Example Answer for Question 16 Paper 2: A Level Psychology, June 2017 (AQA)

Section C – Research Methods: Q16 [5 Marks]

The researcher used a related t-test because 1) the data was interval (or ratio) as the researchers recorded the time taken to run the 400m in seconds; 2) the design was repeated measured as each participant took part in both conditions (with and without music); 3) the experiment was a test of difference and not a correlational study, as the researchers were examining whether the IV (music or no music) had an effect on the DV (time taken to run the 400m in seconds).

For the related t-test to be significant the calculated value of t must be equal to or greater than the critical value. In this experiment, the calculated value of t = 1.4377 was lower than the critical value of 1.833 and therefore the results of this experiment were not significant at a p=0.05 level. Therefore, the researchers would accept the null hypothesis and reject the experimental hypothesis.

Please Note: These answers have been produced without the knowledge of the mark scheme and merely reflect my attempt at producing a model answer on the day of the exam.