In the new IB Psychology course (first exams 2027), the first two questions in Paper One are SAQs. These are 150-250 word answers that explain a topic and use an example. Previously, supporting examples always had to be studies. Now you have the choice – a study or a real world example. In this post, we’ll look at the same topic but written two different ways. One has a study, one has a real world example.
The first SAQ uses an interesting study on rats in an fMRI. The second shows how McDonalds’ big M (the Golden Arches) outside every restaurant is a clever marketing ploy that uses classical conditioning to sell Happy Meals.
Example 1: Topic + Study
There are multiple benefits to using a study for your example in an SAQ. If you choose the right studies, they can be used for multiple different topics. You also need to explain research concepts in Paper 1 essays, so having studies helps you learn these concepts and use them in exams.
You can read more about the following study on this post or in the Criminology chapter in IB Psychology: A Student’s Guide (2nd Ed.)
| Example SAQ: “Describe classical conditioning using one example to support your answer.” | |
|---|---|
| Classical conditioning is a type of associative learning where someone learns to connect a stimulus with a consequence, and that produces a behaviour. An example of this is fear conditioning which is used in animal studies. | Defining the topic key term and restating the question to start an answer is a simple way to show knowledge. |
| Classical conditioning begins with a neutral stimulus. This is something that doesn’t product a response. Then it’s paired with a unconditioned stimulus – something that produces a naturally occurring, unconditioned response. This is done repeatedly, until the neutral stimulus by itself creates the unconditioned response. When this happens we say the neutral stimulus is now a conditioned stimulus and the response it produces is a conditioned response. | To gain full marks you need to show you know psychology. In SAQs, this means explaining the topic in full using precise terminology. Notice how this answer uses the right terms like neutral stimulus, conditioned response, etc. |
| An example of classical conditioning is fear conditioning. In a study using rats in an fMRI, they had to train the rats to fear a blue light. The blue light is the neutral stimulus. But they flashed the light a few times and then gave the rats an electric shock (the bars of the cage were electrified). The shock is an unconditioned stimulus. They did this repeatedly until the rats learned to fear the blue light because they knew a shock was coming – the blue light had become a conditioned stimulus. The researchers knew the rats had feared the blue light because the fMRI showed their amygdala activated even when there was no shock. | The study uses only relevant details that are necessary to support the answer. In this case, it means focusing on the process of classical conditioning and using key terms. |
| This study shows how the process of classical conditioning can be used in studies to see what parts of the brain are involved in the process. (Approx. 250 words) | A simple one line conclusion rounds out the answer nicely. |
Example 2: Topic + Real World Example
The big M or the “golden arches” outside McDonalds are a great example of how a neutral stimulus can become a conditioned one.
You can read more about the following study in our chapter on “Manipulation” in IB Psychology: A Student’s Guide (2nd Ed.)
The benefit to using real-world examples if you probably find them easier to remember than studies. However, there are some things to be careful about. It’s really important that the example demonstrates the explanation of the topic you’re writing about. If it’s just a story with no link, it won’t score top marks.
If you look at the study above, it can be used for: animal models, animal ethics, classical conditioning, brain imaging and neuroplasticity. The following story about McDonalds is only relevant to classical conditioning.
My advice for exam preparation is pick the example based on the topic. Some you might go for a real world example, others a study.
| Example SAQ: “Describe classical conditioning using one example to support your answer.” | |
|---|---|
| Classical conditioning is a type of associative learning where someone learns to connect a stimulus with a consequence, and that produces a behaviour. An example of this is McDonalds and the Golden Arches. | Be careful – they won’t always ask for an example in the question, so you have to just know you need one. |
| Classical conditioning begins with a neutral stimulus. This is something that doesn’t product a response. Then it’s paired with a unconditioned stimulus – something that produces a naturally occurring, unconditioned response. This is done repeatedly, until the neutral stimulus by itself creates the unconditioned response. When this happens we say the neutral stimulus is now a conditioned stimulus and the response it produces is a conditioned response. | Notice how the topic can be identical. For every SAQ topic you should have a 4-6 sentence explanation ready to go. |
| An example of classical conditioning is McDonalds and the Golden Arches. When a kid first sees the big M sign, it’s a neutral stimulus. It doesn’t produce a response. However, after going to McDonalds a few times and getting a Happy Meal, the kid learns to associate the big arches with getting a toy and yummy junk food. The toy and junk food are unconditioned stimuli – they produce excitement and happiness in kids naturally. So McDonalds have cleverly made their massive arches really visible and put toys in happy meals, so that the arches become a conditioned stimulus – when the kid sees the big arches they get excited because they connect them to getting a toy. In this way, the golden arches have become a conditioned stimulus and the excitement is the conditioned response. | Notice how the answer is not just an anecdotal story of a kid going to McDonalds – it is using the details to explain the key terms in classical conditioning – neutral stimulus, etc. Anecdotal examples for SAQs are relevant when the process can be observed. They might not be relevant for all topics in the course, however. |
| McDonalds is just one example of brands that use classical conditioning to produce automatic responses in their customers. (Approx. 250 words) | You don’t need a conclusion. This answer probably didn’t. If you’re short of time, leave it out. |
Travis Dixon is an IB Psychology teacher, author, workshop leader, examiner and IA moderator.