A biological psychologist wanted to investigate whether there was a relationship between plasma oxytocin levels and self-reported relationship satisfaction in newlyweds. An advertisement was placed in a local wedding registry newsletter inviting newly married individuals aged 20–30 to participate in the study. Nine participants were recruited; each provided a blood sample to measure their plasma oxytocin levels (in pg/mL) and completed a standard psychological questionnaire to assess their relationship satisfaction score out of 80.
The results of the questionnaire and blood assays are displayed in Table 1.
| Participant | Relationship satisfaction score /80 | Oxytocin level (pg/mL) |
|---|---|---|
| A | 68 | 240 |
| B | 45 | 150 |
| C | 72 | 265 |
| D | 30 | 95 |
| E | 55 | 180 |
| F | 61 | 210 |
| G | 38 | 110 |
| H | 77 | 290 |
| I | 50 | 165 |
Name the sampling technique that was used to recruit the participants for this investigation.
Practise Edexcel A Level Psychology Research methods and skills with exam-style questions for A Level Psychology. 657 questions covering Research methods and skills, matched to the Edexcel A Level Psychology (9PS0) 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.
