AP Psychology Exam Review

A set of flashcards covering key concepts and terms from the AP Psychology exam to aid in study and review.

What is the AP Psychology exam score reporting scale?

The scores are reported on a 5-point scale, indicating the level of qualification for college credit.

What is the purpose of psychological perspectives in the AP Psychology exam?

Students must apply psychological perspectives, theories, concepts, and research findings in the free-response section.

What is the definition of empirical evidence in psychology?

Information acquired through observation or experimentation; 'Seeing is believing'.

Define Confirmation Bias.

The tendency to favor information that confirms one's existing beliefs; 'Seeing what you believe'.

What does the term 'Hindsight Bias' refer to?

The belief that events were predictable after they happened; 'I knew it all along'.

What is a hypothesis in psychology?

A testable prediction often derived from a theory; considered an 'educated guess'.

What are operational definitions?

Clear, precise descriptions of variables used in research; 'Define to measure'.

Explain the difference between quantitative and qualitative data.

Quantitative data can be quantified and verified, while qualitative data is descriptive and cannot be measured.

What is the purpose of peer review in psychological research?

To evaluate work by others in the same field; 'Colleague check-up'.

What does the term 'Placebo Effect' mean?

Improvement resulting from the mere expectation of improvement; 'Mind over matter'.

What is meant by the term 'Naturalistic Observation'?

Observing subjects in their natural environment; 'Real-world watching'.

What is the significance of reliability in psychological measurements?

It refers to the consistency of a measurement; 'Consistently consistent'.

Define validity in the context of psychological tests.

The accuracy of a test in measuring what it is supposed to measure; 'Accurately accurate'.

What are the characteristics of the experimental method?

Involves manipulation and controlled testing of variables; 'Controlled experiment'.

What is an independent variable in an experiment?

The variable that is manipulated by the researcher; 'Cause'.

What does the term 'Smiley-Load Test' refer to in psychological measurement?

This term is not standard; it may refer to various informal tests measuring emotional responses.