On the AP exam, you'll answer one Article Analysis Question (AAQ).
The AAQ requires you to summarize one peer-reviewed source.
College Board suggests allocating 25 minutes for the AAQ, with 10 minutes for reading the prompt and study.
Time allocation is flexible, but remember you have a total of 70 minutes for both the AAQ and the EBQ.
AAQ Structure
AAQs have six parts.
Three parts remain consistent each year.
The other three change annually based on the prompt and research.
General Tips for Answering AAQs
Use complete sentences in your answers.
While not essays, provide more than just one or two words.
Review Unit Zero concepts (research methods, ethical guidelines, parts of an experiment).
Connect core skills to different units.
Strategy for Approaching the AAQ
Read the prompt and all parts of the AAQ before reading the peer-reviewed study.
This helps you focus on key variables, statistics, ethical guidelines, and other necessary information while reading the study.
Highlight, underline, and mark up the document and AAQ to focus on key terms and concepts.
Part A: Identify the Research Method
Task: Identify the research method used in the study.
Possible Answers:
Correlational Research
Case Study
Naturalistic Observation
Meta-Analysis
Experiment
Cross-Sectional Study
Longitudinal Study
Four non-experimental options, one experimental option, and two design options.
Longitudinal and cross-sectional should be connected to one of the experimental or non-experimental options.
College Board says AAQs will focus on one research method.
Answer should be a single sentence.
Part B: State the Operational Definition
Task: State the operational definition for a variable in the study.
Operational definitions should be specific and quantifiable to allow replication.
State how the variable is measured precisely.
The AAQ provides the answer; you need to locate and copy it.
Use a complete sentence.
Example sentence format: "The operational definition of [variable] is [definition from AAQ]."
Part C: Describe the Meaning of the Identified Statistic
Task: Describe the meaning of the identified statistic.
Possible statistics:
Mean
Median
Mode
Range
Standard Deviation
Percentile Rank
Skewness
Correlation Coefficients
Effect Size
Statistical Significance
Do not just identify the statistic; describe its meaning in the context of the research.
Show how the statistic connects with the research.
Part D: Identify an Ethical Guideline
Task: Identify at least one ethical guideline applied by the researcher.
Identify one guideline from the study.
Look in the Participants or Method section.
Identify a guideline that is part of the study, not one that you think should be part of it.
Only identify one guideline.
Part E: Explain Generalizability
Task: Explain the extent to which the research findings may or may not be generalizable using specific and relevant evidence from the study.
Explain question requiring more than one sentence.
Support your answer with evidence from the study.
Generalizability refers to the extent that the study can be broadly applied to the larger population.
Address who IS and IS NOT represented in the study.
Answer should state whether the study is generalizable and explain why, connecting to evidence from the study.
Part F: Explain How Research Findings Support/Refute
Task: Explain how at least one of the research findings supports or refutes the psychological concept or hypothesis of the study.
Worth two points.
Clearly state what the researcher found.
Explain how the results support or refute the hypothesis or concept the AAQ asks about.
Frame your answer by stating if the conclusions support or refute the hypothesis/concept, followed by an explanation connecting to data, conclusions, or findings from the study.