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Puckett's AP Psychology Class

History & research, unit materials & assignments.

Key Concepts:

• History Key Concepts
• Research Methods Key Concepts

Powerpoint:

• Teenage Brain Article
• Psychological Schools and Aggression
• Ethics for animal subjects
• Billy – Case Study
• Ethics for Human Subjects
• Discovering Psychology : Past, Present, Promise
• Discovering Psychology : Understanding Research

Wanna Know More?

• Is Psychology a Science?
• This Week in the History of Psychology (podcasts)
• The Scientific Method
• APA Ethical Code of Conduct
• Top Unethical Psychological Studies
• 10 Weird Psychology Studies
• 10 Most Revealing Experiments
• Video: TED – Steven Pinker & the Blank Slate
• Video series: Social Psychology – What Would You Do?
• Video: TED – Martin Seligman on Positive Psychology
• Video series: Against All Odds: Inside Statistics
• Website & ebook: The History of Psychology
• Website: Psychological Statistics
• Website: Animated Statistics Demonstrations
• Want to participate in an online experiment? Go to: The Mind Survey
• Scientific American RSS Feeds
• Discover Mind & Brain Blog
• Discover Mind & Brain Videos

You gotta see these videos

• Research Methods (Mac vs. PC Spoof)

• Milgram Experiment

• Milgram Experiment: Debriefing

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AP Psychology: Exploring Key Case Studies

AP Psychology offers students a fascinating journey into the intricate workings of the human mind and behavior. One valuable aspect of the course involves delving into case studies that exemplify psychological theories, concepts, and phenomena. In this guide, we'll explore key case studies that have left an indelible mark on the field of psychology, providing insights into various psychological perspectives.

 1. Phineas Gage: The Case of Frontal Lobe Damage

- overview:.

  - Phineas Gage was a railroad construction foreman who, in 1848, suffered a traumatic brain injury when a metal rod pierced through his skull, damaging his frontal lobes.

- Significance:

  - Gage's case provided early evidence of the link between brain function and personality. Changes in his behavior, impulsivity, and decision-making highlighted the role of the frontal lobes in personality and executive functions.

- Relevance to AP Psychology:

  - Phineas Gage's case is often cited in the biological psychology unit to illustrate the impact of brain damage on behavior and personality.

 2. Little Albert Experiment: Classical Conditioning

  - Conducted by John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner in 1920, the Little Albert Experiment involved conditioning a young boy, Little Albert, to fear a white rat through classical conditioning.

  - The experiment demonstrated the principles of classical conditioning, showcasing how a neutral stimulus (the rat) could become associated with fear through pairing with an unconditioned stimulus (a loud noise).

  - The Little Albert Experiment is a classic example in the learning unit, illustrating how behaviors can be learned and conditioned through environmental stimuli.

 3. HM (Henry Molaison): Memory and Amnesia

  - Henry Molaison, known as HM, underwent brain surgery in 1953 to treat epilepsy. The surgery removed parts of his temporal lobes, resulting in severe amnesia.

  - HM's case provided crucial insights into the role of the hippocampus in forming new memories. Despite his anterograde amnesia, his procedural memory remained intact.

  - HM's case is foundational in the memory unit, emphasizing the role of specific brain structures in memory formation and the distinction between different types of memory.

 4. Stanford Prison Experiment: Social Psychology

  - Conducted by Philip Zimbardo in 1971, the Stanford Prison Experiment simulated a prison environment with college students playing the roles of guards and prisoners.

  - The experiment demonstrated the power of situational factors in influencing behavior. Participants' behaviors became extreme, leading to the premature termination of the study.

  - The Stanford Prison Experiment is a key case study in the social psychology unit, illustrating the impact of social roles and environments on individual behavior.

 5. Genie: The Feral Child

  - Genie, a girl who experienced extreme isolation and abuse during childhood, was discovered in 1970. She had limited exposure to language and social interaction.

  - Genie's case shed light on the critical period hypothesis for language acquisition and the importance of early socialization for normal development.

  - Genie's case is discussed in the developmental psychology unit, emphasizing the role of early experiences in shaping cognitive and social development.

