AP Psych Review

Christine, who is opposed to capital punishment, was extremely surprised to learn that the results of a survey indicated that the majority of the population approved of capital punishment. Christine’s surprise best illustrates the power of

• the false consensus effect.

• the placebo effect.

• the double-blind procedure.

• random sampling.

• random assignment.

A researcher would be most likely to discover a negative correlation between

• body height and body weight.

• self-esteem and depression.

• education and personal wealth.

• intelligence and academic success.

• illness and doctor visits.

In order to study the potential effects of social interaction on problem solving, some research participants were instructed to solve problems working together; other participants were instructed to solve problems working alone. Those who worked alone were exposed to the ________ condition.

• experimental

• survey

• control

• correlational

• dependent variable

In order to assess the influence of self-esteem on interpersonal attraction, researchers either

insulted or complimented college students about their physical appearance just before they went on a blind date. In this research, the dependent variable consisted of

• insults or compliments.

• physical appearance.

• interpersonal attraction.

• feelings of self-esteem.

• the blind date.

A statistically significant difference between two sample groups is not likely to be

• a reflection of differences between the populations they represent.

• due to chance variation within and between the sample groups.

• observed more than 5 percent of the time the groups are compared.

• observed when the two groups are very large.

With regard to the process of neural transmission, a refractory period refers to a time interval in which

• a neuron fires more rapidly than usual.

• an electrical charge travels from a sensory neuron to a motor neuron.

• positively charged ions are pumped back outside a neural membrane.

• an individual reflexively withdraws from a pain stimulus.

• the time in which a neuron will fire at 100% or not at all.

After discovering that the shadows outside his window were only the trees in the yard, Ralph’s blood pressure decreased and his heartbeat slowed. These physical reactions were most directly regulated by his

• parasympathetic nervous system.

• sympathetic nervous system.

• somatic nervous system.

• central nervous system.

• medulla

To identify which specific brain areas are most active during a particular mental task, researchers would be most likely to make use of a(n)

• fMRI

• hemispherectomy.

• EEG.

• PET scan.

• brain lesion.

A laboratory cat could be made to twitch its whiskers by direct stimulation of the _______ lobes of its cerebral cortex.

• temporal

• occipital

• frontal

• pariental

After Paul’s serious snow-skiing accident, doctors detected damage to his cerebral cortex in Wernicke’s area. Because of the damage, Paul is most likely to experience difficulty in

• remembering past events.

• pronouncing words correctly.

• understanding what others are saying.

• recognizing familiar faces.

• physically writing out a word.