Welcome to the 2007 SPHS AP Psychology

Exam Review Website

Freud

 

The Exam will be administered on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 12:00 noon.

The location of the exam has not yet been determined.

(I will post the location & directions as soon as I get the word.)

 

In preparing for the exam, you should use this website & the links at the bottom of the page in addition to the Review Packet that I gave you in class.

 

Here is what to expect:

The AP Psychology Examination includes a 70-minute multiple-choice section (usually 100 questions) that accounts for two-thirds of the students exam grade and a 50-minute free-response section made up of two questions, which accounts for 0ne-third of the students exam grade.
Students often ask whether they should guess on the multiple choice section.  Haphazard or random guessing is unlikely to improve scores, because one-fourth of the number of questions answered incorrectly will be subtracted from the number of questions answered correctly.  However, students who have some knowledge of a question and can eliminate one or more answer choices will usually find it advantageous to guess from among the remaining choices.
Free-response questions are an appropriate tool for evaluating a student's mastery of scientific research principles and ability to make connections among constructs from different psychological domains (e.g., development, personality, learning).  Students may be asked to analyze a general problem in psychology (e.g., depression, adaptation) using concepts from different theoretical frameworks or subdomains in the field, or to design, analyze or critique a research study.


Summary Outline for the Multiple Choice Section:


Content Area

Percentage On the Exam

I. History and Approaches
A. Logic, Philosophy, and History of Science
B. Approaches

  1. Biological
  2. Behavioral
  3. Cognitive
  4. Humanistic
  5. Psychodynamic
  6. Sociocultural
  7. Evolutionary/Sociobiological

2-4%

II. Research Methods
A. Experimental, Correlational, and Clinical Research

  1. Correlational (e.g., naturalistic observation, survey, clinical)
  2. Experimental

B. Statistics

  1. Descriptive
  2. Inferential

C. Ethics in Research

6-8%

III. Biological Bases of Behavior
A. Physiological Techniques (e.g., imaging, surgical)
B. Neuroanatomy
C. Functional Organization of Nervous System
D. Neural Transmission
E. Endocrine System
F. Genetics

8-10%

IV. Sensation and Perception
A. Thresholds
B. Sensory Mechanisms
C. Sensory Adaptations
D. Attention
E. Perceptual Processes

7-9%

V. States of Consciousness
A. Sleep and Dreaming
B. Hypnosis
C. Psychoactive Drug Effects

2-4%

VI. Learning
A. Classical Conditioning
B. Operant Conditioning
C. Cognitive Process of Learning
D. Biological Factors
E. Social Learning

7-9%

VII. Cognition
A. Memory
B. Language
C. Thinking
D. Problem Solving and Creativity

8-10%

VIII. Motivation and Emotion
A. Biological Bases
B. Theories of Motivation
C. Hunger, Thirst, Sex, and Pain
D. Social Motives
E. Theories of Emotion
F. Stress

7-9%

IX. Developmental Psychology
A. Life-Span Approach
B. Research Methods (longitudinal and cross-sectional)
C. Heredity-Environmental Issues
D. Developmental Theories
E. Dimensions of Development

  1. Physical
  2. Cognitive
  3. Social
  4. Moral

F. Sex Roles, Sex Differences

7-9%

X. Personality
A. Personality Theories and Approaches
B. Assessment Techniques
C. Self-Concept. Self-esteem
D. Growth and Adjustment

6-8%

XI. Testing and Individual Differences
A. Standardization and Norms
B. Reliability and Validity
C. Types of Tests
D. Ethics and Standards in Testing
E. Intelligence
F. Heredity/Environment and Intelligence
G. Human Diversity

5-7%

XII. Abnormal Psychology
A. Definition of Abnormality
B. Theories of Psychopathology
C. Diagnosis of Psychopathology
D. Anxiety Disorders
E. Somatoform Disorders
F. Mood Disorders
G. Schizophrenic Disorders
H. Organic Disorders
I. Personality Disorders
J. Dissociative Disorders

7-9%

XIII. Treatment of Psychological Disorders
A. Treatment Approaches

  1. Insight Therapies: Psychodynamic and Humanistic Approaches
  2. Behavioral Approaches
  3. Cognitive Approaches
  4. Biological Approaches

B. Modes of Therapy (group, individual etc..)
C. Community and Preventative Approaches

5-7%

XIV. Social Psychology
A. Group Dynamics
B. Attribution Processes
C. Interpersonal Perception
D. Conformity, Compliance, Obedience
E. Atttitudes and Attitude Change
F. Organizational Behavior
G. Aggression/Antisocial Behavior

7-9%

 

Here are a couple of links you may find helpful:

click here for the Official AP Psychology course info. page

click here for a website with all sorts of cool review tools

You may e-mail me by clicking here if you have any questions

 

 

Check this out!!!!! Get you some BIG RED chewing gum!!!!!

TEST ANXIETY? Cinnamon gum may be an aid to better cognitive performance, according to a study at Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virgina as reported in Eating Well magazine. A test was designed to measure the effect of different odors on cognitive performance. Volunteers completed computer-based tasks while chewing one of four kinds of gum: flavorless, peppermint, cinnamon or cherry. Their performance was also compared to that of students who did not chew any gum. Both the act of chewing gum and the aroma of cinnamon proved unique at upping attentiveness, memory and coordination, the study found.

 

"The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence." - Eddie Robinson