AP Psych 2.3 Reading Questions, 2025-26

Using the reading, analyze how your study habits might need to change based on what you've learned about the three measures of retention.

a. Define recall, recognition, and relearning as described in the text.

b. Describe two specific study techniques you currently use and explain which measure of retention each technique primarily relies on.

c. Explain how understanding these three measures could help yo

Compare Hermann Ebbinghaus's approach to studying memory with how memory research might be conducted today.

a. Describe Ebbinghaus's experimental method and explain what his retention curve demonstrated.

b. Analyze one strength and one limitation of using nonsense syllables to study memory.

c. Evaluate how modern technology and ethical considerations might change how we study memory formation today.

Imagine explaining to a family member who has early-stage Alzheimer's disease how their condition affects the memory process described in the reading.

a. Define the three-stage multi-store model (sensory, short-term, and long-term memory).

b. Explain how Alzheimer's disease specifically disrupts this normal memory process, using examples from the text.

c. Reflect on how understanding these memory stages might help family members better support someone with memory difficulties.

Evaluate whether the computer analogy for human memory processing is accurate based on the evidence presented in the reading.

a. Define encoding, storage, and retrieval as described in the information-processing model.

b. Provide two examples from the text that support the computer analogy and two that challenge it.

c. Conclude with your judgment: Is the computer model helpful or limiting for understanding human memory? Justify your answer using specific evidence.

Consider the biological basis of memory formation. Explain how long-term potentiation (LTP) might affect both a student's ability to learn new material and an athlete's skill development.

a. Define long-term potentiation and explain how it changes synaptic connections.

b. Describe how LTP could specifically impact academic learning and athletic performance, providing concrete examples.

c. Analyze why understanding LTP is important for developing effective learning and training strategies.

The reading describes both working memory and long-term memory. Why is it important to understand the difference between these memory systems when designing effective learning experiences?

a. Define working memory and long-term memory using the text's explanations.

b. Explain how confusing these two systems could lead to ineffective study strategies or unrealistic expectations about learning.

c. Provide an example of a learning situation where understanding this distinction would be crucial for success.

Imagine a future where memory-enhancing drugs become widely available. Based on what you've learned about memory biology, predict how this might affect education and society.

a. Explain how glutamate and CREB function in memory formation according to the reading.

b. Predict two specific benefits and two potential problems that might arise from widespread use of memory-enhancing drugs.

c. Argue whether you believe such drugs should be regulated or freely available, supporting your position with reasoning from the biological processes described in the text.

What does this statement imply about the importance of memory in shaping identity, and how might this influence your approach to creating meaningful experiences?

a. Explain what the author means by stating that memory "defines our life" and creates our sense of self.

b. Give one personal example where a specific memory has influenced who you are, and connect this to the memory processes described in the reading.

c. Reflect on how understanding memory formation might change the way you approach creating and preserving important experiences in your life.