Organisational psychology — AS & A Level Psychology (9990) questions by topic
Organisational psychology covers explaining workplace sabotage, describing research into measuring job satisfaction, weighing whether need theories alone explain motivation through goal-setting, and outlining social loafing at work, worth 4 to 24 marks for the longest evaluative essays.
Explain, suggest, describe, outline and evaluate lead 93 real questions across 2023 to 2025 papers. Because essay-length questions reward analysis, not just listed theories, drafting a full response and checking the instant-marked feedback shows whether points have been developed into genuine discussion or left as unexplained statements.
What examiners look for
- A recurring criticism is outlining only universalist leadership theory and omitting the behavioural Ohio and Michigan State studies, or asserting qualities 'can be learned' without expanding on them.
- Examiners repeatedly note determinism-versus-free-will points identified but never explained, with theories simply labelled to one side of the debate without examples.
- Reports flag questionnaire suggestions as 'far too vague', such as just proposing 'doing a questionnaire' without specifying technique or question format.
- A common error is only identifying a leadership style rather than outlining it, or substituting a covert observation when structured observation was the term required.
- Strong answers explained which side of the determinism debate each theory supports and why a theory could sit on both sides at once, and specified a closed question with a yes/no or rating-scale response tied directly to the leadership style being tested.
May–June 2025, Paper 31
A manager has changed the working hours in a factory. Some workers are tired when they arrive at work due to this change and have made mistakes on the production line. Suggest how…
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline what is meant by the nature versus nurture debate. [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Tricia and Margot are in a team working on a leaflet for a company. Tricia will design the leaflet. Margot will check the leaflet for any errors before it is published. Suggest…
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe what psychologists have discovered about: - extrinsic motivators at work, and - Deci and Ryan's self-determination theory. [6]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 32
Explain which need is being met by Jin. [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline what is meant by 'valence' from Vroom's VIE theory of motivation. [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Lucy owns a restaurant. She pays her workers a good salary but notices they are not satisfied with their jobs. Lucy reads about Herzberg's two factor theory of job satisfaction…
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe the study by Cuadrado et al. (2008) on leadership style and gender. [6]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 33
A manager has changed the working hours in a factory. Some workers are tired when they arrive at work due to this change and have made mistakes on the production line. Suggest how…
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline what is meant by the nature versus nurture debate.
Answer this question and get it marked →Tricia and Margot are in a team working on a leaflet for a company. Tricia will design the leaflet. Margot will check the leaflet for any errors before it is published. Suggest…
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe what psychologists have discovered about: - extrinsic motivators at work, and - Deci and Ryan's self-determination theory.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 41
From the key study on reasons for sabotage in the workplace by Giacalone and Rosenfeld (1987): 'Subjects were told that they should not write their names or any identifying…
Answer this question and get it marked →Explain what is meant by an 'error of commission' when investigating accidents at work.
Answer this question and get it marked →Plan a study using an interview to investigate the effects of rapid rotation shiftwork on the health of workers. Your plan must include details about: - question…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 42
From the key study by Claypoole and Szalma (2019) on electronic performance monitoring: Outline two features of the sample used in this study.
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline what is meant by the term 'social loafing', using an example from any organisation.
Answer this question and get it marked →Plan an experiment to investigate the effectiveness of a reward system to reduce the number of accidents in a factory where clothes are made. Your plan must include details about:…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 43
From the key study on reasons for sabotage in the workplace by Giacalone and Rosenfeld (1987): 'Subjects were told that they should not write their names or any identifying…
Answer this question and get it marked →Explain what is meant by an 'error of commission' when investigating accidents at work.
