AP Psych Review Video 1.

1
Introducing Psychology

Directions: Visit the AP Psych page on YouTube and watch Video 1.1 . Complete the guided viewing notes.

History of Psychology:
What are the three components of our definition of psychology?

1. behavior 2. mental processes 3. organisms

Origins of Discipline: philosophy physiology

Early School: Structuralism Early School: Functionalism Early School: Gestalt

Focus – elements of Focus – habit, memory, Focus – study of consciousness

consciousness (sensation,
perception, images, emotion)
Founder: Willhelm Wundt
Introspection
sensation, perception, emotion
Founder: William James
Stream of Consciousness
(perception, sensation, learning,
problem-solving
Whole of consciousness being
greater than the sum of the
parts

Early School : Psychoanalysis What does the presenter say about the analytic vs. dynamic?

Focus – unconscious forces Psychodynamic is the more modern version of Freud’s theories
causing behavior

Founder: Sigmund Freud

Contemporary/Modern Approaches to Psychology:

Schools & FRQ Tips: Start w/defintion of psychology (BLANK approach explains
that human behaviors & mental processes are the result of
BLANK

Perspective Focus (Behaviors and mental Founders Key Terms

processes result from…)

Unconsciours motivations/conflicts Carl Jung, Alfred Id, ego, superego

Psychodynamic Behaviors/processes impacted by id, Adler, Erik
ego, superego Erikson

Behaviors are learned and maintained Ivan Pavlov, John Operant conditioning
Behaviorism through reinforcements/punishments Watson, Edward Social learning
Social cognitive
(B.F. skinner) and watching/imitating Thorndike, B.F.
others(Bandura) Skinner, Albert
Bandura

Little Albert UCS= noise UCR= fear NS/CS= white rat CR= fear

Behaviors/processes influenced by Abraham Maslow Self-actualization

Humanistic human’s naturally good nature & Carl Rogers Hierarchy of
desire to reach full potential Needs
 Unconditional
positive regard

Behaviors/mental processes Jean Piaget Cognitive

Cognitive influenced by thoughts, attitudes, Albert Ellis development theory
memories, expectations Aaron Beck
Cognitive therapy

Differences and changes in nervous Roger Sperry Genes

Biological system function Michael Gazzaniga neurotransmitters

Behaviors/processes are present bc Charles Darwin Natural selection

Evolutionary they were naturally selected for
creating a reproductive/survival
advantage

Ethinicity, religion, gender, language, Soloman Asch Individualistic vs

Sociocultural nationality, economic status, learned Stanley Milgram collectivist culture
norms Phillip Zimbardo norms
Leon Festinger

Combines approaches to create best explanation

BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL Bio: Biological/evolutionary
Psych: cognitive, behavioral, humanistic, psychodynamic
Socio: cultural perspectives

AP Exam Practice:
Ava is very involved in her high school, and she is the captain of the soccer team, the president of student
council, and the most successful member on her school’s debate team. Despite her success, she frequently
has trouble with relationships with both teachers and classmates. She has a short temper and often gets into
verbal confrontations.

Explain Ava’s behavior according to each of the contemporary psychological approaches listed below.

Early Behaviorism: Behaviorism maintains that behaviors and mental processes are learned/maintained
through reinforcement or punishment, or by watching/imitating others. Ava exhibits these aggressive
behaviors because of positive reinforcement or a lack of punishment, which continues the behavior.

Humanistic: The humanistic perspectives views behaviors and mental processes as something caused by
human’s innate goodness and desire to reach their full potential. Ava’s behavior may be the result of some of
her needs, such as love, not being met, which results in feelings of frustration and anger.

Cognitive: The cognitive perspective views behaviors and mental processes as something influenced by
memories, expectations, thoughts, and attitudes. Ava’s expectations of success may be causing her
aggressive behavior, as she has succeeded academically but not socially.

