BPCS 188 June 2026 solved paper key facts
- Course code: BPCS 188 (printed as BPCS-188)
- Subject: Applications of Social Psychology (some IGNOU papers print Application of Social Psychology)
- Programme: IGNOU Bachelor's Degree Programme: BAG, BSCG and BCOMG (skill enhancement course); BAPCH
- Credits: 4 (IGNOU BPCS 188 assignment 2025-26)
- Blocks and units: 2 blocks, 16 units (Units 1 to 7 in Block 1, Units 8 to 16 in Block 2)
- Maximum marks: 50
- Duration: 2 hours
- Questions in the June 2026 paper: 8 (answer any 5, at least 2 from each section; Q4 and Q8 have two short notes each)
- Sample answers shown here: 2 (Q1 and Q2)
- Questions in the paid file: All 8 questions, including the 6 not answered on this page
What the BPCS 188 Solved Question Paper June 2026 covers
BPCS 188 Solved Question Paper June 2026 is the fully answered version of IGNOU's June 2026 term-end paper for BPCS 188 Applications of Social Psychology, a 4-credit skill enhancement course in the BAG, BSCG and BCOMG programmes.
The paper you will face asks about the nature and scope of the subject, survey research, social learning theory, attitude formation, intervention design, group think and two sets of short notes. Our file answers every one of those 8 questions in the length the examiner expects, so you see what a full-marks answer looks like before you sit the exam.
Earlier IGNOU papers, such as December 2024, print the title as BPCS 188 Application of Social Psychology, in the singular, but it is the same course and the same code. You only need one solved file for it, whichever title your hall ticket shows.
If you are collecting papers for the rest of your degree, our BAG Question Paper collection lists the other courses you are likely to be studying alongside this one.
BPCS 188 sample answers from the June 2026 paper
Below are 2 complete answers from the June 2026 paper, Q1 and Q2, exactly as they appear in our file; the other 6 questions follow as question text only.
These two answers were written by our team for this page and the file. Read them to judge the depth, layout and language before you ask for the full set.
Q1. Discuss the nature and scope of social psychology. (10 marks)
Q1. Discuss the nature and scope of social psychology. (10 marks)
Answer
Social psychology is the scientific study of how a person's thoughts, feelings and behaviour are shaped by the actual, imagined or implied presence of other people. This is how Gordon Allport defined the field. Robert Baron and Donn Byrne similarly describe it as the field that seeks to understand the nature and causes of individual behaviour and thought in social situations.
Nature of social psychology
- A scientific discipline: it relies on experiments, surveys, observation and field studies, and tests hypotheses instead of relying on common sense.
- Focus on the individual in a social setting: the unit of study is the person, always seen as influenced by other people, groups and culture. This separates it from sociology, which takes the group or society as its unit.
- Interdisciplinary: it draws on general psychology, sociology and anthropology and shares many methods with them.
- Empirical and cumulative: findings are checked through replication. Norman Triplett's 1898 study, in which cyclists rode faster in company than alone, is often cited as the first social psychology experiment.
- Both basic and applied: it builds theory, for example on attitudes or conformity, and then uses that theory to solve practical problems.
Scope of social psychology
- Social cognition and perception: how we form impressions, explain other people's behaviour through attributions and use schemas.
- Attitudes and persuasion: how attitudes form and change and how far they predict behaviour.
- Social influence: conformity, compliance and obedience.
- Interpersonal relations: attraction, close relationships, helping behaviour and aggression.
- Group processes: group dynamics, leadership, decision making, intergroup relations and prejudice.
- Applied areas: health, mental health, education, the workplace, community, environment, law and sports.
Conclusion: Social psychology is a scientific, individual-centred and interdisciplinary field whose scope runs from everyday perception to large social problems. Its growing applied side is the reason IGNOU teaches it through a separate course on applications.
Q2. What is survey research ? Explain the methods used in collecting data through survey research. (2+8 marks)
Q2. What is survey research ? Explain the methods used in collecting data through survey research. (2+8 marks)
Answer
What is survey research (2 marks)
Survey research is a descriptive method in which data are collected from a sample of respondents through a standard set of questions. It describes their attitudes, opinions, beliefs or behaviour and, when the sample is well chosen, lets the researcher generalise to a larger population. Applied social psychologists use it to study public opinion, health habits and community needs.
Methods of collecting data in survey research (8 marks)
- Personal (face-to-face) interview: the interviewer asks the questions directly and records the answers. Response rates are high and doubts can be cleared on the spot, but the method is slow, costly and open to interviewer bias and socially desirable answers.
- Telephone interview: questions are asked over the phone. It is quicker and cheaper and reaches people who live far apart, but calls must be short, refusals are common and people without phones are left out.
