Week 3 – Sept. 29 & Oct. 1, 2025

Research Ethics: Evaluating the Price of Knowledge

1. Introduction to Ethics & IRB

  • Why ethics? Protects participants, ensures valid science, builds trust.
  • APA Principles:
    • Informed consent
    • Protection from harm
    • Right to withdraw
    • Confidentiality
    • Debriefing after deception
  • IRB (Institutional Review Board): Reviews research, balances risks vs benefits.

Q: Why do you think psychology needs stricter rules than some other fields?

Answer

A: Because psychology often manipulates emotions, stress, and behavior directly — risks of harm can be invisible but real. IRBs make sure those risks are minimized.

2. Famous Studies & Ethical Issues

Milgram’s Obedience Study

Deception, stress, questionable debriefing.

▶ Watch Video

Q: Why did participants obey even though they were distressed?

Answer

A: Authority pressure, diffusion of responsibility, social norms. Shows power of authority but raised ethical alarms.

Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment

No informed consent about potential harm, trauma, no right to withdraw.

▶ Watch Video

Q: Should Zimbardo have stopped the study sooner?

Answer

A: Yes — ethical guidelines require stopping if harm is evident. The study became abusive within days.

Watson & Rayner’s Little Albert

No protection from harm, no desensitization, no real consent.

▶ Watch Video

Q: What should researchers have done differently?

Answer

A: Provided informed consent, avoided traumatizing a child, deconditioned fear afterward.

Monster Study (Wendell Johnson)

Stuttering study on orphans. Negative feedback induced long-term harm.

▶ Watch Video

Q: Why is this especially unethical with orphans?

Answer

A: Vulnerable population, no guardian consent, long-lasting psychological harm. Also, lack of debriefing or reversal of harm.

MKULTRA (CIA Mind Control Experiments)

Government-funded experiments in the 1950s–60s using LSD, hypnosis, and sensory deprivation on unwitting participants to test mind control. Many subjects experienced trauma without consent.

▶ Watch Video

Q: Why is MKULTRA considered one of the most extreme ethical violations?

Answer

A: Participants did not consent, many suffered permanent psychological damage, and it violated basic human rights. It showed how political agendas can override scientific responsibility.

Psychology of Interrogation (Domestic Crime)

Psychologists have been involved in designing interrogation methods for police — such as the Reid Technique. While legal, critics argue it can lead to false confessions due to coercion and psychological manipulation.

▶ Watch Video

Q: Why is psychological interrogation controversial?

Answer

A: Because even if no physical harm occurs, manipulative tactics can pressure innocent people into confessing. The ethical line blurs between “science applied to justice” and “abuse of psychology.”

Psychology of Interrogation (Counter-Terrorism)

After 9/11, some psychologists consulted with military and intelligence agencies to design “enhanced interrogation techniques” (e.g., sleep deprivation, stress positions). These practices have been criticized as unethical and akin to torture.

▶ Watch Video

Q: Why does counter-terrorism interrogation remain an ethical debate?

Answer

A: Proponents argue it protects national security; critics argue it crosses the line into torture, violates human rights, and undermines psychology’s professional ethics. APA later banned psychologists from participating in such interrogations.

3. Ethics Scenarios

Scenario A

A researcher tells students they’ll be in a “memory study,” but the real purpose is to measure stress while being embarrassed in front of peers.

Q: What are the main ethical issues here?

Answer

Deception, psychological harm, lack of informed consent. Fix: Allow deception only if no harm is caused and debrief thoroughly.

Scenario B

A psychologist wants to test whether sleep deprivation impacts test scores, so students are kept awake for 36 hours straight.

Q: What are the main ethical issues here?

Answer

Physical harm, minors at risk, unsafe sleep deprivation. Fix: Use adults, limit to safe hours, monitor health closely.

Scenario C

An experimenter records student conversations in the cafeteria without their knowledge to study “natural language use.”

Q: What are the main ethical issues here?

Answer

Privacy violation, no consent. Fix: Require consent or anonymize/public-space-only data.

4. Three-Team Ethics Debate

Dilemma: A new VR simulation is designed to study fear in teens. Realistic scenarios include heights, darkness, and social rejection. Researchers argue it could help anxiety treatments. Some teens may feel distress.

