Unit 1 AP Psych, Unit One: AP Psychology
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Hindsight bias - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: thinking events to be more predictable than
they were before the answer was revealed.
Example: "I knew she was going to die at the end of this movie!"
critical thinking - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Not going with the easiest answer, but
examining how the answer was found. Looking for variables, different sources of evidence, etc.
Example: Not believing everything you see on the internet. When there is a heading, "Polar bears will be
extinct in 2 years!" we need to find the evidence to support that.
theory - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: A proposal that's been backed up by research.
Example: Big Bang Theory
hypothesis - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: prediction that can be tested
Example: Teenage males are, on average, taller than teenage females.
hypothesis testing - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Creating an experiment to test the
testable prediction
Example: To test dogs' favorite food brand, have a single dog with no previous association to the brands
tested in a room with two or three bowls for the different kinds of brands. Which do they eat?
operational definition - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Specific definitions of the variable
being tested so it is both measurable and manageable
Example: Happiness (how many times participants smile)
replication - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: To do another experiment to see if you get the
same results. This will either hurt or strengthen the theory.
, Example: Mr. Rogers did an experiment at Southwestern University. With the same control groups and
variables but different participants, Mrs. Shinge mimics the experiment at Northwest University.
case study - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Deeply involved examination of people or
situations with unique behavioral/mental processes.
Example: Patient H.M.
survey - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Set of questions given to a representative sample of
the population to reflect on their attitudes, opinions, and behaviors. You can receive a lot of information in
a short amount of time, but people might not be honest.
Example: Youth Risk Behavior Survey
population - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Who you want to be able to draw conclusions
about.
Example: If a survey is given to a group of GVHS teachers, it is to be applied to the rest of GVHS
teachers.
random sample - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Sample that is representative of the
general population to be able to generalize findings.
Example: Instead of picking only English teachers to survey, you want to have teachers from all subjects.
That way the findings can be true for the whole school (and beyond).
naturalistic observation - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Observing and collecting data on
behavior in natural situations. You are not trying to manipulate or control.
Example: Dian Fossey and mountain gorillas (see picture)
correlation - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Finding a relationship between two variables
Example: The more gas in your tank, the more miles you can drive.
correlation coefficient - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Number that shows the strength of
the correlation; from -1 to 1. The sign doesn't deal with the strength of the correlation.
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Hindsight bias - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: thinking events to be more predictable than
they were before the answer was revealed.
Example: "I knew she was going to die at the end of this movie!"
critical thinking - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Not going with the easiest answer, but
examining how the answer was found. Looking for variables, different sources of evidence, etc.
Example: Not believing everything you see on the internet. When there is a heading, "Polar bears will be
extinct in 2 years!" we need to find the evidence to support that.
theory - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: A proposal that's been backed up by research.
Example: Big Bang Theory
hypothesis - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: prediction that can be tested
Example: Teenage males are, on average, taller than teenage females.
hypothesis testing - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Creating an experiment to test the
testable prediction
Example: To test dogs' favorite food brand, have a single dog with no previous association to the brands
tested in a room with two or three bowls for the different kinds of brands. Which do they eat?
operational definition - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Specific definitions of the variable
being tested so it is both measurable and manageable
Example: Happiness (how many times participants smile)
replication - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: To do another experiment to see if you get the
same results. This will either hurt or strengthen the theory.
, Example: Mr. Rogers did an experiment at Southwestern University. With the same control groups and
variables but different participants, Mrs. Shinge mimics the experiment at Northwest University.
case study - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Deeply involved examination of people or
situations with unique behavioral/mental processes.
Example: Patient H.M.
survey - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Set of questions given to a representative sample of
the population to reflect on their attitudes, opinions, and behaviors. You can receive a lot of information in
a short amount of time, but people might not be honest.
Example: Youth Risk Behavior Survey
population - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Who you want to be able to draw conclusions
about.
Example: If a survey is given to a group of GVHS teachers, it is to be applied to the rest of GVHS
teachers.
random sample - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Sample that is representative of the
general population to be able to generalize findings.
Example: Instead of picking only English teachers to survey, you want to have teachers from all subjects.
That way the findings can be true for the whole school (and beyond).
naturalistic observation - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Observing and collecting data on
behavior in natural situations. You are not trying to manipulate or control.
Example: Dian Fossey and mountain gorillas (see picture)
correlation - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Finding a relationship between two variables
Example: The more gas in your tank, the more miles you can drive.
correlation coefficient - CORRECT ANSWER -My Definition: Number that shows the strength of
the correlation; from -1 to 1. The sign doesn't deal with the strength of the correlation.
