AP Psychology Exam Review 2026 |
Complete Study Guide & Practice Questions
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AP PSYCHOLOGY EXAM REVIEW 2026 | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
• This comprehensive guide features 200 practice questions spanning all AP
Psychology domains with detailed explanations to reinforce conceptual
understanding and exam readiness.
• Study strategically by reviewing questions topic-by-topic, timing yourself on full-
length sets, and using the detailed rationales to identify knowledge gaps and
solidify core concepts.
SECTION 1: SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS & RESEARCH METHODS
1. Which of the following best describes the scientific method in psychology?
A) Forming opinions based on personal experience and intuition
B) Observing behaviors systematically and testing hypotheses through controlled
experiments
C) Reviewing existing theories without conducting new research
D) Asking experts for their professional opinions
E) Conducting studies without establishing clear research questions beforehand
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Observing behaviors systematically and testing
hypotheses through controlled experiments
Rationale: The scientific method requires systematic observation and hypothesis
testing through controlled experiments. This distinguishes psychology as an
empirical science rather than a field based on intuition, expert opinion, or existing
theories alone. Psychology as a science depends on measurable, testable variables
and controlled conditions to establish cause-and-effect relationships.
,2. A researcher hypothesizes that caffeine improves test performance. She
randomly assigns 100 college students to either a caffeine group or a placebo
group, then administers an identical test. What is the independent variable in
this experiment?
A) Test performance
B) The number of students in each group
C) Whether students received caffeine or placebo
D) The difficulty of the test
E) The time of day the test was administered
CORRECT ANSWER: C) Whether students received caffeine or placebo
Rationale: The independent variable is what the researcher manipulates or changes
intentionally. In this case, the researcher is controlling whether participants receive
caffeine or placebo. The dependent variable (what is measured as an outcome) is
test performance. All other options are either constants or confounding variables
that should be controlled.
3. Which research method allows researchers to observe behavior in its
natural setting without manipulation?
A) Laboratory experiment
B) Quasi-experimental design
C) Naturalistic observation
D) Correlational study
E) Meta-analysis
CORRECT ANSWER: C) Naturalistic observation
Rationale: Naturalistic observation involves observing subjects in their natural
environment without researcher intervention or control. This contrasts with
laboratory experiments (controlled setting), quasi-experimental designs (some
,manipulation), correlational studies (measuring relationships), and meta-analyses
(combining existing studies). Naturalistic observation provides ecological validity
but sacrifices experimental control.
4. A psychologist is interested in the relationship between hours of sleep and
academic performance. She surveys 500 students about their sleep habits and
GPA. Which correlation coefficient would indicate a strong positive
relationship?
A) r = -0.85
B) r = 0.15
C) r = 0.78
D) r = -0.42
E) r = 0.05
CORRECT ANSWER: C) r = 0.78
Rationale: Correlation coefficients range from -1.0 to +1.0. A coefficient closer to
+1.0 indicates a strong positive relationship, while -1.0 indicates a strong negative
relationship, and values near 0 indicate weak relationships. An r = 0.78 shows a
strong positive correlation (as one variable increases, the other tends to increase).
While r = -0.85 is strong, it's negative. Values like 0.15, -0.42, and 0.05 are weak to
moderate.
5. What is a confounding variable?
A) A variable that is intentionally manipulated by the researcher
B) An unmeasured variable that affects the dependent variable and may explain
results
C) The variable that researchers measure as an outcome
D) A variable that remains constant throughout the experiment
, E) The sample size in a research study
CORRECT ANSWER: B) An unmeasured variable that affects the dependent
variable and may explain results
Rationale: A confounding variable is an uncontrolled factor that could influence the
dependent variable and thus cloud the interpretation of results. For example, in a
study on caffeine and test performance, anxiety level could be a confounding
variable—anxious students might both avoid caffeine and perform poorly.
Researchers must identify and control for confounding variables to establish valid
cause-and-effect relationships.
6. Which of the following sampling methods provides the best representation
of the population?
A) Convenience sampling
B) Stratified random sampling
C) Snowball sampling
D) Quota sampling
E) Purposive sampling
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Stratified random sampling
Rationale: Stratified random sampling divides the population into subgroups
(strata) and randomly selects from each, ensuring representation of all groups. This
is superior to convenience sampling (selecting available subjects), snowball
sampling (referral-based), quota sampling (non-random selection), and purposive
sampling (deliberately selecting specific types). Stratified random sampling
minimizes sampling bias and maximizes generalizability.