Answer this question and get it marked →Plan a study using an interview to investigate the effects of rapid rotation shiftwork on the health of workers. Your plan must include details about: - question…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 31
Feba is a manager in an IT company. She has decided to monitor her employees while they work from home to improve their productivity on their tasks. Suggest one way that Feba…
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline what is meant by 'holism', including an example from Thomas-Kilmann's five conflict-handling modes. [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Joseph works on a production line in a car factory. He forgot to use eye protection during his shift and damaged his eye. Explain the type of human error made by Joseph. [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe what psychologists studying motivation to work have discovered about: - Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and - McClelland's theory of achievement motivation. [6]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 32
Arjun is being bullied at work by his manager, Tia. When Arjun is interviewed about the bullying, he says it started when Tia was promoted to manager. Tia can become stressed at…
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline Herzberg's two factor theory of job satisfaction. [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Sally manages the production line of a toy factory. A recent survey of her employees has shown that they are not satisfied with their jobs. Suggest two job design techniques that…
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe what psychologists have discovered about: • token economy used to reduce accidents at work, and • monitoring accidents and risk events. [6]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 33
Suggest one way that Feba could monitor the productivity of her employees while they work at home.
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline what is meant by 'holism', including an example from Thomas-Kilmann's five conflict-handling modes.
Answer this question and get it marked →Explain the type of human error made by Joseph.
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe what psychologists studying motivation to work have discovered about: • Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and • McClelland's theory of achievement motivation.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 41
From the key study by Cuadrado et al. (2008) on women’s access to managerial positions: State the two independent variables in this experiment.
Answer this question and get it marked →Explain what is meant by the term ‘workplace sabotage’.
Answer this question and get it marked →Workers in assembly-line industries can sabotage machinery. Plan a study using a structured observation to investigate which is the most common way to sabotage machinery in…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 42
The key study by Landry et al. (2019) on applying self-determination theory to motivational rewards included a ‘manipulation check’ as part of the procedure in study 1. Describe…
Answer this question and get it marked →Muczyk and Reimann proposed four styles of leader behaviour. Outline the ‘directive autocrat’ style of leader behaviour proposed by Muczyk and Reimann.
Answer this question and get it marked →Plan a study using an online questionnaire to investigate which type of achievement motivation is more likely to motivate workers. Your plan must include details about: - question…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 43
From the key study by Cuadrado et al. (2008) on women’s access to managerial positions: State the two independent variables in this experiment.
Answer this question and get it marked →Explain what is meant by the term ‘workplace sabotage’.
Answer this question and get it marked →Workers in assembly-line industries can sabotage machinery. Plan a study using a structured observation to investigate which is the most common way to sabotage machinery in…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 31
Koffi is the manager of an important project. The project is demanding and the team members have never worked together. Koffi knows about Forsyth's cognitive limitations and…
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline what is meant by social loafing at work. [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →In a cake factory there are different jobs: • Factory workers put the finished cakes into boxes. • Factory supervisors check that the factory workers put the cakes into boxes…
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe what psychologists have discovered about measuring job satisfaction: • the job descriptive index (JDI), and • Walton's quality of working life (QWL). [6]
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 32
Ulrich manages an office where there is some conflict between the workers. Ulrich has read that a more stereotypically feminine leadership style may help him to manage his workers…
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline what is meant by intrinsic motivators at work. [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Tayyibah is the manager of a small factory making fabric. Tayyibah has noticed that her workers do not seem to be motivated, although they receive good wages. She thinks that…
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe what psychologists have discovered about group development and decision-making: • stages of group development, and • Belbin's nine team roles. [6]
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 33
Koffi is the manager of an important project. The project is demanding and the team members have never worked together. Koffi knows about Forsyth's cognitive limitations and…
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline what is meant by social loafing at work.
Answer this question and get it marked →In a cake factory there are different jobs: • Factory workers put the finished cakes into boxes. • Factory supervisors check that the factory workers put the cakes into boxes…
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe what psychologists have discovered about measuring job satisfaction: • the job descriptive index (JDI), and • Walton's quality of working life (QWL).
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 41
Explain what is meant by the term 'accident frequency' as used in this study.
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline what Maslow meant by 'physiological needs' and 'social needs'.
Answer this question and get it marked →Plan an experiment to investigate the effect of one physical work condition, other than temperature, on the productivity of workers. Your plan must include details about: -…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 42
Explain how the sample of participants were divided into these two groups.
