AP Psychology Midterm Review Guide
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Questions and Answers

Which psychological approach focuses on observable behavior and external stimuli?

  • Psychoanalytic
  • Cognitive
  • Humanistic
  • Behavioral (correct)
  • What is a primary strength of case studies in psychological research?

  • They establish clear cause-and-effect relationships.
  • They are easy to replicate and perform.
  • They provide detailed information about specific individuals or groups. (correct)
  • They can generalize results to a wider population.
  • Which research method allows researchers to determine cause-and-effect relationships?

  • Experiment (correct)
  • Survey Research
  • Case Study
  • Correlational Studies
  • The evolutionary approach to psychology seeks to explain behavior through which of the following concepts?

    <p>Natural selection and survival of genes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a weakness of experimental methods in psychological research?

    <p>They may create ethical issues in manipulation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the social-cultural approach in psychology examine?

    <p>Differences in behavior across various cultures and situations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which psychological perspective emphasizes free will and self-actualization?

    <p>Humanistic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Correlational studies are particularly useful when:

    <p>Manipulating variables is not ethical or possible.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of NREM Stage 3 sleep?

    <p>Deepest sleep occurs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which imaging technique is primarily used to measure brain activity during tasks?

    <p>fMRI</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'circadian rhythm' refer to?

    <p>The 24-hour biological clock regulating physiological processes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What common effect can result from sleep deprivation?

    <p>Increased irritability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following brain imaging techniques uses radio waves and magnetic fields?

    <p>fMRI</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a part of the sensory adaptation process?

    <p>Permanent alteration of sensory receptors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theory suggests that dreams are a way to process and incorporate new information?

    <p>Memory Consolidation Theory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In vision, which part of the eye is responsible for regulating the amount of light that enters?

    <p>Pupil</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which stage of sleep do most vivid dreams occur?

    <p>REM Stage 4</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the characteristic brainwave pattern during the waking state?

    <p>Beta waves</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of the absolute threshold?

    <p>Hearing a sound at a specific volume</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Weber’s Law state concerning perception of differences between stimuli?

    <p>Differences must be constant in percentage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do rods play in vision?

    <p>Allowing for night vision in low light</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does convergence affect the perception of distance?

    <p>It influences the brain's estimation based on eye movement.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the semicircular canals in the vestibular system?

    <p>They detect rotational movements of the head.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes the function of otolith organs?

    <p>They are involved in detecting vertical and horizontal linear acceleration.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which taste is associated with sugars and energy-rich compounds?

    <p>Sweet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does gate control theory suggest about pain perception?

    <p>Non-painful sensations can reduce the perception of pain.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In sensory interaction, how do taste and smell work together?

    <p>They create a cohesive flavor experience through combined signals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT one of the five major tastes humans can detect?

    <p>Spicy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is sensory adaptation?

    <p>The decreased sensitivity to a constant stimulus.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What involves the inward movement of the eyes when focusing on nearby objects?

    <p>Convergence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theory links pitch perception to the location of stimulation on the cochlea’s membrane?

    <p>Place theory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the vestibular system contribute to balance?

    <p>By integrating signals from the inner ear with other sensory inputs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect describes failure to notice an unexpected stimulus in one's visual field?

    <p>Inattentional blindness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the vestibular nerve?

    <p>To transmit vestibular signals to the brainstem.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does selective attention allow us to do?

    <p>Concentrate on a specific stimulus while ignoring others</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which phenomenon illustrates the ability to focus on a single auditory stimulus amidst many sounds?

    <p>Cocktail party effect</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What best describes inattentional blindness?

    <p>Failing to perceive an unexpected stimulus in plain sight</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does size constancy function in perception?

    <p>Objects are recognized as the same size despite distance variations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which scenario is an example of color constancy?

    <p>A white shirt is perceived as white under yellow light</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the impact of framing on decision making?

    <p>It can radically change emotional responses and perceptions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is meant by priming in psychological terms?

    <p>Activating certain associations that influence perception</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does perceptual set influence our interpretation of stimuli?

    <p>It predisposes individuals to interpret information based on context and expectations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of change blindness?

    <p>Failing to notice a wall color change while distracted</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is framing primarily focused on in perception?

    <p>How the presentation of information affects interpretation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary strength of survey research?