  • Team 1 (Pro-Research): Benefits outweigh risks if monitored.
  • Team 2 (Strict IRB): Too risky for minors, restrict or redesign.
  • Team 3 (Middle Ground): Allow with modifications (parent consent, safety monitoring, exit option).

Q: What IRB principles apply here?

Answer

Parental consent, minimal harm, right to withdraw, and protecting vulnerable populations.

5. Wrap-Up Reflection

Q: If you were on an IRB, what rule would matter most to you, and why?

Sample Answers

– “The right to withdraw matters most — people should never feel trapped.”

– “Informed consent is essential, otherwise no study is fair.”

– “Debriefing after deception — because honesty matters in science.”

Multiple Choice (50)

Choose the best answer.
W1 • Scientific Attitude
1) The scientific attitude is best described as a combination of:
  1. Curiosity, skepticism, humility
  2. Optimism, creativity, persistence
  3. Caution, belief, tradition
  4. Intuition, authority, faith
  5. Imagination, invention, certainty
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A. These three protect against bias: seek evidence, test claims, and be willing to be wrong.
W1 • Scientific Attitude
2) Which statement reflects the importance of skepticism in psychology?
  1. “Trust the first explanation that seems plausible.”
  2. “Always doubt psychological research.”
  3. “Consider competing ideas and test them against data.”
  4. “Reject anything that challenges common sense.”
  5. “Ignore replication attempts.”
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C. Skepticism evaluates claims with evidence; it is not blanket cynicism.
W1 • Scientific Attitude
3) Humility in science means:
  1. Being modest about your research funding
  2. Recognizing the limits of one’s own knowledge
  3. Rejecting scientific findings
  4. Never publishing controversial results
  5. Trusting intuition over data
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. Humility keeps us open to disconfirming evidence and revision.
W1 • Why Science
4) Why is psychology considered a science?
  1. It relies on anecdotal evidence
  2. It studies subjective experiences
  3. It uses empirical methods and the scientific method
  4. It avoids quantitative analysis
  5. It focuses on intuition
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C. Psychology applies systematic observation, measurement, and testing.
W1 • Operational Definitions
5) An operational definition of stress might be:
  1. “The feeling of being overwhelmed”
  2. “A state of mental strain”
  3. “The number of daily hassles reported on a checklist”
  4. “A subjective report of anxiety”
  5. “General unease about the future”
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C. Operational definitions translate concepts into measurable procedures.
W1 • Variables
6) Which term refers to the factor that is manipulated in an experiment?
  1. Independent variable
  2. Dependent variable
  3. Confounding variable
  4. Operational variable
  5. Control variable
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A. The IV is what the researcher manipulates to test effects.
W1 • Variables
7) In a memory study, participants’ test scores represent the:
  1. Independent variable
  2. Dependent variable
  3. Control variable
  4. Confounding variable
  5. Random assignment
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. The DV is the measured outcome.
W1 • Operational Definitions
8) Which is a clear operational definition of aggression?
  1. “Feeling angry at someone”
  2. “Number of times a participant hits a punching bag in 5 minutes”
  3. “Hostile thoughts about another person”
  4. “A tendency toward violence”
  5. “Internal frustration”
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. It is observable and countable.
W1 • Validity & Confounds
9) A confounding variable is problematic because it:
  1. Strengthens internal validity
  2. Is the same as the dependent variable
  3. Provides alternative explanations for results
  4. Improves experimental control
  5. Increases random assignment
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C. Confounds threaten causal inference.
W1 • Hypotheses
10) Which of the following is a hypothesis?
  1. “Students study differently for exams.”
  2. “If students sleep 8 hours, they will score higher on tests.”
  3. “Sleep is important for learning.”
  4. “Memory depends on many factors.”
  5. “Tests are stressful.”
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. It’s specific and testable.
W1 • Theory vs Hypothesis
11) A theory is different from a hypothesis because a theory:
  1. Is untestable
  2. Organizes and explains a range of observations
  3. Can be proven absolutely true
  4. Focuses only on operational definitions
  5. Is narrower in scope
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. Theories integrate many findings; hypotheses are specific predictions.
W1 • Replication
12) Which is the best example of replication?
  1. Repeating a study with different participants and getting similar results
  2. Running the same experiment twice with the same people
  3. Publishing a study in two journals
  4. Checking your calculations twice
  5. Conducting research with animals instead of humans
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A. Replication tests robustness across samples and settings.
W1 • Philosophy of Science
13) Why is falsifiability important in science?
  1. It guarantees results are correct
  2. It ensures that a claim can be tested and potentially disproven
  3. It prevents replication
  4. It eliminates confounds
  5. It proves causation
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. Scientific claims must be testable and vulnerable to disproof.
W1 • Biases
14) Which of the following is most likely to reduce hindsight bias?
  1. Writing predictions before results are known
  2. Focusing only on positive outcomes
  3. Ignoring replication failures
  4. Avoiding statistics
  5. Trusting intuition
