Hello everyone! I am taking AP Psych next year and want to understand the FRQs better, could someone please share some examples?
Sure, I'd be happy to provide you with a few examples. In AP Psychology FRQs, you might be asked to apply psychological concepts to a given situation. Here's what a couple of prompts might look like:
1. Suppose a researcher is interested in the effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive function. Describe the difference between an experimental study and a correlational study that the researcher could conduct to investigate this relationship. Explain how concepts like confounding variables, statistical significance, and operational definitions might come into play in the researcher's study.
2. A teacher is struggling with student engagement in her classroom and has decided to implement a system of rewards to increase participation. Discuss how concepts like positive reinforcement, extrinsic motivation, and observational learning might be relevant to the teacher's situation. Evaluate potential drawbacks to her strategy, by referring to concepts like intrinsic motivation and the overjustification effect.
Remember that you should aim to use the terms provided in the prompt in your responses, and you should make sure to fully explain each concept within the context of the scenario given. Referencing specific studies or psychologists to support your explanation can also strengthen your response.
You can also find a thorough breakdown of the AP Psychology exam, including some additional sample FRQs, on CollegeVine's blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/ultimate-guide-to-the-ap-psychology-exam/. This could be a useful resource for you as you navigate the course. Good luck!
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