Biological: The biological perspectives explains that behaviors and mental processes are influced by
changes in the nervous system. According to this perspective, Ava’s aggressive behavior could be explained
by an overabundance of certain neurotransmitters, which would influence her mood.

AP Psych Review Video 1.2-1.4

Research Methods in Psychology

Directions: Visit the AP Psych page on YouTube and watch Video 1.2 .

FRQ Review Last Lesson – Check how you did: Explain Ava’s described behaviors from the following
approaches...
Early Behaviorism Humanistic Cognitive Biological

Bro I just did this like 20

seconds ago. no

Differentiate types of research - purpose, strengths and weaknesses

Correlational Studies relationship between two events Ex? Online
Studies instruction and AP
scores

What does The strength of the relationship

significance mean

Assessment Strengths of Correlational Research Weaknesses of Correlational Research

It can happen outside a lab Cannot prove causality

How do we display correlational research scatterplots

Identify which type of correlation is (L) One (C) Zero (R) Negative One
displayed in each of the graphs

What is a correlational coefficient? Measure of how strongly related any two sets of scores are

What is a “perfect correlation” (in words) For every x, there is a y

Provide ex of strong correlational coeff. Waking up when the sun rising

 Provide ex of a weak correlation coeff. Waking up for vanilla ice cream

Three Ways to Conduct Correlational Research - aka Descriptive techniques

Survey Naturalistic Observation Case Study

Def: survey babey Def: studying subjects w/out them being Def: deeply investigating one/few unusual
aware cases

Advantages Disadvantages Advantages Disadvantages Advantages Disadvantages

Cheap Questions may be “real” behvaior Might not be studying Can dig deep to find time consuming
biased/poorly written None or reduced what you think you possible relationships subjects are not
Easy Hawthorne Effect or are or ideas that could representative
Multiple variable Ppl may misinterprey Demand No control turn in hypthesis cannot prove causality
questions Characteristic Cannot prove Opposite of a survey
can be Only provides shallow causaltiy
examined info
Cannot prove
causality

AP Hint: Hawthorne Effect: acting different bc Famous Case Studies: Phineas Gage,
you are observed Henry Molaison, Kim Peek , Marilyn vos,
Savant
Demand Characteristic: participants
try to find motivation of researchers so they can
“look good”

Longitudinal vs Cross Sectional Research

Longitudinal Study Cross-Sectional Research

Def: researcher follows the same participant/same group for long time Def: compares two groups

Ex: kids displaced by hurricane kartrina, child prodigies Ex: online vs face to face instruction, males vs females, marvel vs dc

Advantages Disadvantages Advantages Disadvantages

Uncover possible confounding Time consuming, expensive Comparison is science Only a snapshot, not a
varibales Difficult to control Can be used in other research
Can be used in many other Difficult to prove causality methods (two case studies) moving picture
research methods

Confounding Variable: factors other than the indpendent

variable that can influence findings

Operational Definition & Measurement

Empiricism = Measureable and observable

***Operational Clear & detailed statement about the procedures you will observe & how you will measure the
Definition dependent variable.

What is the challenge in psychology? How to make thoughts measurable and observable

How does validity Validity – the test measures what its supposed to Advantages: Disadvantages:
 tie to research This means that when designing research, you must Allows for scientific Oversimplifies the issue
account for confounding variables and other factors that measurement
design? may influence measurements

AP Exam Practice:
Mrs. Schmidlap wants to study whether homework actually helps her students learn. But she doesn’t know the
best way to study the issue. Given the three research methods below, explain how Mrs. Schmidlap might study
her question.

● Survey
● Cross-sectional
● Case Study (Note: the next day he answers natural observation, not case study - whoops!)
● Explain the importance of operationally defining aspects of her study

Part A: Given the three research methods below, explain how Mrs. Schmidlap might study her question.
Survey – A survey asks participants questions to determine a opinion of collect data about the individuals. Mrs. Schmidlap might
give her students a survey questioning if they felt like they learned something from the homework, if their grades improves from doing
the homework, how long (on average) the homework takes them, etc to help her determine if they are learning.