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A. Prior predictions curb the “I-knew-it” effect.
W1 • Biases
15) Which best illustrates overconfidence bias?
  1. Assuming you’ll ace a test without studying
  2. Looking back and saying “I knew it all along”
  3. Believing unrelated events are connected
  4. Expecting the average to be the most common
  5. Noticing only supportive evidence
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A. Overconfidence is overestimating accuracy or performance.
W1 • Variables
16) In a caffeine experiment, students’ heart rates are measured. Heart rate is the:
  1. Independent variable
  2. Dependent variable
  3. Confounding variable
  4. Operational variable
  5. Control variable
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. It’s the measured outcome.
W1 • Controls
17) What does the control group receive in an experiment?
  1. The independent variable
  2. No treatment or a placebo
  3. The dependent variable
  4. The confound
  5. The manipulated condition
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. Controls provide a baseline for comparison.
W1 • Assignment
18) Which practice ensures results are not due to chance assignment?
  1. Double-blind procedure
  2. Random assignment
  3. Correlation
  4. Naturalistic observation
  5. Replication
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. Random assignment balances participant differences across groups.
W2 • Correlation Basics
19) Correlation coefficients range from:
  1. –2.0 to +2.0
  2. –10.0 to +10.0
  3. –1.0 to +1.0
  4. 0 to +1.0
  5. 0 to +100%
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C. −1 to +1 indexes direction and strength.
W2 • Correlation Basics
20) A positive correlation means:
  1. As one variable increases, the other decreases
  2. Two variables move in the same direction
  3. One variable causes the other
  4. The relationship is due to chance
  5. Two variables are unrelated
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. Both rise or fall together.
W2 • Correlation Strength
21) A correlation of –0.85 indicates:
  1. A weak negative relationship
  2. A strong negative relationship
  3. A moderate positive relationship
  4. No relationship
  5. A causal relationship
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. Magnitude near 1.0 is strong; negative = inverse direction.
W2 • Illusory Correlation
22) The term “illusory correlation” refers to:
  1. A correlation coefficient near zero
  2. Believing two things are related when they are not
  3. A false operational definition
  4. Overestimating random events
  5. Underestimating statistical significance
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. We notice co-occurrences and ignore non-events.
W2 • Regression to Mean
23) Regression toward the mean refers to:
  1. Extreme scores moving closer to the average on retesting
  2. Average scores shifting toward extremes
  3. Scores clustering at the median
  4. Causation being proven from correlation
  5. Errors in statistical analysis
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A. Extremes often include chance; next measures drift toward average.
W2 • Scatterplots
24) Which scatterplot would show a strong negative correlation?
  1. Points clustered from lower left to upper right
  2. Points spread randomly
  3. Points clustered from upper left to lower right
  4. A flat horizontal line
  5. A vertical line
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C. As X increases, Y decreases: upper-left to lower-right trend.
W2 • Descriptive Stats
25) Which descriptive statistic is most influenced by outliers?
  1. Mean
  2. Median
  3. Mode
  4. Range
  5. Frequency
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A. The mean shifts with extreme values; the median resists them.
W2 • Skew
26) If a distribution is positively skewed, the mean will be:
  1. Higher than the median
  2. Lower than the median
  3. Equal to the median
  4. Equal to the mode
  5. Unchanged by skew
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A. The right tail pulls the mean upward.
W2 • Normal Curve
27) In a normal curve, approximately 68% of data fall within:
  1. One standard deviation of the mean
  2. Two standard deviations of the mean
  3. Three standard deviations of the mean
  4. Half a standard deviation
  5. The median
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A. 68–95–99.7 rule for ±1, ±2, ±3 SD.
W2 • Variation
28) Which measure of variation tells us how spread out scores are?
  1. Mean
  2. Median
  3. Mode
  4. Standard deviation
  5. Frequency
Show answer & explanation
Answer: D. SD captures average distance from the mean.
W2 • Interpreting r
29) If the correlation between studying hours and GPA is +0.40, this means:
  1. More studying is strongly linked to lower GPA
  2. More studying is somewhat linked to higher GPA
  3. Studying causes higher GPA
  4. GPA causes more studying
  5. There is no relationship
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. Moderate, positive association; not causal.
W2 • Correlation Concept
30) Which term describes the likelihood of two variables varying together?
  1. Correlation
  2. Causation
  3. Random assignment
  4. Descriptive statistics
  5. Operationalization
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A. Correlation measures co-variation.
W2 • Scatterplots
31) A scatterplot with points randomly dispersed and no pattern indicates:
  1. Strong positive correlation
  2. Strong negative correlation
  3. Weak or no correlation
  4. Perfect correlation
  5. Causation
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C. No pattern → r near 0.
W2 • Correlation ≠ Causation
32) Why is correlation not causation?
  1. It proves nothing
  2. There may be directionality or third-variable problems
  3. It only applies to experiments
  4. It always equals zero
  5. It eliminates confounds
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. We cannot infer direction or rule out lurking variables.
W2 • Central Tendency
