Parents’ Page — AP Psychology
Welcome! You do not need any psychology background to help. This page gives you simple, ready-to-use prompts and plain-language explanations so you can encourage your student without ever feeling put on the spot.
This Week’s Topics
Block schedule: Mondays & Wednesdays, 1:45–3:30 pm. Topics appear here in plain text so you can check what we’re covering.
| Week | Dates | Focus (plain text) |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Sept 15 & 17 | Scientific attitude; why psychological science is needed; variables & operational definitions |
| Week 2 | Sept 22 & 24 | Correlation vs. causation; descriptive statistics |
| Week 3 | Sept 29 & Oct 1 | Inferential statistics; ethics in research |
| Week 4 | Oct 6 & 8 | Nervous system overview; neurons & neural firing |
| Week 5 | Oct 13 & 15 | Psychoactive drugs; tools of brain discovery (note: Oct 13 no class) |
No-Prep Conversation Scripts
If you’re short on time or unsure what to say, try one of these. They’re designed so you can’t “say it wrong.”
Script A — One Idea Check-In
“Tell me one idea from psychology this week — I’m just curious.”
“What’s a simple example of that idea in everyday life?”
“If someone doubted it, what evidence would you show them?”
What a solid student answer might sound like
“We talked about operational definitions. If we study ‘stress,’ we define it in a way we can measure — like score on a stress questionnaire. Then others can repeat the study.”
Script B — Teach-Back in 60 Seconds
“Pretend I wasn’t in class. In one minute, explain the main point.”
“Great — now name one mistake people commonly make about that idea.”
What a solid student answer might sound like
“People often think correlation means cause. It doesn’t. Two things can change together because of a third thing — like ice cream sales and sunburns both rise because of hot weather.”
30-Second Explainers (Parent Cheat-Sheet)
Use these short, plain-language explanations if you want a quick refresher before talking.
Scientific attitude
Plain English: A mindset of curiosity (“What’s true?”), skepticism (“How do we know?”), and humility (“I can be wrong”).
Correlation vs. causation
Plain English: Correlation = two things change together. Causation = one makes the other happen. Correlation can happen because of a third factor.
Independent vs. dependent variable
Plain English: Independent = what a study changes. Dependent = what the study measures.
Operational definition
Plain English: A recipe-style definition so anyone can measure the thing the same way. Example: “Stress” = score on a 10-item survey.
Overconfidence & hindsight bias
Plain English: Overconfidence = feeling more certain than evidence justifies. Hindsight = “I knew it all along.”
Descriptive vs. inferential statistics
Plain English: Descriptive = summarize what we observed. Inferential = what we can probably say about a larger group.
Guided Starters by Unit (with parent coaching)
How to Support Studying
Simple Routines
- Two short study windows (before/after each class day).
- Ask for a 60-second “teach-back” twice a week.
- Encourage quick quizzes over re-reading notes.
What to Say
- “Explain one term like you’re teaching a 9th-grader.”
- “Draw the graph/diagram and talk me through the labels.”
About the AP Psychology Exam
- Two parts: Multiple Choice (~⅔) + Free Response (~⅓).
- Skills: Explain concepts, read graphs/tables, outline an experiment.
- Our plan: Weekly practice to build confidence gradually.
Sensitive Topics & Student Well-Being
Some topics can feel personal. We handle all material with respect and align with school policies. Families are notified if a topic may be especially powerful.
Contact
Instructor: Michael Ferguson, PhD
Email: mferguson@bwh.harvard.edu
Office hours: by appointment (in person or Zoom)
Main course website: neuromichael.com/ap-psychology