Get to know AP Psychology
Welcome to Advanced Placement Psychology at River Ridge High School! During the 2014 – 2015 school
year we will be exploring the world of psychology, improving our research/writing skills and preparing for
the AP Examination in the spring. Successful completion of this course will yield a greater understanding
of psychology, yourself, and the world around you. It is also my goal to prepare you for the content, format,
a rigor of a college level course and examination.
To prepare for this course, you will need to complete the following assignment over the summer on your
own time. This will help prepare you for the content and format of the course. The due date is Monday,
____________________________. Your work must be typed out and submitted to turnitin.com.
Pictures/Cartoons may be handed in separately and handed in on August 29, in class. Make sure you answer
all questions. This is a project grade. No late work will be accepted.
If for some reason you are not able to be in school this day _________________you will need to email the
assignment to kathryn.ricker@cherokee.k12.ga.us before the end of the school day on Friday, August 29
at 11:59 PM to turnitin.com. If you have difficulty completing assignments on time, you may want to
consider if Advanced Placement Psychology is the right choice for you. You will only submit the first part
of the assignment, up to #30 to turnitin.com. The other part of the paper is due on August 29 in class. You
will be asked to share whether you are a “Nature or Nurture” person.
Assignment 1: Summer Scavenger Hunt: Getting to Know Psychology:
Directions: Use the Library, Internet, Newspapers and magazines to answer questions in the attached
”Getting to Know Psychology” Scavenger Hunt about the nine major areas of research and investigation
in psychology. Your answers should be complete and descriptive. After all, this assignment is to help
introduce you to this course. Absolutely NO plagiarism, cheating, etc., will be tolerated. While you
may be using the same websites, answers must be original and in your own words. Turnitin.com will
check for originality and you are allowed up to 15% total. Any papers showing more than 15% “copied”
will receive a 0 – so don’t copy.
Name: ________________________________________
Getting to Know Psychology Scavenger Hunt
Directions: Complete the following questions as an introduction to 9 of the 14 subfields of psychology.
Use the suggested websites to answer the questions. Some of the questions will ask you to attach an
article or a picture. When doing this, label each and attach in the order they are asked for in the scavenger
hunt. If the link does not work, try copying/pasting in the address bar. If it still does not work, which
they all should, find an alternate website to answer the question. Be sure to attach the alternate website
to your answer.
Biological Basis of Behavior
This emphasizes the relationship between biology and behavior. Here we will examine how the nervous
system, endocrine system, and the brain affect behavior and decision making.
Go here:
http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/BioBookNERV.html
1-
What are neurons? How do they work?
2-
What is the function of the peripheral nervous system?
3-
What is the function of the central nervous system?
Go here:
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anatomy_of_the_endocrine_system/article_em.htm#Endocrine%
20System%20Introduction
4-
What are two things regulated by the endocrine system?
5-
What are the major glands of the endocrine system?
6-
Describe the adrenal glands, what functions do they serve?
Go here:
http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=fmribrain
7-
What does MRI stand for? What are MRIs of the brain used for?
Go here:
http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=pet
8-
What does PET stand for? What functions can a PET scan monitor?
9-
Search the internet for a diagram of “Brain Structures and their functions”. Print out the
diagram and attach it to your scavenger hunt. On the back of the diagram, list and explain 3
parts of the brain and their functions.
Go here: http://www.web-us.com/brain/braindominance.htm
The website below has distinct characteristics of each side of the brain
http://www.angelfire.com/wi/2brains/
10-
Take the Right Brain vs. Left Brain test. Are you right brained or left brained? Do you agree
with the description of your dominant side?
Sensation and Perception
This subfield involves processing the information gathered by the nervous system and the brain into
meaningful experiences and feelings.
11- Search one of the following websites and find an article that deals with sensation and perception.
This article should focus on any of the following: anatomy and function of the eye or ear, sensory
disabilities such as deafness and color blindness, color theories of vision, or the role played by experience
and culture in sensory perception.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/mind_brain/psychology/
http://psych.hanover.edu/Krantz/sen_tut.html
http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/tc/color-blindness-topic-overview
http://www.webmd.com/brain/picture-of-the-ear
In the space below, summarize the article and describe how it relates to sensation and perception.
States of Consciousness
The focus in this field is on states of mind and how they are altered through experiences, sleep, and
biological functions.