33) The most frequently occurring score in a distribution is the:
  1. Mean
  2. Median
  3. Mode
  4. Range
  5. Standard deviation
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C. Mode = most common value.
W2 • Comparing Distributions
34) Which descriptive statistic is most useful for comparing very different distributions?
  1. Mean
  2. Mode
  3. Range
  4. Standard deviation
  5. Median
Show answer & explanation
Answer: D. SD normalizes spread; helpful across contexts.
W3 • Inferential Stats
35) Inferential statistics allow researchers to:
  1. Describe a dataset
  2. Predict outcomes without evidence
  3. Generalize findings to a population
  4. Eliminate confounding variables
  5. Replicate results
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C. They infer population parameters from samples.
W3 • Significance
36) Statistical significance means:
  1. The result is important
  2. The result is unlikely due to chance
  3. The correlation is strong
  4. The effect size is large
  5. The experiment is ethical
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. A low p-value indicates the result is unlikely by random variation.
W3 • p-values
37) A p-value less than .05 indicates:
  1. A 95% chance the result occurred by chance
  2. A 5% chance the result is due to chance
  3. Proof of causation
  4. No relationship between variables
  5. A meaningless result
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. Conventionally, p < .05 is considered statistically significant.
W3 • Ethics
38) Which principle ensures participants are told enough to choose participation freely?
  1. Confidentiality
  2. Debriefing
  3. Informed consent
  4. Random assignment
  5. Double-blind procedure
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C. Informed consent precedes participation.
W3 • Ethics
39) Which APA guideline requires explaining the true purpose after deception?
  1. Informed consent
  2. Debriefing
  3. Confidentiality
  4. Right to withdraw
  5. Protection from harm
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. Debriefing clarifies aims, methods, and any deception used.
W3 • Ethics
40) What does “protection from harm” in ethics mean?
  1. No participant can ever feel stress
  2. Participants must be shielded from unreasonable risk
  3. Results cannot be published
  4. Only adults can participate
  5. All research must be risk-free
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. Risks should be minimized and justified by potential benefits.
W3 • Ethics
41) Which guideline is MOST at risk if a researcher publishes identifying data?
  1. Confidentiality
  2. Debriefing
  3. Informed consent
  4. Random assignment
  5. Replication
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A. Identities must be protected.
W3 • Ethics
42) What is the primary purpose of IRBs (Institutional Review Boards)?
  1. Approving statistical significance
  2. Ensuring ethical treatment of research participants
  3. Reanalyzing published data
  4. Funding psychology experiments
  5. Writing operational definitions
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. IRBs evaluate risk, consent, privacy, and safeguards.
W3 • Animal Ethics
43) Animal research is considered ethical if:
  1. Animals are not stressed
  2. The study has potential human benefit and humane treatment
  3. Animals are treated the same as humans
  4. No surgery is involved
  5. Animals are freely volunteering
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. Ethical use includes justification and welfare standards.
W3 • Practical vs Statistical
44) Why is statistical significance not the same as practical significance?
  1. Practical significance always equals causation
  2. A tiny effect may be statistically real but not meaningful in life
  3. Practical significance requires replication
  4. Statistical significance is unethical
  5. They are identical
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. Sample size can make trivial effects “significant.”
W3 • Sampling
45) Why are larger sample sizes generally better?
  1. They ensure causation
  2. They reduce sampling error and increase reliability
  3. They eliminate skew
  4. They guarantee generalization
  5. They prevent confounds
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. Larger n typically stabilizes estimates.
W3 • Ethics
46) Which of the following is NOT required in APA ethics?
  1. Informed consent
  2. Confidentiality
  3. Deception when necessary
  4. Debriefing
  5. Right to withdraw
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C. Deception is permitted only with justification; it isn’t “required.”
W3 • p-values
47) A researcher finds p = .20. This means:
  1. The result is statistically significant
  2. The result is not statistically significant
  3. There is no effect
  4. Causation is proven
  5. The effect size is large
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. p = .20 exceeds the usual .05 threshold.
W3 • Sampling
48) Why is random sampling important?
  1. It controls confounding variables
  2. It ensures the sample is representative of the population
  3. It eliminates placebo effects
  4. It proves causation
  5. It ensures statistical significance
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. Representative samples support generalization.
W3 • Tests
49) Which statistical tool would help determine if differences between two groups are likely due to chance?
  1. Correlation coefficient
  2. t-test
  3. Mean
  4. Mode
  5. Range
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. t-tests compare group means relative to variability.
W3 • Peer Review
50) Why is peer review important in research?
  1. It eliminates confounding variables
  2. It ensures results are ethical, valid, and reliable before publication
  3. It guarantees causation
  4. It prevents replication
  5. It makes results statistically significant
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B. Independent scrutiny strengthens quality and credibility.

