IB Psychology – Paper 1 Exam Questions

Paper 1 – 9 Mark Questions

Biological Approach
1. Describe one technique used to investigate the brain with reference to one relevant
study
2. Describe one example of localisation of function with reference to one relevant study
3. Describe one example of neuroplasticity with reference to one relevant study
4. Describe one example of neural networks with reference to one relevant study
5. Describe one example of neural pruning with reference to one relevant study
6. Describe a neuron with reference to one relevant study
7. Describe a synapse and how these relate to excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters
with reference to one relevant study
8. Describe one neurotransmitter and its effect on behaviour with reference to one relevant
study
9. Describe an agonist and its effect on neurotransmission with reference to one relevant
study
10. Describe an antagonist and its effect on neurotransmission with reference to one
relevant study
11. Describe the use of one research method used to investigate the brain with reference to
one relevant study
12. Describe one ethical consideration in research investigating the brain with reference to
one relevant study
13. Describe one hormone and its effect on behaviour with reference to one relevant study
14. Describe one pheromone and its effect on behaviour with reference to one relevant
study
15. Describe the use of one research method used to investigate hormones or pheromones
with reference to one relevant study
16. Describe one ethical consideration in research investigating hormones or pheromones
with reference to one relevant study
17. Describe one gene and its link to behaviour with reference to one relevant study
18. Describe genetic similarity and its effect on one behaviour with reference to one relevant
study
19. Describe one twin or kinship study on genetic similarity and its effect on one behaviour
with reference to one relevant study
20. Describe one example of an evolutionary explanation of behaviour with reference to one
relevant study
21. Describe the use of one research method used to investigate genetics with reference to
one relevant study
22. Describe one ethical consideration in research investigating genetics with reference to
one relevant study

Cognitive Approach
23. Describe one model of memory with reference to one relevant study
24. Describe multi-store model of memory with reference to one relevant study
25. Describe working memory model with reference to one relevant study
26. Describe one example of schema theory with reference to one relevant study
27. Describe a cognitive schema with reference to one relevant study
28. Describe one model of thinking or decision making with reference to one relevant study
29. Describe rational thinking with reference to one relevant study
30. Describe intuitive thinking with reference to one relevant study
31. Describe the use of one research method used to investigate cognitive processing with
 reference to one relevant study
32. Describe one ethical consideration in research investigating cognitive processing with
reference to one relevant study
33. Describe one example of reconstructive memory with reference to one relevant study
34. Describe one bias in thinking or decision making with reference to one relevant study
35. Describe the use of one research method used to investigate the reliability of cognitive
processes with reference to one relevant study
36. Describe one ethical consideration in research investigating the reliability of cognitive
processes with reference to one relevant study
37. Describe one influence of emotion on one cognitive process with reference to one
relevant study
38. Describe the use of one research method used to investigate emotion and cognition with
reference to one relevant study
39. Describe one ethical consideration in research investigating emotion and cognition with
reference to one relevant study

Sociocultural Approach
40. Describe social identity theory with reference to one relevant study
41. Describe social groups with reference to one relevant study
42. Describe social cognitive theory with reference to one relevant study
43. Describe one theory on the formation of stereotypes with reference to one relevant study
44. Describe one effect of stereotypes with reference to one relevant study
45. Describe the use of one research method used to investigate the individual and the
group with reference to one relevant study
46. Describe one ethical consideration in research investigating the individual and the group
with reference to one relevant study
47. Describe one effect of culture on behaviour or cognition with reference to one relevant
study
48. Describe cultural groups with reference to one relevant study
49. Describe one cultural dimension with reference to one relevant study
50. Describe the use of one research method used to investigate cultural origins of
behaviour and cognition with reference to one relevant study
51. Describe one ethical consideration in research investigating cultural origins of behaviour
and cognition with reference to one relevant study
52. Describe one example of an effect of enculturation with reference to one relevant study
53. Describe norms with reference to one relevant study
54. Describe one example of an effect of acculturation with reference to one relevant study
55. Describe assimilation with reference to one relevant study
56. Describe the use of one research method used to investigate cultural influences on
individual behaviour
57. Describe one ethical consideration in research investigating cultural influences on
individual behaviour
 IB Psychology – Paper 1 Exam Questions
Paper 1 – 22 Mark Questions
Biological Approach
1. Discuss one or more techniques used to investigate the brain
2. Discuss one or more examples of localisation of function
3. Discuss one or more examples of neuroplasticity
4. Discuss one or more neurotransmitters and its effect on behaviour
5. Discuss one or more research methods used to investigate the brain
6. Discuss one or more ethical considerations in research to investigate the brain
7. Discuss the value of animal models to investigate the human brain (HL only)
8. Discuss one or more ethical considerations in animal research investigating the brain
(HL only)
9. Discuss one or more hormones and its effect on behaviour
10. Discuss one or more pheromones and its effect on behaviour
11. Discuss one or more research methods used to investigate hormones and/or
pheromones
12. Discuss one or more ethical considerations in research to investigate hormones and/or
pheromones
13. The value of animal models to investigate human hormones and/or pheromones (HL
only)
14. Discuss one or more ethical considerations in animal research investigating hormones
and/or pheromones (HL only)
15. Discuss one or more genes and its link to behaviour
16. Discuss genetic similarity and its effect on one behaviour
17. Discuss one or more examples of an evolutionary explanation of behaviour

