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Paper 2 is really a research methods paper.

Unlike other parts of IB Psychology, it is not mainly about remembering psychological theories and studies. Instead, you need to show that you understand how psychological research is carried out, can apply that understanding to research you have conducted yourself, and can critically discuss a study you have never seen before.

Section A: Your Class Practical

Section A is worth 20 marks and contains four questions.

The questions refer to your participation in a class practical. In the specimen paper, students are asked about an interview or focus group they conducted.

The four questions test different skills.

Question 1: Describe [4 marks]

You will need to describe how you used a particular research method, including the aim and procedure of your practical.

This means you need to know what you actually did, rather than simply knowing a textbook definition of the research method. 

The markscheme makes this distinction very clear: responses that discuss the research method without explaining how it was used in the class practical are limited to the lower markband.

Question 2: Explain [4 marks]

This asks you to apply one of the psychological concepts to your practical.

In the specimen paper, students have to explain bias in relation to their interview or focus group. Possible issues include sampling bias, interviewer bias, question wording bias, response bias, cultural bias and recall bias.

So don't just define the concept. Apply it directly to what happened, or could have happened, in your practical.

Question 3: Compare and contrast [6 marks]

Here you need to compare the methodology used in your practical with another research method.

The specimen asks students to compare an interview or focus group with an experiment. To reach the highest markband, you need to discuss both similarities and differences and use appropriate research-method terminology.

Question 4: Design [6 marks]

This asks you to design a study using a different research method to investigate the same topic as the prescribed practical.

In the specimen, students have to design an observation. A good answer could consider the setting, type of observation, sampling method, behavioural categories, operationalisation, recording method, inter-rater reliability, ethics and participant sampling.

The important thing here is that you are not just describing the new method. You are explaining how you would actually use it to investigate your topic.

Section B: The Unseen Study

Section B is worth 15 marks.

You are given a research study that you have not seen before and asked to discuss it with reference to two or more concepts from:

Bias • Causality • Change •Measurement • Perspective •Responsibility

In the specimen paper, for example, students are given an experiment investigating whether self-esteem affects attraction.

This section is therefore not about memorising a prepared essay.

You need to be able to read the study, identify where the concepts are relevant, and use details from the study to develop your discussion.

For example, when thinking about:

Bias, you might consider sampling, cultural, gender or researcher bias.

Causality, you might consider whether the design allows a cause-and-effect conclusion and whether extraneous variables threaten internal validity.

Change, you might consider whether behaviour changes over time, what factors might cause change, or whether the findings could be used to create positive change for individuals or society.

Measurement, you might consider how variables have been operationalised and whether measurements are valid, reliable or objective.

Perspective, you might consider whether the study takes a biological, cognitive or sociocultural perspective, and the strengths and limitations of using that perspective to understand the behaviour being investigated.

Responsibility, you might consider ethical issues and the researcher's responsibility towards participants and the wider implications of the research.

The top markband requires very good understanding and critical engagement with two or more concepts, well-developed links to the source material, critical analysis and a reasoned conclusion.