CLEP INTRO TO EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATE 2025/2026
Token Economy - Answers A form of behavior modification using operant conditioning
principles. Every time the patient displays the desired behavior, he is awarded a token (such as a
star or a coin) that can be traded for a physical possession or special privilege.
Pedagogy - Answers The art of teaching. It encompasses different styles and methods of
instructing.
Instructional Theory - Answers A theory which focuses on how to structure material to best
teach students, especially young ones. This approach can be divided into two general
approaches: cognitive and behavioral.
Critical pedagogy - Answers A teaching style which seeks to instruct students in how to
recognize and rise up against oppression. This area of teaching is influenced by the works of
Karl Marx.
Law of Effect - Answers A principle proposed by Edward Thorndike stating behaviors with
positive outcomes will be repeated while those with negative outcomes will be avoided.
Direct instruction - Answers A type of instruction which involves the teacher systematically
leading the students step by step to a particular learning goals. This type of teaching is best for
learning math or other complex skills, but not for less structured tasks such as English
composition.
Academic Learning Time - Answers The amount of time the student spends focused on his
studies when he is successful at learning the material.
Scheduled Time - Answers The total length of the class.
Allocated Time - Answers The amount of class time devoted to teaching.
Engaged Time - Answers The amount of Allocated Time each individual student spends focused
on the class.
Active teaching - Answers A method of pedagogy where the teacher actively looks for ways to
improve the students' knowledge of a subject. Ways of doing this include actively presenting
concepts, checking to see if the students understand, and reteaching any trouble areas for the
students.
Generative learning - Answers A type of learning where the teacher encourages the students to
find their own meaning in learning. The teacher will show relationships between the new subject
matter and past learning and will encourage the students to have confidence in their own ability
to make these connections.
,Two-sigma problem - Answers According to researcher Benjamin Bloom, students with
individual tutors generally perform two standard deviations (two "sigmas") above those in
average classrooms.
Norm-Referenced Testing - Answers A testing procedure that measures an individual student's
score relative to those of a representative group of students. These tests are used to rank
students based on their skill levels compared to their peers.
Criterion-Referenced Testing - Answers A testing procedure that measures a student's mastery
of a particular skill or understanding of a certain concept. The purpose of this kind of test is to
measure whether a student has achieved a certain learning objective.
Instruction - Answers All sources that contribute to a student's learning. This term includes the
teacher, the textbook, the principal, and any others who promote education.
Carroll's Model of School Learning - Answers A learning model that proposes that learning is a
function of the ratio between the effort needed to the effort spent learning.
learning=f(time spent/time needed)
Mastery Learning - Answers Allowing each student to reach full mastery of a concept,
regardless of how long it takes.
Educational Psychology - Answers The study of how students learn and develop.
Steiner-Waldorf Education - Answers A humanistic, interdisciplinary form of teaching which
emphasizes the role of creativity and imagination in learning. According to this theory, children
pass through three learning stages: imitative learning, artistic learning, and abstract learning.
ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) - Answers A disruptive disorder characterized by
the underdevelopment of certain traits such as impulse control, leading to inattention,
hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. The three types are predominantly hyperactive-impulsive,
predominantly inattentive, and combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive.
Learning Disability - Answers A broad category of disorders in which the individual has difficulty
learning in a typical way.
Dyslexia - Answers A learning disability which impairs a person's language ability. Those with
this disorder may have difficulty with reading, writing, or spelling.
Mental Retardation - Answers A disorder characterized by an impairment of one's cognitive
abilities and problems with adapting to situations. Individuals with this problem often have IQs
of under 70.
Cerebral Palsy (CP) - Answers A group of non-progressive motor problems which cause
psychical disability. These disorders are caused by injuries to the motor control centers in the
, brain during birth or early childhood.
Epilepsy - Answers A neurological disorder characterized by seizures. This disorder is caused by
excessive, abnormal brain activity.
Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences - Answers A theory which proposes that there are
eight different kinds of cognitive intelligences, none of which are necessarily correlated. The
intelligences are spacial, linguistic, logical-mathematical, bodily-kinesthetic, musical,
interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic.
Psychometrics - Answers The study of the theory and technique of creating psychological tests,
such as IQ, aptitude, or personality trait tests.
WISC (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children) - Answers An individually administered
intelligence test designed for children ages 6-16.
WAIS (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale) - Answers An intelligence test for adults used most
commonly in clinical settings.
WPPSI (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence) - Answers An intelligence test for
young children ages 2-7.
Pivotal Response Therapy - Answers A form of behavioral modification designed for autistic
children. This treatment targets key parts of an individual's development, such as motivation or
social responsiveness, in the hope that the treatment will spread to other behavioral areas as
well.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) - Answers Behavioral modification based on behavioral
learning theory.
Self-Determination Theory - Answers A theory of internal motivation, the forces which drive
behavior in the absence of any external stimuli. A key part of this theory is intrinsic motivation.
Intrinsic Motivation - Answers According to self-determination theory, the drive one has to
perform a specific behavior not for a reward (extrinsic motivation) but for the sheer pleasure of
the action itself.
Constructivism - Answers A theory which states that individuals create schemata (mental
concepts and rules) based on the interaction between their experience and ideas. This theory is
based on the ideas of Jean Piaget.
Character - Answers The collection of traits in a person that inspires him to behave honestly,
respectfully, and courageously.
Simple Moral Education Programs - Answers A type of character education where an instructor
discusses moral questions with students. This type of program has limited success.
