Jinal wants to find out about recreational drug use and early childhood experiences - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 8 - 2022 - Paper 1

Jinal could utilize correlational research to examine the relationship between nicotine use and negative childhood experiences. This method measures the extent to which two variables are related.

1. Measuring Variables: Jinal would collect data on nicotine use, which could be quantified through self-reporting usage habits, such as the number of cigarettes smoked or the frequency of vaping. Additionally, she would measure negative life experiences through a questionnaire designed to assess various childhood experiences.

2. Scatter Diagram: Once data is collected, she could plot it on a scatter diagram, where one axis represents negative life experiences, and the other axis represents nicotine use. By doing this, she can visualize whether there is a positive or negative correlation between the two variables.

3. Correlation Strength: Jinal should calculate the correlation coefficient to determine the strength of the relationship. A strong positive correlation would suggest that as negative experiences increase, so does nicotine use, whereas a weak correlation might indicate little relationship.

4. Further Investigation: If a correlation is found, Jinal could extend her research by considering additional factors that may influence nicotine use, potentially leading to a more comprehensive understanding of how early life experiences impact substance use.