- Mail (postal) questionnaire: a printed questionnaire is posted with a covering letter and a return envelope. It is cheap, covers wide areas and keeps respondents anonymous, which helps on sensitive topics, but response rates are often low and only literate people can take part.
- Online (web) survey: the questionnaire is shared by e-mail, a link or a survey platform. Data arrive fast and are coded automatically, but the sample is limited to internet users and may not represent the population.
- Group-administered questionnaire: people who are already together, such as a class or a staff team, fill in the questionnaire at the same time under supervision. It saves time and allows clarification, but depends on access to such groups.
Surveys can also be cross-sectional, collecting data once from different groups, or longitudinal, following a trend, a cohort or the same panel of people over time.
Conclusion: The right method depends on the budget, the population, how sensitive the topic is and the response rate needed. Whichever method is used, careful sampling and clear, pre-tested questions decide how far the results can be trusted.
Questions answered only in the full file
- Q3. Elaborate upon the social learning theory. (10 marks)
- Q4. Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each : (a) Differences between experimental research and field experiment (b) Differences between field study and field experiment (5+5 marks)
- Q5. Discuss attitude formation. (10 marks)
- Q6. Explain the steps of intervention design and delivery. (10 marks)
- Q7. Describe the group think theory. (10 marks)
- Q8. Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each : (a) Diagnosis of mental health problems (b) Teacher and student interaction (5+5 marks)
Between them, these 6 questions cover social learning theory, two field-research contrasts, attitude formation, intervention steps, group think theory and two Section B short notes. That is most of the paper, and every answer is in the full file.
BPCS 188 Applications of Social Psychology syllabus by block and unit
BPCS 188 is studied in 2 blocks: Block 1 builds the foundations, methods, theories and intervention skills, and Block 2 applies them to nine real settings from health to sports.
The table below links each unit to topics IGNOU has actually examined in BPCS 188 papers and assignments, so you can see what each unit is tested on. Units are numbered 1 to 16 across the two blocks, as in the official course material.
| Block | Unit | Topics examined from this unit |
|---|---|---|
| Block 1: Introduction to Applied Social Psychology | Unit 1: Introduction to Applied Social Psychology-I | Definition of applied social psychology, its historical development, nature and scope |
| Block 1: Introduction to Applied Social Psychology | Unit 2: Introduction to Applied Social Psychology-II | Roles and functions of applied social psychologists, basic vs applied work, links with other social sciences |
| Block 1: Introduction to Applied Social Psychology | Units 3 and 4: Research Methods in Applied Social Psychology I and II | Survey and archival research, field study vs field experiment, probability and non-probability sampling |
| Block 1: Introduction to Applied Social Psychology | Unit 5: Theories of Social Psychology | Social learning theory, cognitive dissonance theory, group think and anomie theory |
| Block 1: Introduction to Applied Social Psychology | Unit 6: Knowledge and Application of Social Psychology | Attitude formation, attitude vs opinion vs belief, group and group processes |
| Block 1: Introduction to Applied Social Psychology | Unit 7: Intervention and Evaluation | Meaning and types of intervention, steps of design and delivery, types of evaluation |
| Block 2: Areas of Application of Social Psychology | Unit 8: Application to Social Problems | Social problems with reference to India, criminal behaviour |
| Block 2: Areas of Application of Social Psychology | Unit 9: Application to Health and Well-being | Engel's biopsychosocial model, health belief model and its limits, stress and social support |
| Block 2: Areas of Application of Social Psychology | Units 10 and 11: Application to Mental Health I and II | Symptoms and diagnosis, psychological tests for assessment, treatment and prevention |
| Block 2: Areas of Application of Social Psychology | Unit 12: Application to Education and Classroom | Teacher and student interaction, inter and intrapersonal processes, violence in schools |
| Block 2: Areas of Application of Social Psychology | Unit 13: Application to Community | Community settings as a site for social psychological action |
| Block 2: Areas of Application of Social Psychology | Unit 14: Application to Environment | Effect of human behaviour on the environment |
| Block 2: Areas of Application of Social Psychology | Unit 15: Application in Work Setting | Employee engagement and motivation at work |
| Block 2: Areas of Application of Social Psychology | Unit 16: Application to Sports | Coach and athlete relationship, team dynamics and team building |
The official course material is on eGyanKosh, the official IGNOU BPCS 188 course page, where each block can be downloaded as a PDF.
If you want block-wise notes to revise before the exam, our BPCS 188 Study Material follows the same two-block order shown above.
BPCS 188 paper pattern and marks split
The BPCS 188 question paper is a 2-hour, 50-mark test in which you answer any 5 of 8 questions, at least 2 from each section.
