Question 115 marks
Question
Paul and Lentz (1977) conducted a study with 84 patients with schizophrenia, allocating each patient to one of three types of treatment, including token economy. After more than four years, the effectiveness of each treatment was compared. Alternatively, schizophrenia can be treated using biochemical techniques. (a) Outline how operant conditioning explains token economy. [2] (b) Outline the findings about the effectiveness of token economy from this study. [4] (c) Suggest two reasons why an independent measures design was a better choice for this study than any other experimental design. [4] (d) Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of using biochemical techniques to treat schizophrenia. You should include a conclusion in your answer. [5] Psychology and consumer behaviour
Mark scheme
1 Paul and Lentz (1977) conducted a study with 84 schizophrenic patients allocating each to one of three types of treatment, including token economy. After more than 4 years the effectiveness of each treatment was compared. Alternatively, schizophrenia can be treated using biochemical techniques. 1(a) Outline how operant conditioning explains token economy. 2 Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited): giving a token is positive reinforcement (1 mark) and so desirable patient behaviour is likely to be repeated (2 marks) Behavioural approach and behaviourists believe that all behaviour is learned (1 mark). This means that appropriate behaviour for patients is learned through token economy (2 marks) Note: Any relevant comment about operant conditioning (1 mark) relevant to token economy and schizophrenia / Paul and Lentz (+1 mark) Note: answers outlining classical conditioning receive no marks. Marks: 1 mark for identification; 2 marks for elaboration/example 1(b) Outline the findings about the effectiveness of token economy from this 4 study. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited): effective: a reduction in positive symptoms effective: reduction in negative symptoms effective: reduction in catatonic behaviour effective: 97% were able to live independently for 1.5–5 years (compared to milieu or hospital therapy) effective in withdrawal / social behaviour effective in interacting with others less effective: in reducing hallucinations and delusional thinking Note: Question states ‘findings’ (plural) so two (or more) findings are required. Marks: 1 mark basic answer +1 (or +2) marks for elaboration or example OR 1 mark for each different (specific) finding (4 max) OR can be 3 marks + 1 mark Note: 0 marks for general ‘was highly effective’ (OWTTE) Note: two ‘general findings’ = 1 mark e.g. ‘displaying normal behaviour’ and ‘highly effective’. 1(c) Suggest two reasons why an independent measures design was a better 4 choice for this study than any other experimental design. Most likely answer: if patients used a different design, i.e. repeated measures (participants do all treatments) the study would not be valid as it would not be known which technique was the most effective. if two designs were used there could be cross-over effects where one treatment might interfere with the other. Marks: 1 mark basic reason plus 1 mark for elaboration/example ×2 1(d) Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of using biochemical techniques 5 to treat schizophrenia. You should include a conclusion in your answer. Strengths drugs (such as anti-psychotics and atypical anti-psychotics) are easy to take; swallowing a pill drugs mean the patient is passive in their treatment (an advantage for many people) drugs have been shown to be effective in many studies Weaknesses drugs are addictive so should be short-term use only drugs may not be taken as prescribed (non-adherence) drugs ignore the role of alternative explanations of schizophrenia (treat symptom, not cause) Conclusion: any appropriate conclusion drawn from the discussion that has been presented. 1 mark if appropriate. A conclusion is a ‘decision reached by reasoning’ and so a summary of points already made scores 0 marks. Marks: Question requires discussion; always plural of each argument, and always requires conclusion. 1 mark for each advantage/disadvantage (however detailed) and related to the question up to 4 max. 2 marks max for two strengths/weaknesses unrelated to the question. 1 mark for conclusion.