    <p>It provides a cost-effective way to gather information.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What could be a significant weakness of longitudinal studies?

    <p>They require substantial time and financial commitment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do random assignment and random sampling differ?

    <p>Random sampling gives all individuals equal chances of participation; random assignment ensures unbiased group allocations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines a double-blind study?

    <p>Both the participants and the researchers do not know the group assignments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the best example of confirmation bias?

    <p>A scientist only considering results that support their hypothesis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of applied research in psychology?

    <p>Innovating new technologies and solving real-world problems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does statistical significance imply in research?

    <p>The findings are attributable to a specific cause based on data analysis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which nervous system response is primarily responsible for the body's reactions during a perceived threat?

    <p>Sympathetic nervous system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Under what condition can deception be used in psychological research?

    <p>When it is necessary for the research and fully explained during debriefing.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of dendrites in a neuron?

    <p>Receive incoming signals from other neurons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines the median in measures of central tendency?

    <p>The middle score within a sorted distribution.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs during the depolarization phase of a neuron's action potential?

    <p>Sodium ions flood into the neuron</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of neurotransmitters?

    <p>To carry chemical signals between neurons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common effect of the Hawthorne effect in research?

    <p>Participants change their behavior simply because they know they are being observed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of cones in the retina?

    <p>Perceiving fine detail and color</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes inhibitory neurotransmitters?

    <p>They prevent action potential generation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes applied research from basic research?

    <p>Applied research aims to address specific practical issues, while basic research enhances knowledge.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theory proposes that color vision is based on three types of receptors in the retina?

    <p>Trichromatic theory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of control variables in an experiment?

    <p>They are stable elements to ensure that results are reliable and not influenced by other factors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the sympathetic nervous system affect heart rate?

    <p>It increases heart rate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What cue suggests that objects appearing smaller are perceived as farther away?

    <p>Relative size</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which example best represents a negative skew distribution?

    <p>Age of death where most live to an advanced age, with fewer dying younger.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect of sound waves is primarily responsible for determining loudness?

    <p>Amplitude</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes the all-or-nothing principle in neuronal firing?

    <p>A neuron either fires fully or not at all based on the stimulus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the brain interpret the signals received from the auditory nerve?

    <p>To perceive pitch, volume, and timbre</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the myelin sheath in a neuron?

    <p>Speeds up the transmission of neural signals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a crucial ethical requirement in psychological research?

    <p>Participants must be guaranteed full confidentiality to protect their privacy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to neurotransmitters after they are released into the synaptic cleft?

    <p>They are reabsorbed into the presynaptic neuron through reuptake</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a monocular cue for depth perception?

    <p>Interposition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of hypothesis formulation, what represents an independent variable (IV)?

    <p>The variable that is controlled and altered by the researcher.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs at the level of hair cells in the cochlea?

    <p>Vibrations are converted to electrical signals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does serotonin primarily influence?

    <p>Mood and emotional states</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key characteristic of the parasympathetic nervous system?

    <p>Restores the body to a state of calm</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which queue describes how shading and shadows contribute to depth perception?

    <p>Light and shadow</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the optic nerve in vision?

    <p>Transmitting electrical signals to the brain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which neurotransmitter is primarily linked to the reward system and voluntary movement?

    <p>Dopamine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is the resting potential of a neuron characterized?

    <p>It is a negative charge compared to the outside</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which perception mechanism is primarily utilized when both eyes are used?

    <p>Binocular cues</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the possible effects of a deficit of GABA?

    <p>Anxiety, seizures, and tremors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of vision is most sensitive to low light levels?

    <p>Night vision</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which depth perception cue involves the brain utilizing the slight differences in images from each eye?

    <p>Retinal disparity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What color is perceived when long wavelengths of light are present?

    <p>Red</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements is true regarding both rods and cones?

    <p>Both types convert light to electrical signals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary function of norepinephrine in the body?

    <p>Modulating mood</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an effect of excessive glutamate in conjunction with low GABA levels?

    <p>Epileptic seizures</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Select the statements that accurately describe SSRIs.

    <p>They act as agonists for serotonin.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does the amygdala play in the limbic system?

    <p>Managing emotions like aggression and fear</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does an antagonist function in relation to neurotransmitters?