Cross-sectional – A cross-sectional study compares two groups. To use this method, Mrs. Schmidlap would divide her students
into two groups: those who do the homework and those who do not. Following this, she could administer an assessment and use
those results to find out which group scored higher, which would determine whether homework helps her students learn.

Case Study – A case study studies one person or a group. Mrs. Schmidlap could use this method by selecting two students and
have one do homework and the other not do homework. She could then give them an assessment over the material to determine if
the homework aided in learning or if it made no difference.

● The next day he uses Naturalistic Observation in his answer - so try to answer both:
Naturalistic observation is observing participants of a study without their knowledge to gain insight into their
natural behavior. A case study studies one person or a group. Mrs. Schmidlap could separate two kids from the class
and give one homework. She could then observe them without their knowledge to assess their learning.
Part B: Explain the importance of operationally defining aspects of her study
If Mrs. Schmidlap finds that learning is impacted by whether or not she gives homework, toehrs would
want to replicate her findings. It is important that she operationally defines aspects of her study so
others can replicate it accurately.

AP Psych Review Video 1.3-1.6

Experimental Methods & Ethical Guidelines

Directions: Visit the AP Psych page on YouTube and watch Video 1.3-1.6.

FRQ Review Last Lesson – Check how you did: Explain how Mrs. Schmidlap might study her research
question:
Survey Cross-Sectional Naturalistic Observation Operational Definition

Experiments
Hypothesis A prediction (if ___, then ___)

Independent Aka “the treatment” The IV is something the researcher DOES

Variable

Who receives the independent variable? The experimental/treatment group

Dependent Aka “the result” The DV is something the researcher GETS

Variable

What is our hope in researching? It is a significant change from the baseline/from control group

Identify the IV and DV in video example. IV = drink coffee DV = may more Operationalize Attn:
attention Eye contact, how you’re
seated

Is the result we get what we think it is? Is our result true or worthwhile?

Type I Error = false alarm Type II Error = you don’t kntice Visit Khan FMI
Confounding Variables
Confounding Aka “the lurking Define: things that might affect the result/DV
Variable variable”

Why do confounding variables occur? Imperfect experimental control

The problem with too much control? People/animals don’t act naturally in labs

Explain the graph: What is the How is this a CV?

Bias goes down Hawthorne Effect? This affects the
with more control Acting different result
when under
observation

You can claim causality when... ONLY the independent variable caused a change in the DV

Placebo Placebo Effect Placebo Treatment

Something fake that is good Bad for research Given to the half the participants

Research Design for Coffee Experiment Notes: give ½ decaffeinated coffee with same temp, taste control for
every other variable

Common CV in What is it? How to avoid? Explain... Give an example

Experimental Design

Hawthorne Effect Demand characteristic Single blind technique (deceive Doesn’t know what group they’re
participant about something, EX: in
doesn’t know hypothesis)

Experimenter Bias Treating one group differently Double blind technique Researcher doesn’t know which
participant is in which group

Representation Bias Participants not accurate Random selection Picking names from a hat
representative of population

Randomization (Additional Video Here If Questions Remain)

Random Sample Random Assignment

Define: each person in the larger population N has the same Define: some proportion of demographic characteristics
chance to be chose for the sample n

Ex: passing out invites in a hallway Ex: the lottery

Ethical Issues in Research

Note on research studies: All cause some anxiety and stress

What is the role of an IRB? Reviews proposed studies for ethical violations
 How can we ethically study the placebo Informaed consent, debreifing
effect?

What are researcher responsibilities or What are the key principles of (psychological) research?