 6. Kitty Genovese: Bystander Effect

  - In 1964, Kitty Genovese was brutally attacked and murdered outside her apartment. The case gained attention due to the perceived lack of intervention by numerous bystanders.

  - The Kitty Genovese case is often cited as an example of the bystander effect, where individuals are less likely to intervene in an emergency situation when others are present.

  - The case is explored in the social psychology unit, illustrating social influences on helping behavior and the diffusion of responsibility.

 Conclusion: Case Studies as Windows into Psychological Principles

Exploring key case studies in AP Psychology provides students with valuable insights into the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. These cases serve as windows into psychological principles, offering real-world examples that illuminate theoretical concepts. As students delve into the intricacies of Phineas Gage's frontal lobe damage, Little Albert's classical conditioning, HM's memory deficits, the Stanford Prison Experiment, Genie's isolation, and the Kitty Genovese case, they gain a deeper understanding of psychological phenomena that continue to shape the field today. These case studies not only contribute to academic learning but also encourage critical thinking and the application of psychological principles to real-world scenarios.

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AP Psychology

Ap psychology course and exam description.

This is the core document for the course, revised for the 2024-25 school year.

AP Psychology Revisions for 2024-25

We revised the AP Psychology course and exam for the 2024-25 school year.

Course Overview

AP Psychology introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. 

While considering the studies that have shaped the field, students explore and apply psychological theories, key concepts, and phenomena associated with major units of study, including biological bases of behavior, cognition, development, learning, social psychology, personality, and mental and physical health.  

Throughout the course, students apply psychological concepts and employ psychological research methods and data interpretation to evaluate claims, consider evidence, and effectively communicate ideas. 

Course and Exam Description

This is the core document for this course, revised for the 2024-25 school year. Unit guides clearly lay out the course content and skills and recommend sequencing and pacing for them throughout the year.

Course Resources

Ap psychology course overview.

This resource provides a succinct description of the course and exam. It was updated in the summer of 2024.

AP Psychology Course at a Glance

Excerpted from the AP Psychology Course and Exam Description, the Course at a Glance document outlines the topics and skills covered in the AP Psychology course, along with suggestions for sequencing. It was updated in the summer of 2024.

Learn more about revisions to AP Psychology for the 2024-25 school year.

Course Content

The course framework included in the course and exam description (CED) clearly describes the course requirements necessary for student success.  

The framework specifies what students must know, be able to do, and understand, with a focus on ideas that encompass core principles, theories, and processes of the discipline. The framework also encourages instruction that prepares students for advanced coursework in psychology at the undergraduate level. 

The AP Psychology framework is organized into five commonly taught units of study that provide one possible sequence for the course. As always, you have the flexibility to organize the course content as you like. 

Science Practices

The AP Psychology framework also outlines distinct science practices central to the study and practice of psychology. Students should develop and apply these science practices regularly throughout the course.  

AP and Higher Education

Higher education professionals play a key role in developing AP courses and exams, setting credit and placement policies, and scoring student work. The AP Higher Education section features information on recruitment and admission, advising and placement, and more.

This chart  shows recommended scores for granting credit, and how much credit should be awarded, for each AP course. Your students can look up credit and placement policies for colleges and universities on the  AP Credit Policy Search .

Course Development

Every AP course is designed in consultation with college faculty and experienced high school teachers. To stay aligned with best practices in college-level learning, AP courses and exams emphasize research-based curricula that meet higher education expectations.  

College faculty and experienced high school teachers guide the development of the AP course framework, which defines what students must know and be able to do to earn a qualifying score on the AP Exam and (by extension) college credit or placement. 

As part of the course development process for AP Psychology, we gathered course research by examining college syllabi, analyzing textbooks and pedagogical research, and conducting content advisory sessions with college faculty. Based on this research, an advisory board and writing team collaborated on the course framework. 

Meet the Development Committee for AP Psychology

AP is unique in its reliance on development committees. These committees, made up of an equal number of college faculty and experienced secondary AP teachers from across the country, are essential to the preparation of AP course curricula and exams.

AP Psychology Development Committee

Meet the high school and college educators who develop the AP Psychology course and exam.

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The Best AP Psychology Notes to Study With

Advanced Placement (AP)

Note-taking can be tricky, even for the most conscientious high school students. It's hard to sort through a whole year's worth of material, especially in an AP class that covers a wide range of topics and theories.

