AP Psychology : AP Psychology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Studying Developmental Psychology

Which of the following was an experiment designed to study depth perception in infants?

Possible Answers:

The visual cliff experiment

The Bobo doll experiment

The Milgram experiment

The Lab Coat experiment

The Prisoner experiment

Correct answer:

The visual cliff experiment

Explanation:

Eleanor Gibson developed the visual cliff apparatus to assess whether infants' depth perception was an innate or learned ability. Her results indicated that infants could perceive depth using visual clues even before they were able to crawl (around 6 months).

The Milgram experiment studied obedience to authority figures and conscience, and the Lab Coat experiment is a common alternate name for the Milgram experiment. The Prisoner experiment studied the psychological effects of being both a prisoner and prison guard. The Bobo doll experiment was the collective name for a series of experiments investigating childhood behavior modeling.

Example Question #2 : Studying Developmental Psychology

Which research design observes the same participants over a long period of time?

Possible Answers:

Cross-sectional

Longitudinal 

Catatonic

Quasi-experimental

Correlational

Correct answer:

Longitudinal 

Explanation:

The longitudinal research design is popular in developmental psychology research because it allows the researcher to observe the same participants over a long period of time. For example, a longitudinal research study could look at how exposure to toxic chemicals in infancy impacts subjects many years later (in childhood, adolescence, and beyond!).

Example Question #3 : Studying Developmental Psychology

Which of the following are major issues associated with studying developmental psychology?

I. Nature and nurture
II. Adaptations
III. Continuity and stages
IV. Natural selection
V. Stability and change

Possible Answers:

I and II

I, III, and IV

III and V

IV only

I, III, and V

Correct answer:

I, III, and V

Explanation:

Developmental psychology looks at the physical, cognitive, and social development that occurs throughout a lifespan. In doing so, developmental psychologists are faced with three engaging issues: nature and nurture, continuity and stages, and stability and change. Nature and nurture is a focus that examines how our biology interacts with our environment and experiences to influence our development. Continuity and stages examines which parts of development are gradual and which are clearly divided by stages via distinct changes. Stability and change looks at which traits persist throughout a lifespan versus those that change (e.g.. temperament and personality has been observed to become more stable as one gets older as opposed to social attitudes, which do not). The other options are incorrect because they are related to Darwin's theory of natural selection.

Example Question #3 : Studying Developmental Psychology

Dr. Smith is conducting research on toddlers’ interactions with their peers. She believes that the best way to conduct this research is in a day care, not a lab. This is an example of which of the following kinds of research? 

Possible Answers:

Quasi-experimental 

Experimental 

Naturalistic observation

Correlational research

Correct answer:

Naturalistic observation

Explanation:

Naturalistic observation is research done in the natural environment of the subjects instead of the field. There is no manipulation of variables in this type of observation.

Example Question #4 : Studying Developmental Psychology

Which of the following methods is not commonly used in developmental psychological research?

Possible Answers:

Cross-sectional experiments

Individual case studies

Observational research

Correlational studies

Longitudinal experiments

Correct answer:

Individual case studies

Explanation:

Individual case studies are not particularly common in developmental psychology research because the field of developmental psychology seeks to explain typical developmental trajectories among larger groups of people. Case studies are more common in clinical psychological research, in which psychologists will discuss unique cases and how they treated them. 

Example Question #11 : Developmental Psychology

Which of the following is not one of the four stages of Martin Hoffman's theory of empathy development?

Possible Answers:

Comprehensive Empathy

Person Permanence

Theory of Mind

Global Distress Reaction

Role Taking

Correct answer:

Theory of Mind

Explanation:

Theory of Mind refers to a person's general understanding that the people around them each have their own unique beliefs, perceptions, and desires. The other four answers are specifically the four stages of Hoffman's Theory (in order: Global Distress Reaction, Person Permanence, Role Taking, and Comprehensive Empathy).

Example Question #751 : Ap Psychology

"Preconventional" is a stage in __________ theory of __________ development. 

Possible Answers:

Abraham Maslow's . . .  hierarchial needs

Sigmund Freud's . . .  psychosexual

Jean Piaget's . . .  cognitive

Carl Jung's . . .  ego and self

Lawrence Kohlberg's . . .  moral

Correct answer:

Lawrence Kohlberg's . . .  moral

Explanation:

"Preconventional" is an early stage of moral development that describes the stage at which decisions are made purely based on "reward and punishment", as opposed to "ethics and morals." Lawrence Kohlberg proposed a theory of moral development that centered on three primary stages: preconventional, conventional, and postconventional. Each of these major stages has two subdivisions. The preconventional stage focuses on reward and punishment, and is relatively oriented around the self. The conventional stsge begins to introduce social norms and morals, while the postconventional stage focuses on social contracts and ethics.

Example Question #12 : Developmental Psychology

Which one of these concepts is not a part of Maslow's hierarchy of needs? 

Possible Answers:

Safety

Motivation 

Food 

Love 

Self-actualization 

Correct answer:

Motivation 

Explanation:

Motivation is not included among the list of human needs according to Maslow. Maslow identified five levels in his hierarchy: physiological, safety, love, esteem, and self-actualization.

Example Question #11 : Developmental Psychology

Which one of these stages is not a part of Freud's theory of psychosexual development? 

Possible Answers:

Anal stage 

Latency stage

Genital stage 

Sensorimotor stage

Oral stage

Correct answer:

Sensorimotor stage

Explanation:

Freud posited that there are five stages of psychosexual development: oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital.

The sensorimotor stage of development comes from Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development.

Example Question #4 : Theories Of Psychological Development

According to Erik Erikson, which psychosocial conflict occurs in infancy?

Possible Answers:

Trust v. Mistrust

Integrity v. Despair

Walking v. Crawling

Generativity v. Stagnation

Intimacy v. Isolation

Correct answer:

Trust v. Mistrust

Explanation:

Erik Erikson believes that each age group has to deal with a psychosocial conflict in order to successfully develop. In infancy, infants wonder if they can trust the people around them. If an infant successfully develops trust, he or she will feel safe in the world.

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