Data analysis: past paper questions
Real questions on data analysis
The newest 20 of 62 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 9990/31 · May/June 2026 · Q6a[2]
Outline what is meant by ‘reductionism’, including an example from the study by North et al. (2003) on musical style and restaurant customers’ spending.
See it on the paper → - 9990/31 · May/June 2026 · Q6b[2]
Explain one strength of reductionism, using an example from the study by North et al. (2003) on musical style and restaurant customers’ spending.
See it on the paper → - 9990/32 · February/March 2026 · Q14a[2]
Outline what is meant by individual and situational explanations.
See it on the paper → - 9990/32 · February/March 2026 · Q14b[2]
Explain one reason why Blau and Boal’s absenteeism and organisational commitment model is an individual explanation.
See it on the paper → - 9990/23 · October/November 2025 · Q1a[1]
Define what is meant by ‘counterbalancing’.
See it on the paper → - 9990/31 · October/November 2025 · Q6a[2]
Outline what is meant by ‘determinism’, including an example from choice heuristics.
See it on the paper → - 9990/31 · October/November 2025 · Q6b[2]
Explain one strength of using the determinism side of the determinism versus free‑will debate to understand choice heuristics.
See it on the paper → - 9990/22 · May/June 2025 · Q6[6]
Describe order effects, using any example(s).
See it on the paper → - 9990/42 · May/June 2025 · Q7b[2]
Suggest the effect that an alternative location could have had on the results of this study.
See it on the paper → - 9990/32 · October/November 2024 · Q2a[2]
Outline the idiographic versus nomothetic debate.
See it on the paper → - 9990/41 · October/November 2024 · Q10c(iii)[2]
Explain one reason for your choice of descriptive statistics. Health Psychology
See it on the paper → - 9990/31 · May/June 2024 · Q2a[2]
Outline what is meant by the determinism versus free-will debate.
See it on the paper → - 9990/31 · May/June 2024 · Q2b[2]
Explain one strength of applying the determinism side of the determinism versus free-will debate to the biochemical explanation for depressive disorder (unipolar).
See it on the paper → - 9990/33 · May/June 2024 · Q2a[2]
Outline what is meant by the determinism versus free-will debate.
See it on the paper → - 9990/33 · May/June 2024 · Q2b[2]
Explain one strength of applying the determinism side of the determinism versus free-will debate to the biochemical explanation for depressive disorder (unipolar).
See it on the paper → - 9990/33 · May/June 2024 · Q14a[2]
Outline what is meant by ‘holism’, including an example from Thomas-Kilmann’s five conflict- handling modes.
See it on the paper → - 9990/33 · May/June 2024 · Q14b[2]
Explain one weakness of holism, using an example from Thomas-Kilmann’s five conflict- handling modes.
See it on the paper → - 9990/21 · October/November 2023 · Q3a(i)[1]
Describe the results in Table 3.1 for correct responses.
See it on the paper → - 9990/21 · October/November 2023 · Q3a(ii)[2]
Describe the results in Table 3.1 for incorrect responses.
See it on the paper → - 9990/22 · October/November 2023 · Q9a[2]
Name the most appropriate measure of central tendency to use with the data from each question. Personality question Shyness question
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Comprehensive responses • Good definitions given for both individual and situational explanations. • Frequently stating that individual is the disposition of the person such as their personality and situational is how environmental factors influence behaviour. Limited responses • Defining one explanation and not the other. Most frequently could define situational, not individual. • A small number...
— Examiner report, February/March 2026, 9990/32 Q14(a) (Cambridge)
Comprehensive responses • These outlined how either or both organisational commitment and/or absenteeism occur due to individual reasons. • Examples were often given to back up the point. Limited responses • A brief explanation given such as reasons for being absent are individual to the person and occur for different reasons. • Stating the model was individual without an explanation as to why.
— Examiner report, February/March 2026, 9990/32 Q14(b) (Cambridge)
Question part (a)(i) was not well answered, with many candidates simply reporting findings rather than describing them. In addition, there was a significant number who described the data for objects used in training as ‘higher’ than for objects not used in training. Very few candidates identified this as ‘similar’.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9990/21 Q3(a)(i) (Cambridge)
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