Unit 1 AP Psych: AP
Psychology Unit One 2026
| Study Guide, Practice
Questions, Answers,
Rationales & Exam Review
Updated Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
, Hindsight bias My Definition: thinking events to be more predictable than they were before the
answer was revealed.
Example: "I knew she was going to die at the end of this movie!"
critical thinking My Definition: Not going with the easiest answer, but examining how the answer
was found. Looking for variables, different sources of evidence, etc.
Example: Not believing everything you see on the internet. When there is a
heading, "Polar bears will be extinct in 2 years!" we need to find the evidence to
support that.
theory My Definition: A proposal that's been backed up by research.
Example: Big Bang Theory
hypothesis My Definition: prediction that can be tested
Example: Teenage males are, on average, taller than teenage females.
hypothesis testing My Definition: Creating an experiment to test the testable prediction
Example: To test dogs' favorite food brand, have a single dog with no previous
association to the brands tested in a room with two or three bowls for the different
kinds of brands. Which do they eat?
operational definition My Definition: Specific definitions of the variable being tested so it is both
measurable and manageable
Example: Happiness (how many times participants smile)
replication My Definition: To do another experiment to see if you get the same results. This will
either hurt or strengthen the theory.
Example: Mr. Rogers did an experiment at Southwestern University. With the same
control groups and variables but different participants, Mrs. Shinge mimics the
experiment at Northwest University.
case study My Definition: Deeply involved examination of people or situations with unique
behavioral/mental processes.
Example: Patient H.M.
survey My Definition: Set of questions given to a representative sample of the population to
reflect on their attitudes, opinions, and behaviors. You can receive a lot of
information in a short amount of time, but people might not be honest.
Example: Youth Risk Behavior Survey
population My Definition: Who you want to be able to draw conclusions about.
Example: If a survey is given to a group of GVHS teachers, it is to be applied to the
rest of GVHS teachers.
random sample My Definition: Sample that is representative of the general population to be able to
generalize findings.
Example: Instead of picking only English teachers to survey, you want to have
teachers from all subjects. That way the findings can be true for the whole school
(and beyond).
naturalistic observation My Definition: Observing and collecting data on behavior in natural situations. You
are not trying to manipulate or control.
Example: Dian Fossey and mountain gorillas (see picture)
Psychology Unit One 2026
| Study Guide, Practice
Questions, Answers,
Rationales & Exam Review
Updated Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
, Hindsight bias My Definition: thinking events to be more predictable than they were before the
answer was revealed.
Example: "I knew she was going to die at the end of this movie!"
critical thinking My Definition: Not going with the easiest answer, but examining how the answer
was found. Looking for variables, different sources of evidence, etc.
Example: Not believing everything you see on the internet. When there is a
heading, "Polar bears will be extinct in 2 years!" we need to find the evidence to
support that.
theory My Definition: A proposal that's been backed up by research.
Example: Big Bang Theory
hypothesis My Definition: prediction that can be tested
Example: Teenage males are, on average, taller than teenage females.
hypothesis testing My Definition: Creating an experiment to test the testable prediction
Example: To test dogs' favorite food brand, have a single dog with no previous
association to the brands tested in a room with two or three bowls for the different
kinds of brands. Which do they eat?
operational definition My Definition: Specific definitions of the variable being tested so it is both
measurable and manageable
Example: Happiness (how many times participants smile)
replication My Definition: To do another experiment to see if you get the same results. This will
either hurt or strengthen the theory.
Example: Mr. Rogers did an experiment at Southwestern University. With the same
control groups and variables but different participants, Mrs. Shinge mimics the
experiment at Northwest University.
case study My Definition: Deeply involved examination of people or situations with unique
behavioral/mental processes.
Example: Patient H.M.
survey My Definition: Set of questions given to a representative sample of the population to
reflect on their attitudes, opinions, and behaviors. You can receive a lot of
information in a short amount of time, but people might not be honest.
Example: Youth Risk Behavior Survey
population My Definition: Who you want to be able to draw conclusions about.
Example: If a survey is given to a group of GVHS teachers, it is to be applied to the
rest of GVHS teachers.
random sample My Definition: Sample that is representative of the general population to be able to
generalize findings.
Example: Instead of picking only English teachers to survey, you want to have
teachers from all subjects. That way the findings can be true for the whole school
(and beyond).
naturalistic observation My Definition: Observing and collecting data on behavior in natural situations. You
are not trying to manipulate or control.
Example: Dian Fossey and mountain gorillas (see picture)