Every question carries 10 marks, but not every question is one long essay. In June 2026, Q2 was split 2+8 and Q4 and Q8 were each two short notes of 5 marks. Plan your five picks around the parts you can write fully.
| Part | Questions | Marks | Expected length | What it tests in June 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section A long answers | Q1 to Q3 | 10 each (Q2 split 2+8) | About 300 words | Foundations, survey research and one theory |
| Section A short notes | Q4 (a) and (b) | 5+5 | About 150 words per note | Two research-design contrasts |
| Section B long answers | Q5 to Q7 | 10 each | About 300 words | Attitude, intervention and group think |
| Section B short notes | Q8 (a) and (b) | 5+5 | About 150 words per note | Mental health diagnosis and the classroom |
| Choice rule | Any 5 of 8 | 5 x 10 = 50 | 2 hours in total | At least 2 questions from each section |
To see how this pattern has held across earlier sessions, open our IGNOU Previous Year Question Paper section and compare the BPCS 188 papers side by side.
BPCS 188 topics IGNOU keeps repeating
Sampling, the contributions of applied social psychology and mental health each appeared 5 times in the 8 official BPCS 188 papers from June 2022 to December 2025.
We counted topics in every IGNOU BPCS 188 question paper published for the June 2022, December 2022, June 2023, December 2023, June 2024, December 2024, June 2025 and December 2025 sessions. The last column shows how June 2026 used, or skipped, each topic.
| Topic | Sessions asked | Times asked | June 2026 link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sampling techniques (characteristics, probability, non-probability) | Jun 2022, Jun 2024, Dec 2024, Jun 2025, Dec 2025 | 5 | Not asked; strong pick for December 2026 |
| Contributions and historical development of applied social psychology | Dec 2022, Jun 2024, Dec 2024, Jun 2025, Dec 2025 | 5 | Not asked; overdue after 5 appearances |
| Mental health: diagnosis, tests, treatment and prevention | Dec 2022, Jun 2023, Dec 2023, Jun 2024, Dec 2024 | 5 | Asked again as Q8 (a) |
| Roles and functions of applied social psychologists | Jun 2023, Dec 2023, Dec 2024, Dec 2025 | 4 | Skipped in June 2026 |
| Attitude: types, functions, structure, formation | Jun 2023, Dec 2023, Jun 2024, Dec 2025 | 4 | Asked again as Q5 |
| Attitude vs opinion vs belief | Jun 2022, Dec 2023, Jun 2025, Dec 2025 | 4 | Absent, though Q5 sits close |
| Cognitive dissonance theory | Jun 2023, Dec 2023, Jun 2025, Dec 2025 | 4 | Missing this time |
| Group and group processes | Jun 2022, Dec 2022, Jun 2023, Dec 2025 | 4 | Linked to Q7 on group think |
| Biopsychosocial model | Jun 2022, Jun 2024, Dec 2024, Dec 2025 | 4 | Left out in June 2026 |
| Field study vs field experiment | Dec 2022, Dec 2024, Jun 2025 | 3 | Asked again as Q4 (b) |
| Intervention: types, steps, evaluation | Dec 2022, Jun 2023, Dec 2023 | 3 | Returned as Q6 after a gap |
| Social problems with reference to India | Jun 2022, Jun 2023, Dec 2023 | 3 | Quiet since December 2023 |
| Social learning theory | Jun 2024, Dec 2024 | 2 | Asked again as Q3 |
| Nature and scope of social psychology | Jun 2022, Jun 2025 | 2 | Asked again as Q1 |
| Classroom and inter or intrapersonal processes | Dec 2022, Dec 2023 | 2 | Came back as Q8 (b) |
| Group think theory | Dec 2024 | 1 | Full question as Q7 |
All eight June 2026 questions drew on topics IGNOU had asked before. Group think theory was the rarest, having appeared only once, as half of a December 2024 question on two theories.
For a wider list across courses, see our IGNOU Important Questions page, which we build with the same count-the-sessions method.
How our BPCS 188 answers are written and checked
Each IGNOU BPCS 188 Solved Question Paper answer is written from the course book, sized to the word limit printed on the paper and then checked by a second reviewer.
Prateek Talwar's team first maps each question to its unit. Q2, for example, sits in the research methods units, so its answer uses the same survey methods the course book teaches instead of a general research textbook.
Answers are kept to about 300 words for full questions and about 150 words per short note, because that is what the BPCS 188 paper asks. Contrast questions like Q4 are written point against point, so an examiner can tick each difference quickly.
Sheetal Kirola then reviews every answer for accuracy, theorist names and dates, and simple language. Anything that cannot be traced to the course material or a standard source is removed before the file is shared.
BPCS 188 June 2026 solved file index
Of the 8 questions in the June 2026 BPCS 188 paper, Q1 and Q2 are answered on this page and the other 6 are answered in the full file only.
