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AP Psychology Unit 0 Vocab Review Quiz

Quick, free quiz with Unit 0 practice questions. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Royce CarpenterUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Grade: Grade 12
Study OutcomesCheat Sheet
Colorful paper art promoting AP Psych Vocab Blitz trivia for high school students.

This AP Psychology Unit 0 vocab quiz helps you check core terms and research basics fast. Answer 20 quick questions to spot gaps, strengthen recall, and get instant feedback. For extra practice, try our research methods in psychology quiz or build breadth with the psychology knowledge quiz.

Which best describes an operational definition in psychological research?
A measurable, specific procedure for defining a variable (Explanation: It translates abstract concepts into observable, replicable measures)
A broad theoretical idea about behavior
A statistical formula used to compute significance
A replication of a previous study
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Random assignment primarily helps a researcher achieve which goal in an experiment?
Controlling for confounding variables across groups (Explanation: It balances participant characteristics, reducing systematic differences)
Ensuring the sample represents the population
Improving measurement reliability
Increasing external validity
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In a double-blind study, who is unaware of group assignments?
Only the principal investigator
Only the participants
Only the data analysts
Both participants and those interacting with them (Explanation: Both participants and experimenters are blinded to reduce expectancy effects)
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The placebo effect is best controlled by which design choice?
Using a case study
Using a double-blind placebo control condition (Explanation: Blinding with an inert treatment helps separate expectation from true treatment effects)
Including a control group but telling them they got the treatment
Relying on naturalistic observation
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Which correlation coefficient indicates the strongest relationship between two variables?
r = +0.20
r = +0.40
r = -0.65 (Explanation: Strength depends on absolute value; -0.65 is stronger than small positive values)
r = 0.00
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A hypothesis in psychological research is best described as what?
A tentative, testable prediction about variables (Explanation: Hypotheses are specific predictions derived from theories)
A proof of a theory
A statistical law of behavior
An unexplained observation
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True or False: Correlation allows researchers to infer causation between two variables.
False
True
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Which graphic is most appropriate for displaying the frequency distribution of a continuous variable like reaction time?
Scatterplot
Histogram (Explanation: Histograms display distributions for continuous data using adjacent bars)
Pie chart
Bar graph
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A confounding variable is best defined as which of the following?
A variable measured after the dependent variable
A variable that precedes the independent variable
An uncontrolled factor that varies with the independent variable (Explanation: Confounds provide alternative explanations for effects)
A variable with a correlation of zero
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True or False: Random sampling improves internal validity more than external validity.
False
True
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Which study design follows the same participants over many years to observe developmental changes?
Case study
Cross-sectional
Quasi-experimental
Longitudinal (Explanation: Longitudinal studies track the same individuals across time)
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True or False: A negatively skewed distribution has a long tail to the left and the mean less than the median.
False
True
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Which measure of variability is most sensitive to outliers?
Interquartile range
Standard deviation
Range (Explanation: Range depends only on the extremes and is highly affected by outliers)
Variance
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A p-value less than 0.05 typically indicates what in psychological research?
The null hypothesis is definitely false
The study has high external validity
The effect is practically important
The observed result would be unlikely if the null hypothesis were true (Explanation: p < .05 suggests statistical significance)
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Which validity type reflects whether a test truly measures the theoretical construct it claims to measure?
Content validity
Criterion validity
Construct validity (Explanation: It assesses alignment with the theoretical construct)
Face validity
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What is the primary goal of counterbalancing in within-subjects designs?
To ensure random sampling
To increase sample size
To reduce order and carryover effects (Explanation: Counterbalancing distributes sequence effects evenly)
To eliminate outliers
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True or False: The file drawer problem refers to a bias toward publishing null results.
False
True
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Meta-analysis is best described as which of the following?
A single large randomized trial
A qualitative literature review
A statistical synthesis of results across multiple studies (Explanation: It aggregates effect sizes)
An exploratory case series
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Which scale of measurement has a true zero point, allowing meaningful ratio comparisons?
Interval
Ordinal
Ratio (Explanation: Ratio scales have equal intervals and a true zero)
Nominal
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The nocebo effect refers to which phenomenon?
Improvement due to positive expectations
Random fluctuations in symptoms
Bias from nonrandom sampling
Worsening due to negative expectations (Explanation: Negative expectations produce adverse effects)
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand and recall key psychological terms and their definitions.
  2. Analyze relationships between various psychological concepts.
  3. Differentiate between similar psychological terms in diverse contexts.
  4. Apply vocabulary knowledge to practice exam questions.
  5. Evaluate the significance of psychological concepts in real-world scenarios.

AP Psychology Unit 0 Quiz & Vocab Review Cheat Sheet

  1. Scientific Foundations of Psychology - Dive into core research methods, like experiments and surveys, and learn why ethical guidelines protect both participants and data integrity. Mastering these basics ensures you can critically evaluate studies and design your own.
  2. Biological Bases of Behavior - Explore how neurons fire, neurotransmitters communicate, and the endocrine system influences everything from mood to metabolism. Grasping these brain - behavior links gives you a solid framework for understanding complex psychological processes.
  3. Psychological Theories and Perspectives - Compare behaviorism's focus on observable actions, cognitive psychology's emphasis on mental processes, and humanistic psychology's celebration of personal growth. Seeing problems through multiple lenses helps you piece together the bigger picture of human behavior.
  4. Psychological Terms and Definitions - Build your own mental glossary of key words like "operant conditioning" and "self-actualization" to boost recall during tests. Consistent review of precise definitions is the secret sauce for nailing both multiple-choice and free-response questions.
  5. Multiple-Choice Strategies - Learn smart guessing techniques, elimination methods, and time-saving tips to maximize your score on section one. Practicing with real exam-style questions will turn unfamiliar options into clear winners.
  6. Free-Response Strategies - Craft well-structured, concise essays that hit all the scoring rubric points. Practice outlining answers and using key terminology to convey your ideas clearly under time pressure.
  7. Flashcards - Reinforce vocabulary and core concepts with quick, on-the-go review sessions. Spaced repetition through flashcards turns short-term memory into long-term mastery.
  8. Active Learning Techniques - Teach a friend, create mind maps, or act out famous experiments to solidify your understanding. Turning passive reading into interactive challenges keeps your brain engaged and makes recall a breeze.
  9. Practice Quizzes - Regular self-testing reveals knowledge gaps and boosts retention through retrieval practice. Schedule mini-quizzes after each study session to track your progress and stay motivated.
  10. AP Psychology Notes - Keep a habit of updating and reviewing your personal notes after each topic. Combining your own summaries with official resources helps you create a tailored study roadmap that sticks.
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