MPC

MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMME

IN PSYCHOLOGY

Assignments

(For M.A Ist Year Courses)

For July 2010 and January 2011 Sessions

School of Social Sciences

Indira Gandhi National Open University
Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068
 OPTIONAL COURSES: M.A. Ist Year (Psychology)
Dear Student,

Starting this academic session, you will have to do only one Tutor Marked Assignment for each of the
courses in the Master’s Degree Programme in Psychology. Each assignment has 10 questions which have
to be answered.
Before you attempt the assignments, please read the instructions carefully provided in the Programme
Guide. It is important that you write the answers to all the TMA questions in your own words. Your
answers should be within the approximate range of the word-limit set for a particular section. Remember,
writing answers to assignment questions will improve your writing skills and prepare you for the term-
end examination.

Submission:
You need to submit all the assignments within the stipulated time for being eligible to appear in the term-
end examination. The completed assignments should be submitted as per the following schedule.

Session Last Date of Submission To be Sent

For July, 2010 Session March 31, 2011 To
The Coordinator of the
For January, 2011 Session September 30, 2011 Study Centre allotted to
you

Please obtain a receipt from the Study Centre for the assignments submitted and retain it. If possible, keep
a Xerox copy of the assignments with you.
The Study Centre will return the assignments to you after they are evaluated. Please insist on this. The
Study Centre has to send the marks to the S.E Division at IGNOU, New Delhi.

GUIDELINES FOR DOING ASSIGNMENTS

We expect you to answer each question as per guidelines mentioned in the assignment. You will find it
useful to keep the following points in mind:
1) Planning: Read the assignments carefully, go through the Units on which they are based. Make
some points regarding each question and then rearrange them in a logical order.
2) Organisation: Be a little selective and analytic before drawing up a rough outline of your
answer. Give adequate attention to your introduction and conclusion.
Make sure that your answer:
a) is logical and coherent;
b) has clear connections between sentences and paragraphs, and
c) is written correctly giving adequate consideration to your expression, style and presentation.
3) Presentation: Once you are satisfied with your answer, you can write down the final version for
submission, writing each answer neatly and underlining the points you wish to emphasize. Make
sure that the answer is within the stipulated word limit.
Wishing you all the best,

2
 Cognitive Psychology, Learning and Memory (MPC-001)
TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT
(TMA)
Course Code: MPC-001
Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2010-11
Marks: 100

Note: You are required to attempt all questions. Each Question carries 10 marks.

1. Explain the different models of the information processing

10

2. What do you understand by the term ‘cognitive psychology’? Explain its importance
and relevance in the processing of information 5+5=10

3. In context to the theories of intelligence, describe the G & S factor theory as well as
JP Das model of intelligence. 10

4. How can you measure intelligence? Point out the different categories of individuals
on the basis of different level of intelligence and IQ. 5+5=10

5. Briefly explain the theories of multiple intelligence given by Gulford, Gardener aswell
as Steinberg. 10

6. How is creativity relevant for an individual? Explain the different steps of creativity.
5+5=10

7. What are the different strategies of problem solving and decision making?
10
8. Explain the different language and speech disorders 10
9. Describe the various theoretical approaches explaining the concept and processes
involved in problem solving
10

10. Describe the cognitive theory, with reference to the process of language acquisition. 10

3
 Lifespan Psychology (MPC-002)
TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT
(TMA)
Course Code: MPC-002
Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2010-11
Marks: 100

Note: You are required to attempt all questions. Each Question carries 10 marks.

1. Discuss the methods of studying development. State the main characteristics of

development. 10

2. a) Explain the impact of schooling on development. 5+5=10

b) Suggest some remedial measures for problems during early school years.

3. Describe briefly the various socio-emotional changes during adolescence.

10

4. Give a comparative account of the various cognitive changes in infancy, early

childhood, and late childhood.
10

5. Discuss the interplay of genetics and environment on prenatal development.

10

6. What are the main challenges of old age?

10

7. Distinguish between growth and development. Trace the growth of development

during school years.
10

8. What is mid-age crisis? Support your answers with relevant examples.

10

9. Discuss critically the developmental features in adolescence.

10

10. Explain the significant cognitive changes occurring during early adulthood,
middle-age, and old-age.
10
4
 Personality: Theories and Assessment (MPC-003)
TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT
(TMA)
Course Code: MPC-003
Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2010-11
Marks: 100

Note: You are required to attempt all questions. Each Question carries 10 marks.

1. What is trait approach to personality? How is it different from type approach?

10

2. a) How is Five-Factor Model of Personality different from other trait theories? 5

b) Discuss briefly the main observational methods used in personality assessment.