Fiduciary Informed Debriefing Voluntary Confidentiality

Responsibility Consent Participation

Take care if Subjects must know After the study, Subjects have right Info obtained about
participants what is being researcher must tell to decline to the subject must be
studied everything and participate at any kept secret
even offer time
counseling

AP Exam Practice:
Mrs. Schmidlap wants to do an experiment on whether watching educational YouTube videos will increase
learning. Explain how the following terms apply to Mrs. Schmidlap’s ideas for this research.
● Independent variable
● Operational definition of dependent variable
● Confounding variable
● Ethical consideration

Part A: Explain how the following terms apply to Mrs. Schmidlap’s ideas for this research
Independent variable – the independent of variable is the one the scientist controls and manipulates. In Mrs.
Schmidlap’s research, the independent variable is the educational YouTube videos. It is the one she has
control over, because she determines if a student will watch the video.

Operational definition of dependent variable – An operational definition of a variable is used when replicating
the research. The operational definition of the dependent variable could be giving the students a certain
assessment to measure their learning.

Confounding variable – A variable that could affect the result of the dependent variable. In this research, this
could be the student’s attention span when watching the video. Watching the video won’t help them if they
don’t pay attention, and this would affect the results of the dependent variable, which is an increase in
learning.

Ethical consideration – Ethical consideration is having the research reviewed by the IRB to determine if it
acts within ethical guidelines and will cause no long term harm to the student who participate.
 AP Psych Review Video 1.5
Statistical Analysis in Psychology

Directions: Visit the AP Psych page on YouTube and watch Video 1.5.

FRQ Review Last Lesson – See how you did: Explain how Mrs. Schmidlap might study her research
question:
Independent Var Operational Def of DV Confounding Var Ethical Consideration

Statistics in Research
What are
Statistics?

Two Types:

Inferential Purpose:
Statistics

How do we show our Population? How do we denote our Sample?

Random sampling doesn’t always lead to

a representative sample - why?
 FRQ HINT:

Statistical Define:
Significance
(p.60)
What does p represent?

What does p<0.5 mean in psychology?

How does the size of p relate to the

significance of our results?

Explain the negative correlation.

Null Hypothesis
Null Hypothesis Why? Goal:

1.

2.

Summary Chart:

Can knowledge be inferred from a

small sample to a larger
population?

Inferential Error Define:

Some examples: Heuristics:

(ignoring statistics Cognitive Biases:

& drawing improper
conclusions) Outgroup
Homogeneity:

Descriptive Statistics
 Measures of Central Mean Median Mode
Tendency

How do outliers skew

your data?

Which measure is most

descriptive of set when
data are skewed?

Graphic Representations: Be mindful you can create simple representations of provided data as this is a
specific skill set in the new curriculum.
Frequency Distribution Bar Chart Histogram

X= X (IV) = X (IV) =

Y= Y (DV) = Y (DV) =

Measures of Variability Define:

(Dispersion)

Low V - High V - Range

Standard Deviation
 (p58)

Relation b/t range & sd?

Z-scores

AP Exam Practice:
Researchers conducted a study in which 10 participants went to a laboratory around dinner time. The
researcher assigned students to one of two groups by flipping a coin. Half of the participants were assigned to
a “large bowl” group, and half were assigned to a “small bowl” group. By luck of the draw, 4 men and 1 woman
were in the “large bowl” group, and 4 women and 1 man were in the “small bowl” group. Participants were told
they could take as much pasta as they wanted from the serving bowl in the middle of the table, which was kept
at nearly a full level. Participants were encouraged to go back for as many helpings of pasta as they wanted. In
order to determine how much food each participant actually ate, the researchers measured the weight of the
food that each participant took, as well as the amount that the participants left in the bowls.

The amount of pasta (in grams) each participant ate is shown in the table below:

Large Bowl Small Bowl

424 196
258 274
376 148
202
387
250
445

Mean: 378 Mean: 214

Std. Dev.: 72.6 Std. Dev.: 49.3

Part A:
Determine the median of the “large bowl” group.

Which group has a smaller range?

Explain how the smaller range related to the standard deviation.

Convert this frequency distribution table into a chart. (Correctly label the x and y axis)