Research Methods & Mathematical Skills

Research methods questions appear on all three papers, not just Paper 2. The Research Methods section on Paper 2 alone is worth 48 marks — half the paper. Across all three papers, research methods and mathematical skills account for a substantial proportion of the total marks. This lesson covers experimental designs, sampling methods, types of data, statistical tests, probability and significance, mathematical skills, data interpretation, and ethical issues.

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Why Research Methods Matter on Every Paper

A common misconception is that research methods are only examined on Paper 2. In reality:

• Paper 1: Research methods questions are embedded within each topic section (e.g. "Design a study to investigate conformity").
• Paper 2: Section C is dedicated to Research Methods (48 marks) — but research methods also appear in the Approaches and Biopsychology sections.
• Paper 3: Research methods questions appear within Issues and Debates and within each option topic.

Key Point: You will encounter research methods questions on every section of every paper. Treat research methods as a cross-cutting skill, not a standalone topic.

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Experimental Methods

Types of Experiment