Marking criteria
[How to get a perfect answer for the above question]
AO1 is a description of any social influence research (theories
and/or studies). This description may be of procedures, findings
or conclusions, but must relate to ecological validity for the top
band.
AO2 should be given for a consideration of whether or not it has
ecological validity
.
This question asks candidates to consider whether or not social
influence research can be considered to display ecological validity.
There are several studies that might be offered, some of which can
be argued to lack ecological validity (e.g. Asch, Sherif, and Crutchfield);
others which were conducted in the real world and may be claimed
to have high ecological validity (e.g. Hofling et al, Bickman);
while a third group have ambiguous ecological validity. For example,
Orne and Holland argued that Milgram’s research lacked ecological
validity since it was carried out in a laboratory. However, other
psychologists claim that the situation was in fact very real to
the participants and had high ecological validity. (Astute candidates
could also comment that although Hofling’s research was carried
out in the real world, it could be claimed to lack ecological validity.
Rank and Jacobsen point out that the situation was in fact unrealistic
and not the sort of situation nurses would usually encounter.)
Other forms of validity are creditworthy as commentary, such as
cross-cultural validity, replication over time etc.
Candidates may introduce further theories/studies as a form of commentary/evaluation.
The degree to which candidates use this material as part of a critical
commentary, rather than simply describing alternatives, will constitute
the effectiveness of the evaluation and hence the number of marks
awarded for AO2. Since the question asks ‘to what extent’
the more able candidate should be able to offer some judgement as
to the degree to which the studies are ecologically valid. Candidates
who offer no commentary may still be judged to have selected appropriate
material and thus commentary can be described as ‘just discernible’. |