Describe schema theory, with reference to one relevant study.

Refer to the paper 1 section A markbands when awarding marks. These can be found under the “Your tests” tab > supplemental materials.

The command term “describe” requires candidates to give a detailed account of schema theory, with reference to one relevant study.

Candidates may refer to relevant aspects of schema theory such as, but not limited to:

• mental representation
• framework of knowledge
• assimilation and accommodation (Piaget)
• the role of past experience
• reconstructive memory
• schema types
• the role of schema in the encoding and retrievel of memory

Relevant studies may include, but are not limited to:

• Bartlett’s (1932) study of “War of the Ghosts”
• Anderson & Pichert’s (1978) study on schema theory and memory retrieval
• Brewer & Treyens’ (1981) study of potential effects of schema on memory.

If a candidate refers to more than one study, credit should be given only to the first study.

If a candidate describes schema theory without making reference to a study, up to a maximum of [5] should be awarded.

If a candidate only describes an appropriate study without describing schema theory, up to a maximum of [4] should be awarded.

Candidates performed inconsistently on this question. There seemed to be a general understanding of schema, but its relevance in the cognitive process wasn't grasped.

There were often some inaccurate claims of the role of schema in cognitive processes such as thinking and decision-making.
Relevant studies such as Bransford and Johnson, Brewer and Treyens, Cohen et al. were described.

Although the studies were relevant to the question, some candidates failed to link the study with the theory outlined in the introduction. Instead, top responses made the explicit link, for example, Cohen's study was linked to stereotypes as a type of social schema.