7. A psychologist conducts a study and finds p < 0.05. What does this mean?
A) The results are definitely due to the researcher's hypothesis
B) There is less than a 5% probability that results occurred by chance alone
Complete Study Guide & Practice Questions
AP PSYCHOLOGY EXAM REVIEW 2026 | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
• This comprehensive guide features 200 practice questions spanning all AP
Psychology domains with detailed explanations to reinforce conceptual
understanding and exam readiness.
• Study strategically by reviewing questions topic-by-topic, timing yourself on full-
length sets, and using the detailed rationales to identify knowledge gaps and
solidify core concepts.
SECTION 1: SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS & RESEARCH METHODS
1. Which of the following best describes the scientific method in psychology?
A) Forming opinions based on personal experience and intuition
B) Observing behaviors systematically and testing hypotheses through controlled
experiments
C) Reviewing existing theories without conducting new research
D) Asking experts for their professional opinions
E) Conducting studies without establishing clear research questions beforehand
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Observing behaviors systematically and testing
hypotheses through controlled experiments
Rationale: The scientific method requires systematic observation and hypothesis
testing through controlled experiments. This distinguishes psychology as an
empirical science rather than a field based on intuition, expert opinion, or existing
theories alone. Psychology as a science depends on measurable, testable variables
and controlled conditions to establish cause-and-effect relationships.
,2. A researcher hypothesizes that caffeine improves test performance. She
randomly assigns 100 college students to either a caffeine group or a placebo
group, then administers an identical test. What is the independent variable in
this experiment?
A) Test performance
B) The number of students in each group
C) Whether students received caffeine or placebo
D) The difficulty of the test
E) The time of day the test was administered
CORRECT ANSWER: C) Whether students received caffeine or placebo
Rationale: The independent variable is what the researcher manipulates or changes
intentionally. In this case, the researcher is controlling whether participants receive
caffeine or placebo. The dependent variable (what is measured as an outcome) is
test performance. All other options are either constants or confounding variables
that should be controlled.
3. Which research method allows researchers to observe behavior in its
natural setting without manipulation?
A) Laboratory experiment
B) Quasi-experimental design
C) Naturalistic observation
D) Correlational study
E) Meta-analysis
CORRECT ANSWER: C) Naturalistic observation
Rationale: Naturalistic observation involves observing subjects in their natural
environment without researcher intervention or control. This contrasts with
laboratory experiments (controlled setting), quasi-experimental designs (some
,manipulation), correlational studies (measuring relationships), and meta-analyses
(combining existing studies). Naturalistic observation provides ecological validity
but sacrifices experimental control.
4. A psychologist is interested in the relationship between hours of sleep and
academic performance. She surveys 500 students about their sleep habits and
GPA. Which correlation coefficient would indicate a strong positive
relationship?
A) r = -0.85
B) r = 0.15
C) r = 0.78
D) r = -0.42
E) r = 0.05
CORRECT ANSWER: C) r = 0.78
Rationale: Correlation coefficients range from -1.0 to +1.0. A coefficient closer to
+1.0 indicates a strong positive relationship, while -1.0 indicates a strong negative
relationship, and values near 0 indicate weak relationships. An r = 0.78 shows a
strong positive correlation (as one variable increases, the other tends to increase).
While r = -0.85 is strong, it's negative. Values like 0.15, -0.42, and 0.05 are weak to
moderate.
5. What is a confounding variable?
A) A variable that is intentionally manipulated by the researcher
B) An unmeasured variable that affects the dependent variable and may explain
results
C) The variable that researchers measure as an outcome
D) A variable that remains constant throughout the experiment
, E) The sample size in a research study
CORRECT ANSWER: B) An unmeasured variable that affects the dependent
variable and may explain results
Rationale: A confounding variable is an uncontrolled factor that could influence the
dependent variable and thus cloud the interpretation of results. For example, in a
study on caffeine and test performance, anxiety level could be a confounding
variable—anxious students might both avoid caffeine and perform poorly.
Researchers must identify and control for confounding variables to establish valid
cause-and-effect relationships.
6. Which of the following sampling methods provides the best representation
of the population?
A) Convenience sampling
B) Stratified random sampling
C) Snowball sampling
D) Quota sampling
E) Purposive sampling
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Stratified random sampling
Rationale: Stratified random sampling divides the population into subgroups
(strata) and randomly selects from each, ensuring representation of all groups. This
is superior to convenience sampling (selecting available subjects), snowball
sampling (referral-based), quota sampling (non-random selection), and purposive
sampling (deliberately selecting specific types). Stratified random sampling
minimizes sampling bias and maximizes generalizability.
7. A psychologist conducts a study and finds p < 0.05. What does this mean?
A) The results are definitely due to the researcher's hypothesis
B) There is less than a 5% probability that results occurred by chance alone