Short Answer (20)

Write a concise response of two to five sentences. Answer key included
W1 • Biases
1) Define hindsight bias and explain why it is a threat to scientific thinking.
Show answer & explanation
Key points: Hindsight bias is the “knew-it-all-along” effect. It overestimates predictability after outcomes are known, discouraging prediction and replication and distorting interpretations.
W1 • Operational Definitions
2) Provide an operational definition of happiness.
Show answer & explanation
Example: Average daily rating on a 0–10 mood scale over 7 days, or score on a validated positive affect scale. Must be observable and measurable.
W1 • Variables
3) Differentiate between independent variable and dependent variable with an example.
Show answer & explanation
IV is manipulated (e.g., caffeine dose); DV is measured outcome (e.g., reaction time).
W1 • Methods
4) Why is replication important in research?
Show answer & explanation
Confirms reliability across samples/settings; guards against false positives and context-specific findings.
W2 • Correlation vs Causation
5) What is the main weakness of correlational research?
Show answer & explanation
Cannot establish causation due to directionality and third-variable problems.
W2 • Illusory Correlation
6) Define and give an example of an illusory correlation.
Show answer & explanation
Perceiving a relationship where none exists; e.g., “full moon causes more ER visits.”
W2 • Central Tendency
7) When is the median a better measure of central tendency than the mean?
Show answer & explanation
In skewed distributions or with outliers (e.g., income), the median resists extremes.
W2 • Variation
8) Explain what a standard deviation tells us.
Show answer & explanation
Average distance of scores from the mean; larger SD = more spread/variability.
W1 • Sampling vs Assignment
9) How does random assignment differ from random sampling?
Show answer & explanation
Sampling selects who enters the study (generalization). Assignment allocates participants to conditions (causal control).
W3 • Inferential Stats
10) Give one reason inferential statistics are essential in psychology.
Show answer & explanation
They allow conclusions about populations from samples (e.g., significance testing, CIs).
W3 • p-values
11) What does a p-value represent?
Show answer & explanation
Probability of the observed (or more extreme) result if the null hypothesis were true.
W2–3 • Stats Overview
12) Explain the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics.
Show answer & explanation
Descriptive summarize data (mean, SD). Inferential test hypotheses/generalize (p, CIs).
W3 • Ethics
13) Why is deception sometimes permitted in psychological research?
Show answer & explanation
If necessary for validity, minimal risk, with IRB approval and full debriefing afterward.
W3 • Ethics
14) What must researchers provide during debriefing?
Show answer & explanation
True purpose, procedures, any deception disclosed, and contact/resources for follow-up.
W3 • Ethics
15) Explain why confidentiality is critical in psychological studies.
Show answer & explanation
Protects privacy, reduces harm risk, builds trust, and is required by ethics/IRB.
W2 • Regression
16) Define regression toward the mean.
Show answer & explanation
Extreme scores tend to be closer to average upon retesting due to random variation.
W1 • Operationalization
17) Provide an example of how operational definitions improve replication.
Show answer & explanation
Defining “memory” as percent correct on a 20-item list after 10 minutes lets others repeat precisely.
W1 • Scientific Attitude
18) Why is humility an essential part of the scientific attitude?
Show answer & explanation
Encourages updating beliefs when data contradict expectations; reduces bias.
W2 • Surveys
19) Explain one limitation of using self-report surveys.
Show answer & explanation
Social desirability, memory errors, or misunderstandings can bias responses.
W2 • Skew
20) Describe how a skewed distribution can affect interpretation of test scores.
Show answer & explanation
Mean can misrepresent “typical” performance; median often better; percentiles help.

