AP Psych Intelligence review questions

Carlos is designing a mobile app that requires users to select specific settings in a particular sequence to access certain features. To ensure the app functions correctly, he meticulously tests every possible combination of settings, following a precise sequence of actions to identify any errors. This method is slow, but Carlos wants to be sure he doesn’t overlook any potential issues by taking shortcuts. While others suggest he might speed up by relying on intuition or experience, Carlos insists on using this approach to guarantee accuracy. Which cognitive strategy is Carlos using in this scenario?

• Insight

• Heuristic

• Algorithm

• Mental set

Emma is in a design class where her instructor gives an assignment to create as many unique uses as possible for a standard paperclip. While many students list simple uses, such as holding papers together or cleaning small spaces, Emma starts brainstorming unusual and creative ideas, such as using it to make tiny sculptures or even as a tool in an emergency survival kit. She challenges herself to go beyond conventional uses, aiming to think as creatively and freely as possible without limitations. Which cognitive process is Emma primarily using in this scenario?

• Convergent thinking

• Divergent thinking

• Fixation

• Functional fixedness

Lily has always categorized animals as either "pets" or "wild animals." When she visits an animal sanctuary, she encounters several species that don't fit her usual categories, such as foxes that are not tame but are friendly with humans. After observing and learning more about these animals, she realizes that her previous understanding of “pets” and “wild animals” doesn't fully encompass the complexity of animal behavior. To make sense of this, she adjusts her mental categories to include a new group she calls “domesticated wild animals” to reflect animals that interact with humans but aren’t fully tame. Which cognitive process is Lily using in this scenario?

• Assimilation

• Accommodation

• Conservation

• Object permanence

Jonah realizes that while he primarily thinks of cars when he hears the word "vehicle," the category is broader than he originally thought. Which cognitive concept is best illustrated by Jonah’s initial thought process?

• Prototype

• Schema

• Algorithm

• Heuristic

Angela has been playing roulette at a casino for the past hour. She notices that the ball has landed on black five times in a row. Convinced that it must land on red soon, she decides to place a large bet on red, feeling that a switch in color is “due.” Despite knowing each spin is independent of the previous ones, she still believes that after so many spins of black, red is more likely. Angela's reasoning is based on which cognitive bias?

• Availability Heuristic

• Confirmation Bias

• Gambler's Fallacy

• Anchoring Bias

Dr. Kim, a researcher in cognitive psychology, is examining historical IQ scores across different generations to understand how average intelligence scores have changed over the decades. She finds that when compared to test-takers in the 1950s, today's test-takers score significantly higher on standard intelligence tests, even though the test content has not changed drastically. Dr. Kim wonders if improvements in education, nutrition, or technology exposure could be contributing factors. What phenomenon is Dr. Kim observing in her study?

• Flynn Effect

• Reaction Range

• Crystallized Intelligence

• Intelligence Quotient

Jasmin is a high-achieving student and the only woman in her advanced physics class. Right before a major exam, the teacher makes a comment suggesting that women typically struggle in physics compared to men. Although Jasmin has consistently scored well on assignments, she feels anxious during the test, doubting her abilities more than usual and thinking about the stereotype. After the exam, she feels disappointed, realizing her performance was lower than expected. Which psychological concept best explains why Jasmin's performance may have been impacted?

• Self-Serving Bias

• Confirmation Bias

• Stereotype Threat

Ryan is preparing to apply for a highly competitive engineering program at a prestigious university. As part of the application process, he must take an assessment designed to evaluate his problem-solving abilities, mechanical reasoning, and spatial awareness, all skills necessary for success in engineering. Ryan notices that this test is not focused on his knowledge of specific engineering concepts but rather on his potential to succeed in the field based on his natural abilities. He wonders how well this test can predict his performance in the program, especially since he hasn’t studied these types of questions before. Which type of test is Ryan taking?

• Personality Test

• Achievement Test

• Intelligence Test

• Aptitude Test

During the first week of a challenging AP Physics course, two students receive low scores on their initial quiz. Student A says, "I'm just not a physics person. Some people have the brain for it, and I don't." She stops raising her hand in class and avoids extra practice problems. Student B says, "This shows me I need to develop better problem-solving strategies and put in more effort." She starts attending study groups and asking for feedback on her work. The different approaches these students take based on their beliefs about intelligence illustrate the distinction between:

• Growth and fixed mindsets

• Internal and external locus of control

• Self-efficacy and learned helplessness

• Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation

Mr. Vargas, a high school psychology teacher, is reviewing the scores from a newly developed intelligence test that he administered to his class at the beginning of the semester. He decides to give the same test to his students at the end of the semester to determine if their scores are consistent. After analyzing the data, he notices that some students’ scores vary widely between the two test administrations, while others have very similar results. Mr. Vargas wants to ensure that the intelligence test he is using is dependable in measuring students’ abilities consistently over time. Which of the following terms best describes the concept Mr. Vargas is trying to assess with his testing method?

• Validity

• Standardization

• Reliability

• Predictive validity