Question 10 – Experimental method - AQA Psychology Questions

A researcher wanted to investigate how different auditory distractors affect cognitive focus and selective attention. She conducted an experiment in a highly controlled, soundproof laboratory cubicle where participants were randomly allocated to one of two groups:

Group 1 performed a complex 3D mental rotation task (determining if pairs of three-dimensional geometric shapes were identical or mirrored) while listening to steady white noise through high-isolation headphones.
Group 2 performed the identical 3D mental rotation task while listening to a pre-recorded multi-person conversation from a bustling coffee shop through the same headphones.

The researcher recorded the time taken (in milliseconds) to correctly identify the shapes. She found that Group 2 was significantly slower than Group 1.

The investigation of selective attention outlined above was a laboratory experiment.

Experimental method Questions

Practise AQA A Level Psychology Experimental method with exam-style questions for A Level Psychology. 32 questions, matched to the AQA A Level Psychology (7182) specification and written in Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.

Group 1 performed a complex 3D mental rotation task (determining if pairs of three-dimensional geometric shapes were identical or mirrored) while listening to steady white noise through high-isolation headphones.
Group 2 performed the identical 3D mental rotation task while listening to a pre-recorded multi-person conversation from a bustling coffee shop through the same headphones.

The researcher recorded the time taken (in milliseconds) to correctly identify the shapes. She found that Group 2 was significantly slower than Group 1.

The investigation of selective attention outlined above was a laboratory experiment.