Free Response Questions (5)

Write complete responses using AP-style structure (define, apply, connect). Rubrics included
W1 • Research Design
FRQ 1) A psychologist hypothesizes that daily exercise reduces stress in high school students. Define and explain how the following apply: Independent variable, Dependent variable, Operational definition, Confounding variable, Random assignment.
Show rubric & exemplar
Rubric targets:
  • IV: exercise amount/frequency (manipulated).
  • DV: stress (measured outcome).
  • Operational defs: e.g., 20 minutes/day of moderate cardio; stress = cortisol or validated stress scale.
  • Confound: prior fitness, sleep, caffeine; explain control.
  • Random assignment: randomly allocate students to exercise vs control to balance differences.
W2 • Correlation vs Causation
FRQ 2) Researchers find a strong correlation between time on social media and loneliness. Explain why this does not prove causation, and describe two possible third variables.
Show rubric & exemplar
Rubric targets:
  • State directionality and third-variable problems.
  • Provide two plausible third variables (e.g., social anxiety, offline social opportunities, depression, sleep problems).
  • Explain how each could produce the observed correlation without direct causation.
W2–3 • Descriptive & Inferential
FRQ 3) A school psychologist analyzes test scores for a sample of students. Discuss: mean, median, mode; standard deviation; normal curve; statistical significance; generalizing to the population.
Show rubric & exemplar
Rubric targets:
  • Define and compare mean/median/mode; address skew.
  • Define SD and interpret spread.
  • Describe normal curve and 68–95–99.7 rule.
  • Explain significance (p) vs practical importance.
  • Note sampling method for valid generalization.
W3 • Ethics
FRQ 4) A researcher wants to study sleep deprivation in teenagers. Explain how they must address: informed consent, protection from harm, confidentiality, debriefing.
Show rubric & exemplar
Rubric targets:
  • Consent: assent + guardian consent; clear risks/benefits.
  • Harm: limit deprivation, monitor wellbeing, allow withdrawal.
  • Confidentiality: secure, de-identified data.
  • Debrief: explain purpose, provide resources.
W1 • Scientific Attitude
FRQ 5) Define curiosity, skepticism, and humility, and explain how each prevents errors in thinking when conducting psychological research.
Show rubric & exemplar
Rubric targets:
  • Curiosity: motivates systematic inquiry vs intuition alone.
  • Skepticism: challenges claims, seeks converging evidence.
  • Humility: accepts disconfirmation, reduces confirmation bias.
  • Apply each to concrete research decisions (design, analysis, interpretation).

AP Classroom Enrollment

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P724WD

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Reminder: Five Units on the AP Psychology Exam

  • Unit 1: Biological Bases of Behavior
    Behaviors and mental processes from a biological perspective; effects of interaction between biology and environment.
  • Unit 2: Cognition
    Memory, intelligence, and other mental processes and how they impact human behavior.
  • Unit 3: Development and Learning
    Physical and social changes across the lifespan; perspectives on learning and its influence on behavior.
  • Unit 4: Social Psychology and Personality
    How social experiences influence behavior; approaches to studying and understanding personality.
  • Unit 5: Mental and Physical Health
    Promotion of health and treatment of psychological disorders; evaluating approaches to well-being.