explaining the background of mental health issues
Inadequate evaluation of the application of psychological theories to real-world scenarios
Misconception: Milgram's study proves that people are inherently obedient. Correction: Milgram's findings show that situational factors (e.g., authority, proximity) strongly influence obedience, but individual differences also play a role. Not all participants obeyed fully.
Misconception: Loftus and Palmer's study shows that memory is completely unreliable. Correction: Their research demonstrates that memory can be distorted by post-event information, but it does not mean all memories are unreliable. It highlights the reconstructive nature of memory.
Misconception: The core studies are just facts to memorise. Correction: You must be able to evaluate, compare, and apply the studies. For example, you might be asked to compare the ethical issues in Milgram's and Bocchiaro's studies, or apply findings to real-world scenarios like police interviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions students ask about this topic

Before You Start

Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

•Basic understanding of research methods (e.g., experiments, observations, self-reports) is essential, as core studies are analysed using these concepts.
•Familiarity with ethical guidelines (BPS Code of Ethics) helps when evaluating studies for ethical issues.
•A grasp of key psychological debates (e.g., nature vs. nurture, free will vs. determinism) is useful for linking studies to wider issues.

Likely Command Words

How questions on this topic are typically asked

Explain

Describe

Apply

Evaluate

Discuss

Consider

Ready to test yourself?

Practice questions tailored to this topic

Section A: Core studies

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

Before You Start

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in OCR A-Level Psychology

Applied psychology (Component 03)

Data recording, analysis and presentation

E2E stub topic

How science works

How to Revise Section A: Core studies — OCR A-Level Psychology

Examiner Tips for Section A: Core studies

Common Mistakes in Section A: Core studies

Key Marking Points

Section A: Core studies

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

How many core studies are there in OCR A-Level Psychology?

Do I need to remember the exact dates and names of core studies?

How can I compare two core studies effectively in an exam?

What are the most common exam questions on core studies?

How do I evaluate a core study for validity?

Are there any core studies that are particularly hard to remember?

Before You Start

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in OCR A-Level Psychology

Applied psychology (Component 03)

Data recording, analysis and presentation

E2E stub topic

How science works