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OCR Psychology

AS Core Studies and Research Methods

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This book prepares students for all the elements of the OCR AS exam. It gives the who, what, where, and even the why of each of the core studies. It also looks at some of the work that followed the studies. Specifically it covers:

  • Core studies: an abstract of each study plus ample details of the aims, method, results and conclusions. Guidance is given on how each study can be evaluated and a wealth of extra materials is provided for each study – practical activities, discussion ideas, multiple-choice and exam-style questions, diagrammatic summaries, further reading and video links.

  • Background to each core study: information about related research before and after the study; and biographical details of the researcher(s).

  • Key issues: sixteen issues are discussed to cover the themes of the course and prepare students for the long-answer questions.

  • A 'Psychological Investigations' chapter helps students to understand research methods in psychology, necessary for the Psychological Investigations exam and also for understanding the core studies themselves.

  • Exam guidance: short and long answer exam-style questions answered by students with examiner’s comments.

The book is presented in magazine-style spreads to aid the learning process, and has been thoroughly revised to match the requirements of the new OCR specification.

The book’s accompanying website contains

  • Answers to all exam questions.

  • Suggested evaluations.

Table of Contents

1. Psychological Investigations. 2. Cognitive Psychology. 3. Developmental Psychology. 4. Physiological Psychology. 5. Social Psychology. 6. Individual Differences.

Reviews

"The book captures the important sense of wonder about psychology…. It manages to emphasize the importance of skepticism and science while all the while keeping an eye on the bigger picture. This book makes a significant contribution to the standing of psychology by reaching out in a very appealing way to a wide audience." - Elizabeth F. Loftus, distinguished Professor, University of California, Irvine

"It is an excellent resource and one that many students and teachers will return to again and again." - Pia Lee-Wilson, University of East London

"This book is a truly excellent resource which will be invaluable to anyone taking OCR AS Psychology. It is well written, well organised, comprehensive, and easy to read. I just wish it had been available when I was a student! In short, a must-have and a must-read." - Professor Mark Griffiths, Psychology Division, Nottingham Trent University.

"This thoroughly engaging book provides the student with a comprehensive guide to AS-Level Psychology. Accurate, accessible, and even challenging, this visually stunning textbook will suit all types of learners and enable them to succeed in their exams. Rarely does a textbook tick so many boxes. My students will love it." – Mark Holah, Head of Psychology, Wyke Sixth Form College.

'This new edition is an excellent resource for the delivery of the new OCR specification. Its lively and colourful presentation makes it highly accessible to students and its broad background and extension material means it is invaluable to teachers seeking to plan engaging delivery of its Core Studies in a modern context. Exam-style questions with guidance and ‘quickie’ quiz questions help students develop their skills and the varied activities, related research and website suggestions provide useful material for differentiation. An all-round winner!' - Anna Ross, Psychology Course Team Leader, Long Road Sixth Form College

Praise for the first edition:

'This book is visually stunning and will be highly appealing to both teachers and students. It is also designed to aid a reader’s comprehension of the material. The book’s overwhelming visual appeal, logical formatting, accuracy, psychological insight and inspiration should all guarantee its success.' - Beth Black, former senior examiner and teacher, Long Road Sixth Form College

'I think this a fascinating and wonderful book. The students will love it and so will the teachers.' - Diana Dwyer, Head of Psychology, Joseph Whitaker School, Rainworth

Author/Editor Biography

Cara Flanagan is an experienced teacher and senior A level examiner. She has written a range of articles and textbooks for A level psychology students, and regularly speaks at student conferences and teacher INSET courses. She edits the Routledge Modular Psychology Series with Phil Banyard. In her spare time she is the proud mother of three children who kindly tolerate her incessant working, which includes taking her laptop on holiday, much to Phil’s bemusement.

Phil Banyard is Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Nottingham Trent University. He has been involved in GCSE and A Level psychology for more years than he can count and has marked more exam papers than he has brain cells left. It is testament to medical science that he still teaches, writes texts and ties his own shoes. His continued support of Nottingham Forest shows extreme loyalty or lack of imagination depending on your point of view.