Cambridge International AS & A Level
PSYCHOLOGY 9990/31
Paper 3 Specialist Options: Theory October/November 2022
1 hour 30 minutes
You must answer on the enclosed answer booklet.
* 6 1 8 2 0 5 1 2 4 7 *
You will need: Answer booklet (enclosed)
INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer four questions in total:
Answer questions from two options.
For each chosen option, answer all questions.
● Follow the instructions on the front cover of the answer booklet. If you need additional answer paper,
ask the invigilator for a continuation booklet.
INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 60.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
This document has 4 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.
DC (CE) 303873/1
© UCLES 2022 [Turn over
2
Psychology and abnormality
Answer all questions.
1 (a) Outline the cognitive explanation of depression (Beck, 1979). [2]
(b) Describe the study by Oruc et al. (1997) about a biological explanation for bipolar disorder.
[4]
(c) Explain two strengths of the study by Oruc et al. [6]
2 (a) Describe characteristics of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (types, examples/
case studies, measures). [8]
(b) Evaluate characteristics of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (types, examples/
case studies, measures), including a discussion of qualitative and quantitative data. [10]
Psychology and consumer behaviour
Answer all questions.
3 (a) Outline an associative learning explanation for consumers’ preference for product colour
(Grossman and Wisenblit, 1999). [2]
(b) Outline two methods used to collect data in the study by Porublev et al. (2009) on
gift-wrapping. [4]
(c) Explain one strength and one weakness of the study by Porublev et al. [6]
4 (a) Describe what psychologists have discovered about environmental influences on consumers
(cognitive maps of retail locations, crowding in retail environments, shopper movement
patterns). [8]
(b) Evaluate what psychologists have discovered about environmental influences on consumers
(cognitive maps of retail locations, crowding in retail environments, shopper movement
patterns), including a discussion of cultural bias. [10]
© UCLES 2022 9990/31/O/N/22
3
Psychology and health
Answer all questions.
5 (a) Identify two of the measures used in the five-city project on health promotion in communities
(Farquhar et al., 1985). [2]
(b) Describe the study on health promotion in worksites by Fox et al. (1987). [4]
(c) Explain one strength and one weakness of longitudinal research, using the study by Fox
et al. as an example. [6]
6 (a) Describe what psychologists have discovered about patient and practitioner diagnosis and
style (practitioner style, practitioner diagnosis, disclosure of information). [8]
(b) Evaluate what psychologists have discovered about patient and practitioner diagnosis
and style (practitioner style, practitioner diagnosis, disclosure of information), including a
discussion of field experiments. [10]
Psychology and organisations
Answer all questions.
7 (a) Give the equation proposed by Vroom (1964) to calculate motivation. [2]
(b) Outline two non-monetary rewards that are motivators at work. [4]
(c) Explain one strength and one weakness of using non-monetary rewards as motivators at
work. [6]
8 (a) Describe what psychologists have discovered about group decision-making in organisations
(the decision-making process, groupthink, cognitive limitations and errors). [8]
(b) Evaluate what psychologists have discovered about group decision-making in organisations
(the decision-making process, groupthink, cognitive limitations and errors), including a
discussion of practical applications. [10]
© UCLES 2022 9990/31/O/N/22
4
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To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.
Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge.
© UCLES 2022 9990/31/O/N/22
