GCSE Psychology revision checklist

GCSE · Pearson Edexcel 1PS0

Getting started

• What is psychology? Theories, evidence and explanationsLesson →
• How to read a psychology study: aim, method, results, conclusionLesson →
• Thinking like a scientist: variables, fair tests and hypothesesLesson →
• Handling data: averages, range and percentagesLesson →
• Answering psychology questions: describe, explain, evaluateLesson →

Topic 1: Development

• Early brain developmentLesson →
• Piaget's theory of cognitive developmentLesson →
• Dweck's mindset theoryLesson →
• Willingham's learning theoryLesson →
• Key study: Piaget and Inhelder (1956) three mountains taskLesson →
• Key study: Gunderson et al. (2013) parent praiseLesson →
• Issues and debates: morality and developmentLesson →

Topic 2: Memory

• How memory works: processes, STM and LTMLesson →
• Retrograde and anterograde amnesiaLesson →
• Bartlett's theory of reconstructive memoryLesson →
• The multi-store model of memoryLesson →
• Key study: Bartlett (1932) War of the GhostsLesson →
• Key study: Peterson and Peterson (1959) short-term retentionLesson →
• Issues and debates: reductionism and holismLesson →

Topic 3: Psychological problems

• Depression and addiction: symptoms (ICD)Lesson →
• Incidence and impact of mental health problemsLesson →
• Genetic explanations of depression and addictionLesson →
• Cognitive theory of depression and learning theory of addictionLesson →
• Treatments: CBT and drugsLesson →
• Key study: Caspi et al. (2003) life stress and the 5-HTT geneLesson →
• Key study: Young (2007) CBT with internet addictsLesson →
• Issues and debates: nature and nurtureLesson →

Topic 4: The brain and neuropsychology

• Structure and function of the brain: the lobesLesson →
• Lateralisation of functionLesson →
• Neurons, synapses and the central nervous systemLesson →
• Neurological damage: agnosia, prosopagnosia and the prefrontal cortexLesson →
• Key study: Damasio et al. (1994) the return of Phineas GageLesson →
• Key study: Sperry (1968) split-brain patientsLesson →
• Issues and debates: how psychology has changed over timeLesson →

Topic 5: Social influence

• Social influence: key termsLesson →
• Factors affecting bystander interventionLesson →
• Conformity to majority influenceLesson →
• Obedience to authority and preventing blind obedienceLesson →
• Crowds and collective behaviourLesson →
• Key study: Piliavin et al. (1969) Good SamaritanismLesson →
• Key study: Haney, Banks and Zimbardo (1973) prisoners and guardsLesson →
• Issues and debates: social and cultural issuesLesson →

Topic 11: Research methods

• Variables in researchLesson →
• Controlling extraneous variablesLesson →
• Writing hypothesesLesson →
• Sampling methodsLesson →
• Experimental designsLesson →
• Reliability and validityLesson →
• Ethical issues in researchLesson →
• Laboratory, field and natural experimentsLesson →
• Interviews and questionnairesLesson →
• Correlational studiesLesson →
• Case studiesLesson →
• ObservationsLesson →
• Maths skills: decimals, standard form, estimation and significant figuresLesson →
• Mean, median, mode and rangeLesson →
• Ratios, fractions and percentagesLesson →
• The normal distributionLesson →
• Frequency tables, bar charts and histogramsLesson →
• Scatter diagrams and correlationLesson →
• Types of dataLesson →
• Issues and debates: ethics in psychological researchLesson →

Topic 6: Criminal psychology

• Operant conditioning and crimeLesson →
• Social learning theory and crimeLesson →
• Eysenck's personality theory of crimeLesson →
• Punishment and recidivismLesson →
• Treatments: token economy and anger managementLesson →
• Key study: Bandura, Ross and Ross (1961)Lesson →
• Key study: Charlton et al (2000)Lesson →

Topic 7: The self

• Self-concept: Lewis and RogersLesson →
• Identity and free will: Erikson and BaumeisterLesson →
• Humanistic theory: Rogers and MaslowLesson →
• Influences on the self and measuring personalityLesson →
• Trait theory: Allport and CattellLesson →
• Key study: Vohs and Schooler (2008)Lesson →
• Key study: Van Houtte and Jarvis (1995)Lesson →

Topic 8: Perception

• Depth cuesLesson →
• Visual illusions and visual constanciesLesson →
• Gibson's direct theory of perceptionLesson →
• Gregory's constructivist theory of perceptionLesson →
• Perceptual setLesson →
• Key study: Haber and Levin (2001)Lesson →
• Key study: Carmichael, Hogan and Walter (1932)Lesson →

Topic 9: Sleep and dreaming

• Sleep stages, REM and the sleep cycleLesson →
• Bodily rhythms, melatonin and zeitgebersLesson →
• Sleep disorders: insomnia and narcolepsyLesson →
• Freud's theory of dreamingLesson →
• Activation synthesis theoryLesson →
• Key study: Freud (1909) Little HansLesson →
• Key study: Siffre (1975)Lesson →

Topic 10: Language, thought and communication

• Language and thought: Piaget and VygotskyLesson →
• Language and our view of the worldLesson →
• Human and animal communicationLesson →
• Non-verbal communicationLesson →
• Explaining non-verbal communication: DarwinLesson →
• Key study: Yuki et al (2007)Lesson →
• Key study: Boroditsky (2001)Lesson →