12-
13-
What is structuralism? What did this later became known as?
http://psychology.about.com/od/historyofpsychology/a/structuralism.htm
What was the focus of William James’ studies of consciousness?
http://www.psych.utah.edu/gordon/Classes/Psy4905Docs/PsychHistory/Cards/James.html
14- What are the levels of consciousness as described by Sigmund Freud?
http://www.freudpage.info/freudpsychotheory.html
15- Describe the views of Carl Jung.
http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/jungprofile.htm
16 - What is REM sleep?
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/excessive-sleepiness-10/sleep-101
17-
Describe meditation and its purposes.
http://www.calmawareness.com/about2.html
18 -
How can drugs impact consciousness?
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/psych/psychsci4/ch/05/summaries.aspx
19- Identify 3 types of drugs and explain their effects on consciousness
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/psych/psychsci4/ch/05/summaries.aspx#
Learning
There are several types of learning which psychologists focus on. Research and practice can center
around the way the brain retains information as well as how learning can impact and change behavior.
Go Here: http://nobelprize.org/educational_games/medicine/pavlov/readmore.html
20-
Describe the Pavlov’s Dog experiment. What was Pavlov trying to investigate?
21-
Why were Pavlov’s experiments so important to psychology?
Go here: http://www.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/wasserman/glossary/opcondition.html
http://www.famous-scientists.net/bf-skinner.htm
22 -
What is operant conditioning? Whose research was Skinner’s work based on?
23 - Take this quiz on learning styles. If you find a different quiz that you’ve used in the past or one
that is more suitable to your needs, you may use it provided that you give the entire web address at the
end of your analysis.
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks3/ict/multiple_int/index.htm
In the space below, analyze the quiz questions and results. What types of questions were asked? List at
least 3 questions. Do you think the description of the results could help you in your study habits? Why
do you think people learn in different ways?
Cognition
Information and research here will focus on memory, thinking, language and intelligence. The “Far
Side” has some great, classic cartoons!
24-
Search the internet for 2 cartoons like the one above that discuss memory. Attach the cartoons
to your scavenger hunt. Briefly explain how each might relate to memory and psychology. Make
sure you have provided websites for each.
Read this article: http://www.davidmyers.org/Brix?pageID=65
25-
In the space below, discuss one of your own fears that might seem illogical to others. What are
the influences on our intuitions about risk?
Motivation and Emotion
Here psychologists focus on the influences of motivations, and the causes and impacts of human
emotions.
26 - Describe the drive-reduction theory.
http://psychology.about.com/od/psychologytopics/tp/theories-of-motivation.htm
Go Here: http://allpsych.com/psychology101/emotion.html
27-
What are the parts of the James-Lange theory?
28-
How does the Cannon-Bard theory look different?
29-
Which of the theories do you feel is most accurate? Explain your answer.
Developmental Psychology
Focus on changes in behavior, emotion, cognition and perception throughout the life span.
30-
As an introduction to some of the issues of developmental psychology, read the following article:
http://psychology.about.com/od/developmentalpsychology/a/parenting-style.htm
In the space below, discuss the 4 types of parenting styles. Which do you think is the best parenting
style and why? Conversely, what is the “worst” in your opinion, and why?
Assignment 2: Getting to know YOU
Directions:
Part 1: Fill-in the attached “Get to know YOU” Info Sheet
Part 2: Consider the following question:
“There is much debate and research in the field of psychology about whether ‘Nature’ (biochemistry,
genes, physical traits) or ‘Nurture’ (family, environment, culture) has the most influence on our
behavior, thought processes, and personality. Discuss the ways you think nature and nurture have
influenced both your everyday thoughts and behaviors as well as your life goals and ambitions”
Your response should be 1 1/2 pages in length, typed and double-spaced using 12 pt. font and 1”
margins. Written work is not acceptable for the essay. Use the following format for the heading:
Your Name
Nature/Nurture Essay
AP Psychology
Mrs. Ricker
Title
Getting to Know YOU
Name:
Date of Birth:
YOUR
PHOTO
HERE
Astrological Sign:
Favorite School Subject:
Favorite Book:
Favorite Movie:
Favorite Quote:
One thing I did this summer was…
Next summer I would like to….
In Five Years, I would like to be…
Who is your role model? Why?
(Special thanks to Emily Burnham of Pencader Charter School for this assignment.)