AP Psychology : AP Psychology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #731 : Ap Psychology

Which of the following best describes when “implicit learning” seems to occur?

Possible Answers:

Only when there is awareness or the intention to learn

As the result of rehearsing behavior

As the result of recognizing behavior

Even without awareness or the intention to learn

Correct answer:

Even without awareness or the intention to learn

Explanation:

“Implicit learning” is a type of learning that seems to occur even without awareness or the intention to learn. Although learning has taken place, it may not be able to be verbalized or well articulated. For example, if you have seen and performed a process “by rote” or habit many times, you might have trouble trying to describe exactly how to do it to someone else. You might have to demonstrate it instead of just describing it.

Example Question #732 : Ap Psychology

In order to formally verify that learning has occurred, a scientist would most likely look at which of the following?

Possible Answers:

All of these

Changes to the brain that are readily apparent in magnetic imagery

An individual’s subjective experience of a change in thinking or behavior

Objective (i.e. observable) evidence of a relatively permanent and quantifiable change in behavior

Correct answer:

Objective (i.e. observable) evidence of a relatively permanent and quantifiable change in behavior

Explanation:

Scientific studies of learning tend to rely on objective evidence of a quantifiable and relatively permanent change in behavior. In other words, the result of learning must be capable of being empirically observed and measured. Neuroscience is making huge strides in mapping changes to the brain that occur as a result of learning, but most learning is still not visible through brain imaging. The scientific method does not rely on subjective experiences. 

Example Question #733 : Ap Psychology

Grammatical rules are those consisting of which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Morphemes 

Syntax

Phonemes 

 

Semantics

Correct answer:

Syntax

Explanation:

Grammatical rules are those of "syntax" because they depend almost exclusively on the placement of words and their arrangement in a sentence. Their position relative to each other allows ideas to be expressed in a multitude of different ways. A different arrangement of words in a sentence will produce a different idea. 

Example Question #734 : Ap Psychology

Johnny replicates Pavolv's experiment, except he rings a bell before providing dogs with food; therefore there is no overlap between the sound of the bell and the dish hitting the ground. This is an example of what kind __________ conditioning?

Possible Answers:

delayed

trace 

backward 

spontaneous

simultaneous

Correct answer:

trace 

Explanation:

In this case, the bell's ringing ends before the food is presented; therefore, it would be best described as "trace conditioning." If the bell were still ringing when the food was presented, then this would be described as "delayed conditioning," which has the most powerful response. In "backward conditioning," the unconditioned stimulus is presented before the conditioned stimulus. Also, in "simultaneous conditioning," the unconditioned stimulus and the conditioned stimulus are presented at the same time.

Example Question #1 : Attitude Change And Social Learning

What is the name of the experiment that serves as the empirical demonstration of Albert Bandura's social learning theory?

Possible Answers:

Clark doll experiment

Rag doll experiment

Goo goo doll experiment

Bobo doll experiment

Voodoo doll experiment

Correct answer:

Bobo doll experiment

Explanation:

The Bobo doll experiment serves as a groundbreaking study on aggression and demonstrates that children are able to learn by behavioral observation. 

Example Question #2 : Attitude Change And Social Learning

The type of learning observed by Albert Bandura in the "Bobo Doll Experiment," in which individuals learn and pick up behavior through watching and understanding others, may also be referred to as __________.

Possible Answers:

observational conditioning

observational learning

Pavlov's method

classical conditioning

operant conditioning

Correct answer:

observational learning

Explanation:

In the Bobo doll experiment, children who observed an adult acting agressively towards a blow up "Bobo doll" toy would emulate and mimic that behavior. This supports the social learning theory developed by Bandura.

Example Question #3 : Attitude Change And Social Learning

What are Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences?

Possible Answers:

Linguistic, spatial, musical, physical, analytic, abstract, and practical

Sensory, bodily, creative, logical, argumentative, social, and spiritual

Linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, intrapersonal, interpersonal, and naturalist

Analytic, creative/experimental, visual, intrapersonal, interpersonal, emotional, and practical/contextual 

Emotional, logical, and spatial 

Correct answer:

Linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, intrapersonal, interpersonal, and naturalist

Explanation:

Gardner claimed that a person's intelligence could be measured along these eight parameters: linguistic, logic-mathematical, musical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic. These eight different abilities correspond to three overarching categories of intelligence: the ability to create things of cultural value, problem solving, and the ability to gather knowledge. He informally considers there to be two additional intelligences: existential and pedagogical. 

Many criticize Gardner for his lack of evidence to support his theory, as well as potentially confusing the difference between "intelligence" and "ability." Yet he has inspired many to think about intelligence from a less rigid and more holistic point of view.  

Example Question #4 : Attitude Change And Social Learning

Johnny is suffering from learned helplessness. Because of this, which of the following must Johnny also possess?

Possible Answers:

A maladaptive corpus collosum

Unmet survival needs

A damaged superego

A dsyfunctional cerebral cortex

An external locus of control

Correct answer:

An external locus of control

Explanation:

Learned helplessness occurs when a person believes that they have no power to change their life for the better. Thus, Johnny will also have an external locus of control, defined as believing that fate is controlled by external forces (e.g., luck, other people).

Example Question #1 : Attitude Change And Social Learning

IQ increases by 3 to 4 points every 10 years. This is referred to as what?

Possible Answers:

Stanford-Binet Scale

Asch's Experiment 

The Flynn Effect

Intelligence Quotient

The Strange Situation Test

Correct answer:

The Flynn Effect

Explanation:

The Flynn Effect refers to an increasing IQ average (by about three to four points) every ten years years. The Flynn Effect is a result of today’s advanced healthcare and improved living conditions. Also, increased emphasis on the importance of education in today’s culture has impacted this rising number.  

Example Question #738 : Ap Psychology

Jen struggles with a problem during her math test. After the test, Jen looks up how to do the problem. Later, Jen feels stupid for not remembering how to do such an easy problem during the test.

Jen is experiencing __________.

Possible Answers:

Cognitive dissonance

Delusions of grandeur

Hindsight bias

An availability heuristic

Survivor's guilt

Correct answer:

Hindsight bias

Explanation:

Hindsight bias refers to a person's tendency to overestimate one's past abilities after gaining new information that the person did not have at the time of acting. Jen gets mad at herself after looking up how to solve the math problem because she now knows how to do it and it seems easy to her in that moment, despite the fact that she did not have this information while taking the test.

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