LATEST UPDATE 2025/2026
Token Economy - Answers A form of behavior modification using operant conditioning
principles. Every time the patient displays the desired behavior, he is awarded a token (such as a
star or a coin) that can be traded for a physical possession or special privilege.
Pedagogy - Answers The art of teaching. It encompasses different styles and methods of
instructing.
Instructional Theory - Answers A theory which focuses on how to structure material to best
teach students, especially young ones. This approach can be divided into two general
approaches: cognitive and behavioral.
Critical pedagogy - Answers A teaching style which seeks to instruct students in how to
recognize and rise up against oppression. This area of teaching is influenced by the works of
Karl Marx.
Law of Effect - Answers A principle proposed by Edward Thorndike stating behaviors with
positive outcomes will be repeated while those with negative outcomes will be avoided.
Direct instruction - Answers A type of instruction which involves the teacher systematically
leading the students step by step to a particular learning goals. This type of teaching is best for
learning math or other complex skills, but not for less structured tasks such as English
composition.
Academic Learning Time - Answers The amount of time the student spends focused on his
studies when he is successful at learning the material.
Scheduled Time - Answers The total length of the class.
Allocated Time - Answers The amount of class time devoted to teaching.
Engaged Time - Answers The amount of Allocated Time each individual student spends focused
on the class.
Active teaching - Answers A method of pedagogy where the teacher actively looks for ways to
improve the students' knowledge of a subject. Ways of doing this include actively presenting
concepts, checking to see if the students understand, and reteaching any trouble areas for the
students.
Generative learning - Answers A type of learning where the teacher encourages the students to
find their own meaning in learning. The teacher will show relationships between the new subject
matter and past learning and will encourage the students to have confidence in their own ability
to make these connections.
,Two-sigma problem - Answers According to researcher Benjamin Bloom, students with
individual tutors generally perform two standard deviations (two "sigmas") above those in
average classrooms.
Norm-Referenced Testing - Answers A testing procedure that measures an individual student's
score relative to those of a representative group of students. These tests are used to rank
students based on their skill levels compared to their peers.
Criterion-Referenced Testing - Answers A testing procedure that measures a student's mastery
of a particular skill or understanding of a certain concept. The purpose of this kind of test is to
measure whether a student has achieved a certain learning objective.
Instruction - Answers All sources that contribute to a student's learning. This term includes the
teacher, the textbook, the principal, and any others who promote education.
Carroll's Model of School Learning - Answers A learning model that proposes that learning is a
function of the ratio between the effort needed to the effort spent learning.
learning=f(time spent/time needed)
Mastery Learning - Answers Allowing each student to reach full mastery of a concept,
regardless of how long it takes.
Educational Psychology - Answers The study of how students learn and develop.
Steiner-Waldorf Education - Answers A humanistic, interdisciplinary form of teaching which
emphasizes the role of creativity and imagination in learning. According to this theory, children
pass through three learning stages: imitative learning, artistic learning, and abstract learning.
ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) - Answers A disruptive disorder characterized by
the underdevelopment of certain traits such as impulse control, leading to inattention,
hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. The three types are predominantly hyperactive-impulsive,
predominantly inattentive, and combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive.
Learning Disability - Answers A broad category of disorders in which the individual has difficulty
learning in a typical way.
Dyslexia - Answers A learning disability which impairs a person's language ability. Those with
this disorder may have difficulty with reading, writing, or spelling.
Mental Retardation - Answers A disorder characterized by an impairment of one's cognitive
abilities and problems with adapting to situations. Individuals with this problem often have IQs
of under 70.
Cerebral Palsy (CP) - Answers A group of non-progressive motor problems which cause
psychical disability. These disorders are caused by injuries to the motor control centers in the
, brain during birth or early childhood.
Epilepsy - Answers A neurological disorder characterized by seizures. This disorder is caused by
excessive, abnormal brain activity.
Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences - Answers A theory which proposes that there are
eight different kinds of cognitive intelligences, none of which are necessarily correlated. The
intelligences are spacial, linguistic, logical-mathematical, bodily-kinesthetic, musical,
interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic.
Psychometrics - Answers The study of the theory and technique of creating psychological tests,
such as IQ, aptitude, or personality trait tests.
WISC (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children) - Answers An individually administered
intelligence test designed for children ages 6-16.
WAIS (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale) - Answers An intelligence test for adults used most
commonly in clinical settings.
WPPSI (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence) - Answers An intelligence test for
young children ages 2-7.
Pivotal Response Therapy - Answers A form of behavioral modification designed for autistic
children. This treatment targets key parts of an individual's development, such as motivation or
social responsiveness, in the hope that the treatment will spread to other behavioral areas as
well.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) - Answers Behavioral modification based on behavioral
learning theory.
Self-Determination Theory - Answers A theory of internal motivation, the forces which drive
behavior in the absence of any external stimuli. A key part of this theory is intrinsic motivation.
Intrinsic Motivation - Answers According to self-determination theory, the drive one has to
perform a specific behavior not for a reward (extrinsic motivation) but for the sheer pleasure of
the action itself.
Constructivism - Answers A theory which states that individuals create schemata (mental
concepts and rules) based on the interaction between their experience and ideas. This theory is
based on the ideas of Jean Piaget.
Character - Answers The collection of traits in a person that inspires him to behave honestly,
respectfully, and courageously.
Simple Moral Education Programs - Answers A type of character education where an instructor
discusses moral questions with students. This type of program has limited success.