This article is intended to serve as a one-stop shop for comprehensive notes on all the major topics covered in AP Psychology. Whether you lost your class notes on cognition or just want an easier way to see everything in one place, the links in this article will help make your study process more focused and less stressful!

How to Use These AP Psychology Notes

You can use these notes as study aids for in-class tests or to review for the final AP exam . Supplement them with resources you've gotten from your teacher in class and other notes you've taken throughout the year. If you know that there's an especially great explanation of a certain concept in your textbook, use that to help you review as well.

You might also consider buying a review book if you're looking for more guidance in planning out your studying.

If you're studying for the AP test as a whole , take a diagnostic practice test before diving into these notes . That way you can see where you're making the most mistakes and focus your studying on the appropriate areas. Taking practice tests at regular intervals throughout the study process will give you a better idea of whether or not you're absorbing the material.

Real-time practice tests will also help you get used to managing your time effectively so that you're prepared for the way the final exam is structured. You'll be answering 100 multiple-choice questions in 70 minutes, so appropriate pacing is critical!

In the next section, I'll go through a list of all the topics that are covered in AP Psychology and provide links to online notes for each .

AP Psychology Notes to Use in Your Prep

These are the easiest-to-follow online notes I could find for the material covered in AP Psychology. For each topic area, I've included three types of links :

• Regular notes (including section-specific overviews and more general topic outlines)
• Notes accompanied by video resources
• PowerPoint presentations that show the information in a slightly different form

The WikiNotes links are the most detailed , so you should go over those first. The PowerPoints and general topic outlines provide more of a brief overview of concepts and can serve as a quick review tool. If you think you'd benefit from videos, take a look at those resources as well.

It's likely that your AP Psychology course will be structured roughly in the same order as the topics presented here , so it should be easy to find the information you need to study for in-class tests throughout the year. (Note that the Psych topics  changed slightly in 2020 , so the titles of some of the notes you click on may be different than the unit titles, but they still cover the information you need to know.)

Unit 1: Scientific Foundations of Psychology

• General Topic Outline
• Notes With Video Resources

Unit 2: Biological Bases of Behavior

• Neural Processing and the Endocrine System
• Genetics, Evolutionary Psychology, and Behavior

Unit 3: Sensation and Perception

Unit 4: learning, unit 5: cognitive psychology.

• Thinking, Problem Solving, Creativity, and Language
• Notes With Video Resources ( Part 2 )

Unit 6: Developmental Psychology

Unit 7: motivation, emotion, and personality.

• Emotions, Stress, and Health

Unit 8: Clinical Psychology

• WikiNotes 1
• PowerPoint ( Part 1 and Part 2 )
• General Topic Outline 1
• WikiNotes 2
• PowerPoint 2
• General Topic Outline 2
• Notes With Video Resources ( Part 2)

Unit 9: Social Psychology

Overall ap psychology review sheets.

• Full Test Review
• List of Terms and People to Remember
• Interactive Glossary
• AP Psych Cram Sheet
• Psych Review Packet
• AP Psychology Short Review Packet
• AP Psychology Essential Review Sheet

3 Essential AP Psychology Study Strategies

Learning all this information might be tough if you don't have a game plan. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your AP Psychology prep.

#1: Make Friends With Flashcards

To succeed in AP Psychology, you must have excellent recall of a large library of terms. Some of these are constants of human behavior that you didn't know had official names, and others are more obscure terms for the biological components of psychological responses.

It's critical to be fluent in the terminology surrounding every concept if you want to end up with a high score on the AP exam. You should also know the names of prominent psychologists and understand their contributions to the field.

Quizzing yourself with flashcards is the best way to ensure you're prepared. I 'd recommend Quizlet as a starting point (after you read through the notes and refresh your memory) because it offers many sets of online flashcards you can use for practice.

Of course, you can always write out your own physical flashcards if you prefer to do things the old-fashioned way! This might be more effective since writing down definitions helps to reinforce your memory.

#2: Relate Psych Concepts to Everyday Life

The concepts in the AP Psychology course will show up in your daily life when you make decisions, interact socially, get stressed about schoolwork (very meta!), or really do anything.

