AP Psychology Research and Methods

Debbie is interested in determining if music helps people study. To do this, she uses the help of 20 students in her psychology class. Half the people study with music in the background for an hour and the other half study with no music for an hour. The students then take a test on that material. In this example, what is the independent variable?

• music versus no music

• group that studies with no music

• group that studies with music

• scores on the exam

• students in the class

This AP Psychology practice test covers the history, approaches, and research methods of psychology. On the exam you need to know the basic history of psychology along with the different approaches and subfields. You will also need to be familiar with experimental, correlational, and clinical research. The research methods topic also covers statistics and research ethics. Test your knowledge with our free online quiz.

• survey

• longitudinal study

• correlational study

• experiment

• comparative study

Which of the following is not a measure of central tendency that psychologists use?

• mean

• median

• mode

• standard deviation

• variability

Which of the following best explains the longitudinal research method?

• Observing one individual or group in their natural environment for a period of time

• Comparing groups of various ages for a long time

• Assessing changes in a small group at different intervals over time

• Comparing a large group of foreigners

• Following a small group of people until they die

In research terms, what qualifies a study as "valid?"

• If the study measures what it claims to be measuring.

• If the study succeed

• If the study proves the hypothesis

• If the study fails

• If the study is conducted under strict conditions

What type of study involves watching participants to see how they behave?

• case study

• experiment

• interview

• naturalistic observation

• questionnaire

Dr. Miller believes there is a relationship between the amount of carbohydrates a child eats and the hyperactivity of a child. This belief is:

• a theory

• a variable

• a hypothesis

• untestable

• all of the above

Instead of studying his spelling words like everyone else, Scott copies from other people when the teacher gives a test. B.F. Skinner would likely attribute Scott’s cheating to:

• A genetic tendency to maximize his opportunities for promoting himself above others.

• His underdeveloped frontal lobe, which is used in complex decision making and judgment.

• His perception that the test is too difficult, and, therefore, his cheating is justified.

• Inner conflicts that are buried deep in his unconscious.

• The fact that he was rewarded for cheating on a test in the past.

Dr. Daugherty studies how the thickness of the beaks of one species of birds has undergone changes in response to drought and other environmental factors over a long period of time. Which psychological approach does Dr. Daugherty take?

• Behavioral

• Biological

• Evolutionary

• Humanistic

• Sociocultural

If the mean, median, and mode are identical, what kind of distribution if present?

• Ideal distribution

• Negatively skewed distribution

• Normal distribution

• Positively skewed distribution

• This is not possible