    <p>It decreases the bioavailability of neurotransmitters.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following drugs is classified as a stimulant?

    <p>Caffeine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of addiction?

    <p>Psychological and/or physical dependence on substances.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does tolerance to a drug indicate?

    <p>Decreased effectiveness of a drug after repeated use.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following areas is involved in language production?

    <p>Broca's area</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is neural plasticity?

    <p>The brain's ability to change and adapt through experience.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which area is known as the brain's sensory switchboard?

    <p>Thalamus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common effect of depressants on the central nervous system?

    <p>Slowed CNS function</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of drug categories, which of the following is an example of a hallucinogen?

    <p>Psilocybin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Unit 1 Review: Psychological Approaches and Research Methods

    • Psychological Approaches:

      • Biological: Behavior is rooted in physical processes (brain, hormones, chemicals).
      • Evolutionary: Explains behavior through natural selection's impact on variable traits.
      • Behavior Genetics: Studies how genes impact psychological traits (cognition, personality, illness, attitudes).
      • Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic: Focuses on the unconscious mind and past experiences.
      • Behavioral: Observing observable behaviors and environmental influences.
      • Cognitive: Emphasizes mental processes (thinking, perception, memory). Thoughts influence emotions and behaviors.
      • Humanistic: Studies the whole individual, emphasizing free will, efficacy, and self-actualization.
      • Social-Cultural: Examines how behavior and thought vary across cultures and situations.
    • Research Methods:

      • Case Study: In-depth analysis of a person, group, or phenomenon.
        • Strengths: Detailed information.
        • Weaknesses: Cannot generalize, hard to replicate, time-consuming.
        • Example: Phineas Gage.
      • Experiment: Manipulating an independent variable and observing its effect on a dependent variable.
        • Strengths: Determines cause and effect, can be replicated.
        • Weaknesses: Artificial environment, possible ethical issues, impacting realism.
      • Correlational Study: Examining the relationship between variables when experiments aren't feasible.
        • Example: Studying the relationship between school grades and Adderall usage.
        • Strengths: Easier to conduct.
        • Weaknesses: Cannot determine cause and effect.
      • Survey Research: Collecting information through questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups.
        • Strengths: Cost-effective and efficient.
        • Weaknesses: Low response rates, accuracy of responses uncertain.
      • Naturalistic Observation: Observing behavior in a natural setting.
        • Strengths: Real-world setting.
        • Weaknesses: Observer effect (participants behave differently knowing they are watched).
      • Longitudinal Study: Tracking the same individuals over an extended period (years to decades).
        • Strengths: Shows changes over time.
        • Weaknesses: Time-consuming and expensive.
      • Cross-sectional Study: Examining different groups at the same time.
        • Strengths: Quick, generalizable results
        • Weaknesses: Difficult to isolate single factors, cannot show change over time.

    Defining Psychological Science: The Experimental Method

    • Hypothesis: Educated guess about cause and effect.
      • Example: High caffeine consumption correlates with higher intelligence.
    • Independent Variable (IV): Variable manipulated by the researcher.
      • Example: Levels of caffeine.
    • Dependent Variable (DV): Variable measured.
      • Example: Test scores.
    • Confounding Variable: Outside influences that affect the DV and IV interaction.
      • Example: Amount of sleep.
    • Control Variable: Kept constant to isolate cause-and-effect.

    Key Concepts in Research

    • Random Assignment: Assigning participants to groups randomly, equal chances.
    • Random Sampling: Each individual has equal chance of participation.
    • Bias: Influences that skew results, negatively impacting reliability.
    • Single-Blind Study: Participants unaware of group assignment.
    • Double-Blind Study: Neither participants nor researchers know group assignments.
    • Hindsight Bias: Believing you knew the outcome beforehand.
    • Confirmation Bias: Favoring information that confirms existing beliefs.
    • Overconfidence: Overestimating accuracy of judgments.

    Descriptive Statistics

    • Measures of Central Tendency:
      • Mean: Average of scores.
      • Median: Middle score in a distribution.
      • Mode: Most frequently occurring score.
    • Skewed Distributions: Positive skew (tail to the right), negative skew (tail to the left), normal distribution (bell curve).