As you read the notes, try to think of personal examples that relate to what you're learning. Besides helping you memorize the material, doing this can give you some interesting insight into why you've made certain decisions in your life (or why other people you know might have made certain decisions).

Even outside of your active study time, if you notice a particular behavior, try to relate it to something you've learned in AP Psychology. You probably won't forget a term or concept if you anchor it to a real experience.

#3: Give Yourself Regular Checkups

Don't go over a section of AP Psych notes once, quiz yourself, and then decide you're done with it forever. Every few topic areas, circle back and do a holistic review of everything you've learned so far. Make a point of constantly refreshing your memory so that nothing gets lost in the shuffle. You can use the complete AP Psychology review sheets I've linked at the end of the notes section as resources for these review sessions.

Conclusion: Getting the Most Out of AP Psych Notes

These notes and strategies should help you get started on your AP Psychology review. You can even use the notes on a unit-by-unit basis if you're just studying for a short quiz or test. Just remember to take practice tests to keep yourself on track, and continue consulting any resources you've accumulated throughout the year in class.

I recommend also taking advantage of the information in our other AP Psychology guides, such as our ultimate guide and in-depth review , to get more advice on how to structure your studying and to ensure you earn a high score on the final exam!

What's Next?

Are you concerned about the AP Psychology test? Read this article to decide whether it will be especially challenging for you .

What is Stockholm Syndrome, and how is it viewed in psychology circles? Learn more about this condition and its debated legitimacy in this article .

It's not easy to decide which AP classes to take in high school. Depending on how many options you have, you could structure your schedule in vastly different ways. Check out this guide to learn how many AP classes you should take in high school based on your goals and individual circumstances.

If you want to avoid overwhelming yourself with a ridiculous schedule, it's a good idea to be aware of which AP classes test the most challenging material. Read our article on the hardest AP classes here .

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Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.

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All Subjects

1.2 Research Methods in Psychology

4 min read • june 18, 2024

Jillian Holbrook

Sadiyya Holsey

Overview of Research Methods

There are various types of research methods in psychology with different purposes, strengths, and weaknesses. 

Experiment 🧪

Whenever researchers want to prove or find causation, they would run an experiment. 

An experiment you'll learn about in Unit 9 that was run by  Solomon Asch investigated the extent to which one would conform to a group's ideas.

Each person in the room would have to look at these lines above and state which one they thought was of similar length to the original line. The answer was, of course, obvious, but Asch wanted to see if the "real participant" would conform to the views of the rest of the group.

Asch gathered together what we could call "fake participants" and told them not to say line C. The "real participant" would then hear wrong answers, but they did not want to be the odd one out, so they conformed with the rest of the group and represented the majority view.

In this experiment, the "real participant" was the control group , and about 75% of them, over 12 trials, conformed at least once.

Correlational Study 📈

There could be a correlational study between anything. Say you wanted to see if there was an association between the number of hours a teenager sleeps and their grades in high school. If there was a correlation, we cannot say that sleeping a greater number of hours causes higher grades. However, we can determine that they are related to each other. 💤

Remember in psychology that a correlation does not prove causation!  

Survey Research 💭

Surveys are used all the time, especially in advertising and marketing. They are often distributed to a large number of people, and the results are returned back to researchers.

Naturalistic Observation 👀

If a student wanted to observe how many people fully stop at a stop sign, they could watch the cars from a distance and record their data. This is a naturalistic observation since the student is in no way influencing the results.

Case Study 💼

A notable psychological case study is the study of Phineas Gage :

Phineas Gage was a railroad construction foreman who survived a severe brain injury in 1848. The accident occurred when an iron rod was accidentally driven through Gage's skull, damaging his frontal lobes . Despite the severity of the injury, Gage was able to walk and talk immediately after the accident and appeared to be relatively uninjured. 

However, Gage's personality underwent a dramatic change following the injury. He became impulsive, irresponsible, and prone to outbursts of anger, which were completely out of character for him before the accident. Gage's case is famous in the history of psychology because it was one of the first to suggest that damage to the frontal lobes of the brain can have significant effects on personality and behavior.

Key Terms to Review ( 27 )

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