What problems does the researcher face while using such methods?
5

3. Explain briefly the main merits and demerits of Case History method.
10

4. Discuss the points of difference of Neo-Freudians from Freud.

10

5. What are the main characteristics of a mature personality?

10

6. What is the main proposition of humanistic approach to personality? Describe

the main characteristics of a self-actualized person.
10
7. Discuss critically two of the well-known projective techniques.
10

8. Explain the effect of social desirability and acquiescence in self-report measures.

How will this affect measurement?
10

5
9. Critically discuss fully-functioning person.
10

10. Put forward behavioral approach and psychodynamic approach to the study of
personality.
10

Advanced Social Psychology (MPC-004)

TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT
(TMA)
Course Code: MPC-004
Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2010-11
Marks: 100

Note: Answer any 10 questions from the following. All the questions carry equal marks.

1. “A revolution got under way favoring the concept of human behavior as thoughtful
and purposive rather than guided by instincts.” In the light of the statement
explain the developments in the field of social psychology.
10

2. a) What is an experiment? Differentiate between laboratory experiment and quasi

experiment.
5
b) What is meta-analysis? What is the importance of meta-analysis in social
psychological research?
5

3. Why do people behave aggressively as they do, evaluate critically?

10
4. a) Define group and discuss the importance of group. Elucidate the different types
of groups, their roles and functions.
5

6
 b) Describe in detail the Asch’s study on conformity.
5

5. Define the terms crowd mob, audience and mass society. Discuss these in the context of
social processes such as Cooperation, Competition and Conflict.
10

6. Define pro-social behaviour. Critically evaluate the theories of pro-social behaviour. 10

7. What do you mean by the term group dynamics? Discuss critically the covariation
principle proposed by Harold Kelly.
10

8. What do you understand by the term attitude? Discuss in detail how attitudes
are formed and maintained. Discuss the process of attitude change.
10

9. Discuss the psychological factors that give rise to prejudice and discrimination.
How do stereotypes contribute to prejudice? 10

10. Define social conflict and describe various forms of social conflict in detail.
Discuss the social conflicts prevalent in India and suggest approaches for resolution. 10

Research Methods (MPC-005)

TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT
TMA
Course Code: MPC-005
Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2010-11
Marks: 100

You are required to attempt all questions. Each Question carries 10 marks.

1. Define the concept of hypothesis. What is the relevance of formulating hypothesis

and sampling in research methodology?
10

2. What are the different methods and types of survey research?

10

3. How can you say that ex post facto research is a different type of research methodology?
Point out the characteristics, relevance and importance of expost facto research.
10

7
 4. Briefly describe the concept, meaning, importance and types of ‘quasi experimental
design’.
10

5. What do you understand by the term "discourse analysis" ? Explain different assumptions,
theories and approaches of discourse analysis.
10

6. Justify that the discourse analysis is a systematic process. Give your answer with respect
to the steps followed in discourse analysis.
10

7. Differentiate between qualitative and quantitative research. Do you think that qualitative
research is advantageous over quantitative research? Give reasons.
10

8. Elaborate the different types of qualitative research.

10

9. What do you understand by the term ‘ethnography’? Describe its types and assumptions.
10

10. Explain the concept, importance and relevance of analyzing, evaluating and reporting
of information in the process of research methodology.
10

Statistics in Psychology (MPC-006)

TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT
TMA
Course Code: MPC-006
Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2010-11
Marks: 100

Note: Attempt all the questions. Each question carries 10 marks.

8
1. What do you mean by parametric statistics? What are the basic assumptions of parametric
statistics and why are they essential? Discuss with suitable examples.
10

2. Distingnish between parametric and nonparametric statistics. Why the parametric

statistics are considered more powerful than the nonparametric statistics. Explain.
10

3. What is statistical error? Explain Type I Error and Type II error with suitable example. 10

4. Distinguish between Partial and multiple correlation. If r12 =0.70, r13=0.54 and r23=0.68,
find the value of r1.23 and r2.13 10

5. If two regression lines are expressed as x+2y-5=0 and 2x=3y-8=0

10
(i) Which of the two can be called regression of y on x and of x on y
(ii) Find x and y and correlation coefficient between x and y

6. What is normal distribution? Explain clearly the role of normal distribution in statistical
analyses.
10

7. The following table gives hypothetical scores of students of three different SES
conditions from 4 different schools.
10

SES Conditions

Low Moderate High

I 15 20 15
Schools II 15 10 25

II 6 14 16

IV 8 17 15

Compute out analysis of variance to examine whether there is significant difference in

scores (i) due to their Socio Economic conditions or (ii) due to the school conditions.
Also find out whether there is an interaction between SES conditions and school factors

8. Chi-sauare is a test of "Independence, homogenity and goodness of fit" Explain.

10
9. Discuss the importance of Mann - Whitney 'U' test. Find the 'U' value for the scores of the
following two groups.
10
9
 Exp. Group: 16, 5, 9, 10
Control Group: 12, 7, 10, 12, 17

10. Performance scores of three matched group of employees under three different conditions
are given in the table below. Apply Kruskal-Wallis "H" test and interpret the results 10

Conditions

Employee Favourable Unfavourable Normal

1. 20 12 17
2. 19 14 15
3. 26 07 16
4. 27 14 14
5. 30 18 13
6. 25 10 12

10