Longitudinal studies: past paper questions
Real questions on longitudinal studies
The newest 20 of 38 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 9990/41 · May/June 2026 · Q5b[2]
Suggest one reason why participants were sent a second questionnaire one week after completing the first questionnaire.
See it on the paper → - 9990/41 · May/June 2026 · Q5c[4]
Explain two strengths of excluding some participants from studies on patient satisfaction.
See it on the paper → - 9990/42 · May/June 2026 · Q5b[2]
Suggest one reason why it was important for this study to use a longitudinal design.
See it on the paper → - 9990/42 · February/March 2026 · Q7c[4]
Explain two weaknesses of conducting longitudinal studies on accidents and risk events.
See it on the paper → - 9990/33 · October/November 2025 · Q10a[2]
Outline what is meant by the debate between individual and situational explanations.
See it on the paper → - 9990/21 · May/June 2025 · Q9a(i)[1]
Dr Gao is deciding how often to test her participants, and is considering: • • weekly yearly. Explain which of these intervals is the most suitable for Dr Gao’s study.
See it on the paper → - 9990/21 · May/June 2025 · Q9a(ii)[1]
Suggest how Dr Gao could contact her participants during the study.
See it on the paper → - 9990/21 · May/June 2025 · Q9a(iii)[2]
Suggest two problems that Dr Gao may have when trying to contact her participants at regular intervals. (iii)
See it on the paper → - 9990/21 · May/June 2025 · Q9b[2]
A colleague, Dr Roberts, says that the study could be conducted by comparing participants of different ages at one point in time. Suggest one advantage of Dr Roberts’ idea, compared to Dr Gao’s plan for a longitudinal study. Do not refer to contacting participants in your answer. Section B Answer all questions.
See it on the paper → - 9990/43 · May/June 2025 · Q5b[2]
The study included a ‘wait-list control condition’. Suggest one reason for including this ‘wait-list control condition’.
See it on the paper → - 9990/43 · May/June 2025 · Q5c[4]
Explain one strength and one weakness of using longitudinal studies to investigate positive psychology in schools.
See it on the paper → - 9990/22 · February/March 2025 · Q2[3]
Dr Bryan has been asked to investigate the effects of a new drug for people with a psychological disorder. Each week, Dr Bryan’s patients visit him to receive the drug and to report their symptoms. Explain what makes this investigation a longitudinal study.
See it on the paper → - 9990/22 · October/November 2024 · Q8b[2]
Parul’s friend says that she should have conducted the study for more than one week. Explain one reason why it would have been better to have conducted the study for more than one week.
See it on the paper → - 9990/21 · May/June 2024 · Q5a[3]
Explain why it was necessary to gain consent from both the children and the children’s parents/guardians.
See it on the paper → - 9990/41 · May/June 2024 · Q9c(ii)[2]
Explain one weakness of the use of a longitudinal design in your study.
See it on the paper → - 9990/43 · May/June 2024 · Q9a[10]
Plan an experiment with a longitudinal design to investigate whether there are problems with ECT as a treatment for schizophrenia. Your plan must include details about: controls a directional or non-directional hypothesis. • •
See it on the paper → - 9990/43 · May/June 2024 · Q9c(ii)[2]
Explain one weakness of the use of a longitudinal design in your study.
See it on the paper → - 9990/33 · October/November 2023 · Q5b[4]
Describe the study about psychological measures of stress by Friedman and Rosenman (1974).
See it on the paper → - 9990/33 · October/November 2023 · Q5c[6]
Explain two weaknesses of the study by Friedman and Rosenman.
See it on the paper → - 9990/42 · October/November 2023 · Q7a[10]
Design a longitudinal study using an interview to investigate beliefs about health change in adults.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Comprehensive responses • Many candidates gave two weaknesses of longitudinal studies such as changes in technology over time, worker turnover, and changes in company policy and related this to potential change in the number of accidents. Limited responses • Many candidates gave two weaknesses of the study, rather than specifically of longitudinal studies which the question required. • Some candi...
— Examiner report, February/March 2026, 9990/42 Q7(c) (Cambridge)
This three-mark question asked candidates to explain what makes this (unseen) investigation a longitudinal study. To achieve the three marks available candidates needed to make at least two unique points about longitudinal studies and then make at least one link to the study provided. Candidate performance on this question was pleasing. Most candidates were able to get at least two marks from thi...
— Examiner report, February/March 2025, 9990/22 Q2 (Cambridge)
There were a small number of strong responses to this question. A few were able to accurately describe some of the details of the study by Friedman and Rosenman on psychological measures of stress. Common details included the sample, outline of type A and type B personality, procedure and a result. Weaker responses often outlined the personality types and gave a result. A significant number of res...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9990/33 Q5(b) (Cambridge)
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