    Inferential Statistics

    • Statistical Significance: Likelihood that results are due to the independent variable.

    Ethical Considerations in Research

    • Informed Consent: Participants understand the study and agree to participate.
    • Protection from Harm: Avoiding physical and psychological harm to participants.
    • Confidentiality: Protecting participants' personal information.
    • Debriefing: Explaining the study's purpose after data collection.

    Research Types

    • Basic Research: Increases scientific knowledge base, focuses on theory.
    • Applied Research: Addresses practical problems and applies knowledge to real-world situations.

    Unit 2 Review: Biological Basis of Behavior

    • Nervous System: Central (brain and spinal cord), Peripheral (nerves branching out), Somatic (voluntary muscles), Autonomic (involuntary functions, including sympathetic and parasympathetic).
    • Neurons: Dendrites (receive signals), Soma (cell body), Axon (transmits signals), Myelin Sheath (speeds transmission), Axon Terminals (release signals).
    • Action Potential: "All-or-Nothing" process – Depolarization (sodium influx), Repolarization (sodium channels close, potassium exits). Refractory Period, Resting Potential, Reuptake.

    Neurotransmitters and Hormones

    • Neurotransmitters: Chemical messengers in the nervous system. Examples: Dopamine (reward, movement), Serotonin (mood), Norepinephrine (arousal), Glutamate (excitatory), GABA (inhibitory), Endorphins (pain relief), Substance P (pain transmission), Acetylcholine (muscle action).
    • Hormones: Chemical messengers in the bloodstream. Examples: many (e.g., thyroid, insulin).
    • Agonists: Increase neurotransmitter availability.
    • Antagonists: Decrease neurotransmitter availability.

    Brain Structure and Function

    • Cerebral Cortex: Higher-level functions (thought, language, memory).
    • Limbic System: Emotions and motivations (amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus).
    • Brainstem: Basic life functions (medulla, pons, reticular formation).

    Sleep and Consciousness

    • Circadian Rhythm: Internal 24-hour biological clock.
    • Stages of Sleep: NREM 1-3 (light to deep sleep) and REM (dreaming).

    Unit 3 Review: Sensation and Perception

    • Sensation: Detecting physical stimuli.
    • Perception: Organizing and interpreting sensory information.
    • Sensation & Perception Processes: Absolute threshold, difference threshold, sensory adaptation, Weber's Law, Transduction (converting stimuli to neural signals).

    Sensory Systems

    • Vision: Light processing in the eye (cornea, pupil, lens, retina, rods, cones, optic nerve). Concepts of wavelength (hue), intensity (brightness), and amplitude in context of visual processing.
    • Audition (Hearing): Sound wave processing (pinna, ear canal, eardrum, ossicles, cochlea, auditory nerve). Understanding concepts of wavelength (pitch), intensity (loudness), and amplitude in context of auditory processing.

    Theories of Color Vision

    • Trichromatic Theory: Three types of cones detect colors (red, green, blue).
    • Opponent-Process Theory: Pairs of colors (red-green, yellow-blue, black-white) work in opposition.

    Depth Perception

    • Monocular Cues: Depth perception from one eye (relative size, interposition, relative height, relative motion, linear perspective, light and shadow, texture gradient).
    • Binocular Cues: Depth perception from both eyes (retinal disparity, convergence).

    Gestalt Principles

    • Explain the rules govern how individuals view and interpret shapes and forms.

    Perceptual Constancy

    • Perceptual Constancy: Recognize objects despite variations in sensory input (size, shape, color).

    Perceptual Processing

    • Selective Attention: Focusing on specific stimuli.
    • Inattentional Blindness: Failure to perceive unexpected stimuli due to attentional limitations.
    • Cocktail Party Effect: Focusing on one conversation while filtering out others.
    • Change Blindness: Inability to detect changes in a scene.
    • Perceptual Set: Mental predisposition to perceive things in specific ways (influenced by experiences, context).

    Pain Perception

    • Gate-Control Theory: Non-painful sensations can reduce pain perception.

    Sensory Interaction

    • Taste and smell interact to create flavor perception.

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    Test your understanding of key concepts in Psychology, specifically focusing on research methods, psychological approaches, and their strengths and weaknesses. This quiz will challenge your knowledge units 1-3 of AP Psych

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