Jason carried out a study on attitudes towards drugs, comparing the attitudes of teenagers (Condition 1) and the attitudes of those aged over 50 (Condition 2) - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 15 - 2018 - Paper 2
Question 15
Jason carried out a study on attitudes towards drugs, comparing the attitudes of teenagers (Condition 1) and the attitudes of those aged over 50 (Condition 2).
Jaso... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Jason carried out a study on attitudes towards drugs, comparing the attitudes of teenagers (Condition 1) and the attitudes of those aged over 50 (Condition 2) - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 15 - 2018 - Paper 2
Step 1
Calculate the mean score for Condition 1
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Answer
To calculate the mean score for Condition 1, we use the formula:
ext{Mean} = rac{ ext{Sum of scores}}{ ext{Number of scores}}
The total score for Condition 1 is 39 and there are 12 responses. Therefore, the mean is:
ext{Mean} = rac{39}{12} = 3.25
Step 2
Calculate the mean score for Condition 2
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Answer
For Condition 2, the total score is 16 with 12 responses. Using the same formula:
ext{Mean} = rac{16}{12} = 1.33
Step 3
Describe how Jason could use the findings of his study to support a learning explanation of drug addiction.
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Jason’s findings indicate that teenagers have more positive attitudes towards drugs, with a mean score of 3.25, compared to the over 50s, who scored a mean of 1.33. This could support the operant conditioning explanation of drug addiction, as teenagers may receive more positive reinforcement from their peers for experimenting with drugs. The acceptance and reinforcement they gain could lead to a greater likelihood of drug use compared to older individuals, who are less likely to receive such reinforcement.