AP Psychology Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Free study guide pack available by Marco Learning (35 pages)
• Access through video description and chat
• Liz Severson, AP Psychology educator, is leading the review
• Recording to be saved on the channel with other review videos

AP Psychology Exam Overview

• Exam is on paper
• Consists of multiple choice (100 questions in 70 minutes)
• Free response requires black or blue pen
• Focus on concept application and research design

Study Prioritization

• Emphasize Scientific Foundations, Cognitive Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Motivation/Emotion
• Research Design and FRQs are crucial

Exam Strategies

• Use Scantron effectively: fill in answers completely, make educated guesses, and return to skipped questions if time permits
• Differentiate research methods (descriptive, correlational, experimental)

Research Design

• Describe purposes, advantages, and disadvantages of research methods
• Ethics in research: informed consent, minimized harm, confidentiality
• Methods vs. Ethics: how vs. should we study
• Case Studies: limitations in generalizability

Practice Example (Milgram Study)

• Operational Definition of the Dependent Variable is crucial
• Example: measuring obedience by voltage level administered

Central Tendency and Variation

• Mean, median, mode, range, histogram, standard deviation
• Skewed distributions: choose median over mean with outliers

Free Response Questions (FRQs)

• Use SODAS format: Space out, Order, Define, Apply, Synonym
• Read both questions, answer easier one first
• Example flaws: lack of random selection, confidentiality breach

Cognitive Psychology

• Types of memory: sensory (iconic and echoic), short-term, long-term
• Explicit vs. Implicit memory
• Levels of Processing: shallow vs. deep processing

Theories of Intelligence

• Spearman's General Intelligence
• Gardner's Multiple Intelligences
• Sternberg's Triarchic Theory
• Validity and reliability of intelligence tests

Clinical Psychology

• Psychological perspectives: Biological, Cognitive, Behavioral
• Treatment methods: Psychoanalysis, Humanistic, Behavioral, Cognitive

Motivation and Emotion

• Theories of motivation: Instinct, Drive Reduction, Incentive, Yerkes-Dodson law
• Theories of emotion: James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, Two-Factor

Study Tips

• Focus on high-yield content areas based on exam percentages
• Utilize resources like College Board's FRQs for practice
• Group study to enhance understanding
• Utilize online resources for additional practice questions

Final Tips

• Review study guide pack for comprehensive overview
• Focus on understanding rather than memorization
• Engage with practice tests to solidify knowledge
• Stay calm and confident, relying on preparation done over the year

Additional Resources

• Check Marco Learning's YouTube and social media for more content and support