Evaluate one or more research methods used in studies investigating social responsibility.

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 research methods used in studies investigating social responsibility by weighing up the strengths and limitations of the research method(s). Although a discussion of both strengths and limitations is required, it does not have to be evenly balanced to gain high marks.

Relevant research methods could include, but are not limited to:

• interviews (eg, semi-structured)
• naturalistic observations
• correlational studies (eg surveys)
• case study
• experiments (laboratory, field or natural)

Examples of research may include, but are not limited to:

• Darley & Batson’s (1973) Good Samaritan study (field experiment)
• Levine & Crowther’s (2008) experiment on group size and salient identity in by-standerism
• Graves & Graves’s (1985) observational study into whether caring for young children increases prosocial behaviour
• Barry & Wentzel’s (2006) correlational study of friend influence on prosocial behaviour.

A critical evaluation may include, but is not limited to:

• why the method(s) was/were selected and the appropriateness of the method(s)
• possible theoretical assumptions and/or biases in relation to the chosen method
• the issues of validity and reliability
• the generalizability of findings
• the use of alternative/additional methods (triangulation).

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.

For questions that ask for evaluation of research methods, marks awarded for criterion B should refer to definitions of terms and concepts relevant for research methodology. Overall, this includes some knowledge of the specific topic (social responsibility) and general knowledge and understanding related to research methods and ethics (for example definitions of relevant terms in research methodology or ethics in research).

Marks awarded for criterion C assess the quality of the description of a study/studies and assess how well the student linked aspects of the study to the question.

Question 12 was popular, but not evenly addressed. As with question 6, some candidates did a very good job of identifying useful research methods in social research and evaluating the method itself, while others identified research studies and evaluated the study while never addressing the question's requirements.