Answer this question and get it marked →Explain what is meant by an 'open plan office'.
Answer this question and get it marked →Plan an experiment to investigate which type of rotation has the most negative effect on the health of workers. Your plan must include details about: - controls - dependent…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 43
Explain what is meant by the term 'accident frequency' as used in this study.
Answer this question and get it marked →Outline what Maslow meant by 'physiological needs' and 'social needs'.
Answer this question and get it marked →Plan an experiment to investigate the effect of one physical work condition, other than temperature, on the productivity of workers. Your plan must include details about: •…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 31
Outline how a token economy can be used to reduce accidents at work. [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe what psychologists have discovered about measuring job satisfaction. [8]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 32
Group decision-making can lead to cognitive limitations and errors including sins of commission, sins of omission and sins of imprecision (Forsyth, 2006). Explain what is meant by…
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe what psychologists have discovered about traditional and modern theories of leadership (universalist and behavioural theories, adaptive leadership, three levels of…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 33
Outline how a token economy can be used to reduce accidents at work.
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe what psychologists have discovered about measuring job satisfaction.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 41
A manager can motivate workers by giving a monetary reward for extra work or good performance. A manager can take money away for poor performance or for not meeting targets.…
Answer this question and get it marked →Design a study using a questionnaire to investigate which type of cognitive limitation/error is the most common in a team of managers.
Answer this question and get it marked →'Setting goals will not motivate employees because need theories explain everything about motivation at work.' To what extent do you agree with this statement? Use examples of…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 42
Explain what is meant by the term 'job involvement'.
Answer this question and get it marked →Design an experiment to investigate which is the more effective way to motivate workers in your organisation, bonuses or performance-related pay.
Answer this question and get it marked →'Job satisfaction can only be assessed effectively using open-ended questions.' To what extent do you agree with this statement? Use examples of research you have studied to…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 43
A manager can motivate workers by giving a monetary reward for extra work or good performance. A manager can take money away for poor performance or for not meeting targets.…
Answer this question and get it marked →Design a study using a questionnaire to investigate which type of cognitive limitation/error is the most common in a team of managers.
Answer this question and get it marked →'Setting goals will not motivate employees because need theories explain everything about motivation at work.' To what extent do you agree with this statement? Use examples of…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 31
Identify two qualities of good followers (Kelley, 1988). [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe what psychologists have discovered about cognitive theories of motivation to work (goal-setting theory, VIE theory, equity theory). [8]
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 32
Identify two ways that workers compare themselves to other workers, according to equity theory (Adams, 1963). [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe what psychologists have discovered about physical and psychological work conditions (the Hawthorne studies, bullying at work, open plan offices). [8]
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 33
Identify two qualities of good followers (Kelley, 1988). [2]
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe what psychologists have discovered about cognitive theories of motivation to work (goal-setting theory, VIE theory, equity theory). [8]
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 41
Give one real-life example of groupthink.
Answer this question and get it marked →Design an experiment to investigate levels of concentration in workers in different types of office design.
Answer this question and get it marked →'All accidents at work are caused by errors in operator-machine systems (system errors); not by other factors, such as human error.' To what extent do you agree with this…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 42
Identify two reasons for sabotage as identified by Giacalone and Rosenfeld.
Answer this question and get it marked →Design a study using a questionnaire to investigate which 'hygiene' and 'motivator' factors (Herzberg, 1959) are most likely to cause job satisfaction/job dissatisfaction.
Answer this question and get it marked →'Scouller's levels of leadership theory is reductionist, as are all leadership theories.' To what extent do you agree with this statement? Use examples of research you have…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 43
Groupthink is what happens when group cohesion causes a group, such as a management team, to make a decision without any critical evaluation. Janis (1971) identifies eight…
Answer this question and get it marked →Design an experiment to investigate levels of concentration in workers in different types of office design.
Answer this question and get it marked →'All accidents at work are caused by errors in operator-machine systems (system errors); not by other factors, such as human error.' To what extent do you agree with this…
Answer this question and get it marked →Other AS & A Level Psychology topics
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