AP Psychology Review for 1st Semester Final Exam

Exam Overview

• Format: Cumulative final exam divided into two sections:

  • 70 multiple-choice questions

  • 1 Article Analysis Question (AAQ)

• Schedule:

  • AAQ: Monday, December 16 during class

  • Multiple-choice:

    • Periods 1 & 2: Wednesday, December 18

    • Period 3: Thursday, December 19

    • Period 5: Friday, December 20

Preparation Recommendations

• AAQ Preparation:

  • Pre-read the assigned article and underline key points.

  • Use the acronym SAD:

    • S: State the part of the question being addressed.

    • A: Answer the question.

    • D: Defend your answer with evidence.

  • Topics to be prepared to discuss:

    • Research methods

    • Operational definitions of Independent Variable (IV) and Dependent Variable (DV)

    • Statistics (mean, mode, correlation, etc.)

    • Ethical guidelines in research

    • Generalizability

    • Support or refutation of the hypothesis

Topics for Multiple Choice Section

• Unit 0 - Scientific Foundations of Psychology (Modules 1-8 from Myers):

  • 0.1 Introducing Psychology

  • 0.2 Research Methods in Psychology

  • 0.3 Experimental Method

  • 0.4 Selecting a Research Method

  • 0.5 Statistical Analysis in Psychology

  • 0.6 Ethical Guidelines in Psychology

• Unit 1 - Biological Bases of Behavior (Modules 9-15 and 22-25 from Myers):

  • 1.1 Interaction of Heredity & Environment

  • 1.2 Overview of the Nervous System

  • 1.3 The Neuron and Neural Firing

  • 1.4 The Brain

  • 1.5 Sleep

  • 1.6 Sensation (includes with Unit 2 in class)

Cognition, Sensation & Perception

• Unit 2 (Modules 16-21, 31-36 and 60-64 from Myers):

  • 2.1 Perception

  • 2.2 Thinking, Problem-Solving, Judgments, and Decision-making (covered in 2nd semester)

  • 2.3 Introduction to Memory

  • 2.4 Encoding Memories

  • 2.5 Storing Memories

  • 2.6 Retrieving Memories

  • 2.7 Forgetting and other Memory Challenges

  • 2.8 Intelligence and Achievement

Development and Learning

• Unit 3 (Modules 26-30 and 45-54 from Myers):

  • 3.1 Themes and Methods in Developmental Psychology

  • 3.2 Physical Development Across the Lifespan

  • 3.3 Gender & Sexual Orientation

  • 3.4 Cognitive Development Across the Lifespan

  • 3.5 Communication and Language Development (covered in 2nd semester)

  • 3.6 Social-Emotional Development Across the Lifespan

  • 3.7 Classical Conditioning

  • 3.8 Operant Conditioning

  • 3.9 Social, Cognitive, and Neurological Factors in Learning

2nd Semester Topics

• Unit 4 - Social Psychology and Personality (Modules 37-44, 55-59 and 74-80 from Myers): 15-25%

  • 4.1 Attribution Theory and Person Perception

  • 4.2 Attitude Formation and Attitude Change

  • 4.3 Psychology of Social Situations

  • 4.4 Psychodynamic and Humanistic Theories of Personality

  • 4.5 Social-Cognitive and Trait Theories of Personality

  • 4.6 Motivation

  • 4.7 Emotion

• Unit 5 - Mental and Physical Health (Modules 43-44 and 65-73 from Myers): 15-25%

  • 5.1 Introduction to Health Psychology

  • 5.2 Positive Psychology

  • 5.3 Explaining and Classifying Psychological Disorders

  • 5.4 Selection of Categories of Psychological Disorders

  • 5.5 Treatment of Psychological Disorders