18. Discuss one or more research methods used to investigate genetics

19. Discuss one or more ethical considerations in research to investigate genetics
20. The value of animal models to investigate human genetics (HL only)
21. Discuss one or more ethical considerations in animal research investigating genetics
(HL only)

Cognitive Approach
22. Discuss two models of memory
23. Discuss schema theory
24. Discuss one or more models of thinking or decision making
25. Discuss one or more research methods used to investigate cognitive processing
26. Discuss one or more ethical considerations in research to investigate cognitive
processing
27. Discuss the influence of technologies on cognitive processing (HL only)
28. Discuss one or more research methods used to investigate the influence of technologies
on cognitive processing (HL only)
29. Discuss reconstructive memory
30. Discuss one or more biases in thinking or decision making
31. Discuss one or more research methods used to investigate the reliability of cognitive
processes
32. Discuss one or more ethical considerations in research to investigate the reliability of
cognitive processes
 33. Discuss the influence of technologies of the reliability of cognitive processes (HL only)
34. Discuss one or more research methods used to investigate the influence of technologies
on the reliability of cognitive processes (HL only)
35. Discuss one or more influences of emotion on cognitive processes
36. Discuss one or more research methods used to investigate emotion and cognition
37. Discuss one or more ethical considerations in research to investigate emotion and
cognition
38. Discuss the influence of technologies on emotion and cognition (HL only)
39. Discuss one or more research methods used to investigate the influence of technologies
on emotion and cognition (HL only)

Sociocultural Approach
40. Discuss social identity theory
41. Discuss social cognitive theory
42. Discuss one or more theory on the formation of stereotypes and/or the effects of
stereotypes
43. Discuss one or more research methods used to investigate the individual and the group
44. Discuss one or more ethical considerations in research to investigate the individual and
the group
45. Discuss the effect of the interaction of local and global influences on the individual and
the group (HL only)
46. Discuss one or more research methods used to investigate effect of the interaction of
local and global influences on the individual and the group (HL only)
47. Discuss one or more effect of culture on behaviour and/or cognition
48. Discuss one or more cultural dimensions
49. Discuss one or more research methods used to investigate cultural origins of behaviour
and cognition
50. Discuss one or more ethical considerations in research to investigate cultural origins of
behaviour and cognition
51. Discuss the effect of the interaction of local and global influences on cultural origins of
behaviour and cognition (HL only)
52. Discuss one or more research methods used to investigate effect of the interaction of
local and global influences on cultural origins of behaviour and cognition (HL only)
53. Discuss one or more effects of enculturation
54. Discuss one or more effects of acculturation
55. Discuss one or more research methods used to investigate cultural influences on
individual behaviour
56. Discuss one or more ethical considerations in research to investigate cultural influences
on individual behaviour
57. Discuss the effect of the interaction of local and global influences on cultural influences
on individual behaviour (HL only)
58. Discuss one or more research methods used to investigate effect of the interaction of
local and global influences on cultural influences on individual behaviour (HL only)
NB – past papers have seen the more general term ‘globalisation’ used in questions relating to the whole
socio-cultural approach for HL extension questions (I think this is because the overcomplicated nature of
the HL extension questions makes some possible questions not really make sense!)