Learning approach: past paper questions
Real questions on learning approach
The newest 20 of 284 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 9990/31 · May/June 2026 · Q1[4]
Richard fell off his chair and cut himself. He could see himself bleeding. After this, he developed a phobia of blood. Richard’s mother also has a phobia of blood. He recently made an appointment for a blood test but cancelled it due to his phobia. Outline two explanations for Richard’s blood phobia.
See it on the paper → - 9990/41 · May/June 2026 · Q3c[4]
Explain one strength and one weakness of using a standardised procedure in study three.
See it on the paper → - 9990/42 · February/March 2026 · Q5a[4]
Identify the four experimental groups used in this study.
See it on the paper → - 9990/42 · February/March 2026 · Q5b[2]
Suggest why control groups were included in this study.
See it on the paper → - 9990/11 · October/November 2025 · Q3a[2]
The ‘capture technique’ was used in the training of the elephants. Outline what is meant by the ‘capture technique’ as used in this study.
See it on the paper → - 9990/11 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[2]
Outline one result about the mean success rate for the ‘trunk wash’ task over time.
See it on the paper → - 9990/11 · October/November 2025 · Q10[10]
Evaluate the study by Bandura et al. (aggression) in terms of two strengths and two weaknesses. At least one of your evaluation points must be about ethics.
See it on the paper → - 9990/12 · October/November 2025 · Q2a[2]
One conclusion was that boys are more likely to imitate aggressive behaviour than girls. Outline one other conclusion from this study.
See it on the paper → - 9990/12 · October/November 2025 · Q2b[2]
Outline one weakness of this study in relation to the sample of participants.
See it on the paper → - 9990/12 · October/November 2025 · Q9a[4]
Describe the participant used in this study.
See it on the paper → - 9990/12 · October/November 2025 · Q9b[8]
Explain one similarity and one difference between the study by Saavedra and Silverman (button phobia) and the study by Bandura et al. (aggression). Do not refer to sampling in your answer. Similarity Difference
See it on the paper → - 9990/13 · October/November 2025 · Q6a[3]
In the background to their study, Saavedra and Silverman (button phobia) outlined the role of disgust in childhood phobias. Outline the role of disgust in childhood phobias.
See it on the paper → - 9990/13 · October/November 2025 · Q6b[4]
Two friends, Hannah and Josh, are discussing the generalisability of the study by Saavedra and Silverman (button phobia). Hannah says the study is generalisable, but Josh says it is not generalisable. Outline why you think either Hannah or Josh is correct, using evidence from the study. The friend who I think is correc...
See it on the paper → - 9990/13 · October/November 2025 · Q7[4]
The nature versus nurture debate relates to the study by Bandura et al. (aggression). Outline what is meant by this debate, including one example from the nature side and one example from the nurture side from the study by Bandura et al.
See it on the paper → - 9990/13 · October/November 2025 · Q8a[4]
Outline the advice you would give to Pauline.
See it on the paper → - 9990/13 · October/November 2025 · Q8b[2]
Explain one reason for one piece of advice you outlined in part (a). Section B Answer all questions.
See it on the paper → - 9990/21 · October/November 2025 · Q9c(i)[1]
Dr Okami will use reinforcement to help the animals learn to run through the narrow tunnels. Suggest one way that the animals could be reinforced. Your answer must be ethical.
See it on the paper → - 9990/23 · October/November 2025 · Q3a[2]
Explain why there was no fixed length of time for the elephants’ training.
See it on the paper → - 9990/23 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[2]
Some behavioural tasks were more difficult than others for the elephants to learn. This difference in difficulty was called ‘relative difficulty’ in the study. Explain how Fagen et al. measured relative difficulty.
See it on the paper → - 9990/23 · October/November 2025 · Q7a(i)[2]
Pedro wants to add more objects and is considering plush (soft) toys, wheeled toys, noisy toys and balls. Explain why two of these objects could interest children. Your two answers must be different.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Comprehensive responses • Most candidates were able to correctly identify all four experimental groups, many providing a detailed outline of each. Limited responses • Some candidates could not identify four experimental groups; a small number of candidates misunderstood what the increased access group involved.
— Examiner report, February/March 2026, 9990/42 Q5(a) (Cambridge)
Comprehensive responses • Nearly all candidates correctly suggested that a control group was used to establish a baseline to which the experimental groups could be compared. Some candidates went on to explain how the control groups differed from the experimental groups in this specific study. Limited responses • Some answers did not extend beyond the baseline suggestion meaning that without relat...
— Examiner report, February/March 2026, 9990/42 Q5(b) (Cambridge)
A minority of responses could clearly outline the term shaping with an example from the study by Fagen et al. Common responses included successive approximation and how the banana was used as a ‘reward aid’ to help shape the elephants’ behaviours. Many responses focused on the basic mechanisms of positive reinforcement which was not answering the question about ‘shaping’ so could not be awarded an...
— Examiner report, February/March 2025, 9990/12 Q6(a) (Cambridge)
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