Evaluate one or more explanations of one or more health problems.

Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks. These can be found under the “Your tests” tab > supplemental materials.

The command term “evaluate” requires candidates to make an appraisal of one or more explanations of one or more health problems by weighing up the strengths and limitations. Although a discussion of both strengths and limitations is required, it does not have to be evenly balanced to gain high marks.

Candidates are likely to write about health problems presented in the psychology guide:

• stress
• obesity
• addiction
• chronic pain
• sexual health.

Relevant studies may include, but are not limited to:

• Steptoe and Marmot’s (2003) study of biopsychosocial aspects of stress
• Burman and Margolin’s (1992) study on the association between marital relationships and health problems
• Reed et al.’s (1999) study connecting HIV positive people and pessimism
• Iwasaki and Smale’s (1998) longitudinal analyses of relationships and chronic health problems.

Evaluation points may include, but are not limited to:

• the accuracy and clarity of the explanation
• productivity of the explanation in generating psychological research
• methodological, cultural, and gender considerations
• contrary/alternative explanations
• applications of the explanation
• supporting and contradicting evidence.

If the candidate addresses only strengths or only limitations, the response should be awarded up to a maximum of [3] for criterion D: critical thinking. All remaining criteria should be awarded marks according to the best fit approach.