A level-readyAll subjects · Psychology · WPS04 Clinical Psychology and Psychological Skills
Synoptic review: studies across the course
Edexcel IAL Psychology · WPS04 Clinical Psychology and Psychological Skills
Sections C to E of WPS04 draw on content, studies and methods from Topics A to H (excluding F and G). This review links the classic and contemporary studies of each topic to methods and issues and debates, so you can use them flexibly in the 8-mark and 20-mark questions.
Units 1 and 2
| Study | Method | Issues and debates it illustrates |
|---|---|---|
| Milgram (1963) | Laboratory study, volunteer sample | Ethics; history (Burger 2009); social control; androcentrism |
| Burger (2009) | Partial replication | Ethics in practice; science and replication |
| Moscovici et al. (1969) | Laboratory experiment | Social influence; women-only sample (gender) |
| Bartlett (1932) | Repeated reproduction | Culture and schemas; subjectivity of analysis |
| Schmolck et al. (2002) | Case studies of brain-damaged patients | Reductionism; generalisability |
| Raine et al. (1997) | PET scan, matched groups | Nature; socially sensitive; reductionism |
| Brendgen et al. (2005) | Twin study | Nature and nurture; interactionism |
| Watson and Rayner (1920) | Laboratory case study with an infant | Ethics and UNCRC; nurture; behaviourism in history |
| Capafons et al. (1998) | Treatment study with controls | Use of psychology in society |
Units 3 and 4
| Study | Method | Issues and debates it illustrates |
|---|---|---|
| Van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) | Meta-analysis, cross-cultural | Culture; nature (secure most common) and nurture (insecure types vary) |
| Rosenhan (1973) | Field study, participant observation | Reliability and validity of diagnosis; ethics; social control; history |
| Suzuki et al. (2014) | Cross-sectional comparison with controls | Culture; objectivity; application to inpatient care |
| Hans and Hiller (2013) | Meta-analysis of effectiveness studies | Science vs ecological validity; use of psychology |
| Ma, Quan and Liu (2014) | Online questionnaire, correlation | Generalisability; holism (social support) |
| Becker et al. (2002) | Natural experiment, mixed methods | Culture; nurture; qualitative and quantitative data |
| Reichel et al. (2014) | Laboratory physiological measures | Science and objectivity; ethics with vulnerable groups |
Using studies well
- Do not just name a study: say what it found and how it supports or challenges the point (June 2025 examiners).
- One study, many debates: Rosenhan can support arguments on reliability, labelling, ethics, social control and history.
- Balance: for each debate, have at least one study for each side (for example, nature: Gottesman and Shields; nurture: Watson and Rayner, Becker).
- Methods: use studies to illustrate methods in Section C (Suzuki for objective measures; Becker for cross-sectional design; Hans and Hiller for meta-analysis).
Worked example
Show how Rosenhan (1973) can be used in three different issues and debates.
- Reliability of diagnosis: no pseudo-patient was detected, and study 2 staff 'detected' 41 fakes when none were sent.
- Social control: once labelled, normal behaviour (note-taking) was seen as pathological, giving staff power over patients.
- Ethics: staff were deceived and could not consent, but the findings may have improved psychiatric practice.
Answer: One study, three debates: each with the specific finding linked to the debate.
Check yourself
- Which study is a meta-analysis?
- Rosenhan (1973)
- Van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988)
- Reichel et al. (2014)
- Watson and Rayner (1920)
Show answer
Van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988). Combined 32 Strange Situation samples.
- Which study is a twin study of aggression?
- Raine et al. (1997)
- Burger (2009)
- Becker et al. (2002)
- Brendgen et al. (2005)
Show answer
Brendgen et al. (2005). 6-year-old twins in Montreal.
- Which study is the best example of socially sensitive research?
- Bartlett (1932)
- Raine et al. (1997)
- Moscovici et al. (1969)
- Capafons et al. (1998)
Show answer
Raine et al. (1997). Brain differences in murderers have legal and social implications.
- Which study best illustrates objective physiological measurement?
- Bartlett (1932)
- Ma, Quan and Liu (2014)
- Reichel et al. (2014)
- Freud's Little Hans
Show answer
Reichel et al. (2014). EMG startle reflex.
- Asch (1951) found 32% conformity on critical trials. If a participant faced 12 critical trials, how many conforming answers would 32% represent? Give your answer to 2 decimal places.
Show answer
3.84. 0.32 x 12 = 3.84.
- Explain how Watson and Rayner (1920) can be used in the nature-nurture debate.
Show answer
They showed Little Albert learned to fear a white rat through classical conditioning, which supports nurture because the fear was acquired through experience rather than being innate.. Learned fear supports nurture.
Sources
- Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Subsidiary/Advanced Level in Psychology specification (issue January 2026)
- Pearson IAL Psychology component guide: WPS04 (Issue 2, November 2024)
- Pearson IAL Psychology summary of studies: WPS04
- Van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988), Cross-cultural patterns of attachment: a meta-analysis of the Strange Situation, Child Development 59
- Punch (2002), Research with children: the same or different from research with adults? Childhood 9 (University of Stirling copy)
Last updated 8 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.