BPCS 188 is a theory course with no practical record, so this index shows each question, the block it comes from and where you can read its answer.
| Question | Topic | Course block and unit | Where the answer is |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nature and scope of social psychology | Block 1, Unit 1 (Introduction to Applied Social Psychology-I) | On this page |
| 2 | Survey research and its data collection methods | Block 1, Units 3 and 4 (Research Methods) | On this page |
| 3 | Social learning theory | Block 1, Unit 5 (Theories of Social Psychology) | Full file only |
| 4 | Experimental research vs field experiment; field study vs field experiment | Block 1, Units 3 and 4 (Research Methods) | Full file only |
| 5 | Attitude formation | Block 1 | Full file only |
| 6 | Steps of intervention design and delivery | Block 1, Unit 7 (Intervention and Evaluation) | Full file only |
| 7 | Group think theory | Block 1, Unit 5 (Theories of Social Psychology) | Full file only |
| 8 | Diagnosis of mental health problems; teacher and student interaction | Block 2, Units 10 and 11 (Mental Health) and Unit 12 (Education and Classroom) | Full file only |
Programmes that study BPCS 188 Applications of Social Psychology
BPCS 188 is a 4-credit skill enhancement course that IGNOU sets as one common paper for the BAG, BSCG and BCOMG programmes.
IGNOU files the BPCS 188 papers in a single folder for these three programmes, so a learner in the IGNOU Bachelor of Arts (General) sits exactly the same paper as a B.Sc. (General) or B.Com (General) learner.
- Bachelor of Arts (General), BAG
- Bachelor of Science (General), BSCG
- Bachelor of Commerce (General), BCOMG
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Psychology, BAPCH
Because the course is offered by the psychology faculty to non-psychology students too, the answers in our file explain terms like field experiment or intervention from the ground up.
How to get the full BPCS 188 Solved Question Paper on WhatsApp
Message WhatsApp 9899436384 to get the full file with all 8 BPCS 188 June 2026 questions answered, including the 6 not shown here.
Counting the two short notes each in Q4 and Q8, the file gives you 10 written answers. Send the course code and session in your message so we can share the right file without delay.
BPCS 188 Applications of Social Psychology FAQs
These are the questions BPCS 188 students ask us most often before the term-end exam.
Is the BPCS 188 Solved Question Paper June 2026 based on the official IGNOU paper?
Yes. Every question in our file is taken word for word from the official IGNOU June 2026 term-end paper for BPCS 188 Applications of Social Psychology. Our subject experts then wrote full answers to each one, kept them to the 300-word and 150-word lengths the paper asks for, and had them reviewed by Sheetal Kirola before the file was released to students.
How do I get all BPCS 188 June 2026 answers on WhatsApp?
Send a message to WhatsApp 9899436384 and ask for the BPCS 188 June 2026 solved paper. The full file answers all 8 questions in the paper, which means the 2 shown on this page plus the 6 that are listed here as question text only. Because Q4 and Q8 each have two short notes, you receive 10 written answers in total.
Which BPCS 188 answers can I read on this page?
You can read two complete answers here: Q1 on the nature and scope of social psychology and Q2 on survey research and its methods of data collection. They show the depth, structure and plain language of the whole file. The remaining 6 questions of the BPCS 188 paper are listed as printed, and their answers sit only in the full file.
How is the BPCS 188 Applications of Social Psychology exam marked?
The BPCS 188 term-end paper carries 50 marks and lasts 2 hours. It has two sections of four questions each, and you answer any five, with at least two from each section. Every question carries 10 marks, written in about 300 words, while the short-note questions split into two notes of 5 marks and about 150 words each.
Which BPCS 188 topics repeat most often in IGNOU papers?
Across the 8 official BPCS 188 papers from June 2022 to December 2025, sampling techniques, the contributions of applied social psychology and mental health diagnosis or treatment each appeared five times. Attitude, cognitive dissonance, group processes, the biopsychosocial model and the roles of applied social psychologists each appeared four times. The table on this page lists every session we checked.
Which programmes include BPCS 188 Applications of Social Psychology?
IGNOU files the BPCS 188 papers under its BAG, BCOMG and BSCG Bachelor's Degree Programme, where the course is a 4-credit skill enhancement course taught by the psychology faculty. Students in BA (General), B.Sc. (General) and B.Com (General) therefore sit the same paper. Learners in other streams should check their own programme guide before choosing it.
How long should BPCS 188 answers be in the term-end exam?
Write about 300 words for each full BPCS 188 question and about 150 words for each part of a short-note question, as the paper itself instructs. With five answers in two hours, that leaves roughly 20 to 24 minutes per question. Our solved answers follow these lengths, so you can practise writing them in the time you actually get.
Does BPCS 188 Applications of Social Psychology have a practical file?
No. BPCS 188 is a theory course, so there is no practical record or lab file to submit. Your marks come from the assignment and the 50-mark term-end paper. That is why this page gives a solved file index instead, showing every June 2026 question, the block it comes from and whether its answer is on this page or in the full file.