Stroop Test

Today in class we'll briefly discuss how the Stroop Test has been used in research designs that explore impacts of hypnosis. To get a sense of the task participants complete, try out the Online Stroop Test here! NOTE: READ THE DIRECTIONS SO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!

Synesthesia

Need a refresher on what synesthesia is? Check out this video:

Color Vision Test

Today in class we'll be exploring color vision!

You will have the opportunity to participate in a color blindness test, if you choose.

NOTE: This is not a diagnostic test, and it is intended for experiential investigation only. If you become concerned about the possibility of having color deficient vision, consult your eye doc for a more thorough screening.

Absolute Threshold Interactive

Today in class we'll be exploring thresholds.

Use this link to view a quick interactive about absolute thresholds.

Questionnaire

Today in class we will be exploring gender differences in attitudes about dating. If you would like to participate in a survey on these issues, select the appropriate link below.

FEMALES use this form.

MALES use this form.

Brain Key Chain Directions

Today, following your ER Simulation, you will have the opportunity to begin making a Brain Keychain to serve as your model for the cerebral cortex. READ THROUGH THESE DIRECTIONS BEFORE YOU BEGIN!

1. In this activity, as in real life, you only get one brain. Take care of it. If you mess up due to failure to read directions or because you couldn't resist the urge to chew on it...you'll have to cope with the results. We don't have the budget or the biology for second chances here.
2. You will be using my supply of permanent markers to color the areas of the cortex using the diagram below. PLEASE DO YOUR BEST TO REPLICATE THE COLORS SHOWN IN THE DIAGRAM. This guideline is not meant to stifle your creativity; we will be using the colors during practice quizzing on areas of the cortex, so you if have a different color than one indicated on the chart, you might be confused by future questions.
3. Use those valuable sharing skills that you learned back in elementary school. Don't hoard markers...
4. Not sure which end is the "front" end of your keychain? The chain of the keychain enters the brain's FRONTAL LOBE. This means the area where the keychain enters should be colored PINK.
5. Colorblind? Don't be afraid to ask for clarification on colors. Then, use shading to your advantage so you can distinguish the areas from each other. [Not colorblind? Be kind and help out your colorblind friends with this.]
6. There are a few examples/samples available for viewing. If you encounter one with some black dots on it, you can ignore those markings. We're going to use different strategy this year (and these are old samples).
7. As you color, be sure to use the opportunity to review and think about what each area of the cortex does. Think of possible ways the color you are using could be linked to those functions. The final step of this activity will be a practice quiz on the functions of the cortex areas, so you want to be ready. :)

Neurotransmitter Exploration

Today in class we'll be exploring the functions of several different neurotransmitters. In addition to the informational chart you can find on pg. 82 of your textbook, you might find the following links helpful:

• Here's a great overview of what neurotransmitters are, as well as the functions of particular types (including relationships to diseases and drugs that alter their activity).
• This chart of drugs and their effects can be helpful, particularly if you scroll to the bottom for the table that is sorted by neurotransmitter type.
• Here's a more simplified neurotransmitter list.

Online Demo: Capacity of Short Term Memory

As the text points out, the capacity of working (or "short term") memory is quite limited. In order to test out your own working memory, you can choose to participate in the following (brief) demo:

Working Memory Test

Example: Surveys

Today in class we will be exploring the pros and cons of various descriptive research methods, including surveys.

In order to facilitate our discussion about the potential benefits and limitations of surveys, you can choose to participate in this exploratory exercise from Time magazine: How in Touch Are You with America on Gun Control?

The activity will ask you several demographic questions and gauge your opinion on gun control legislation. You will then be shown how your results compare to national samples.

Practice: Correlations and Scatterplots

Today in class we'll also be practicing interpreting scatterplots.

Use this link to Guess the Correlation

Psych Club T-Shirt Sale to Benefit Two Charitable Causes

The Psychology Club at Chippewa Falls Senior HS is running an online t-shirt sale to benefit two very worthy causes. This means you can upgrade your psych-related wardrobe, look really clever, AND benefit some great projects all at once!

Proceeds from the sale will go towards

• the construction of a "barrier-free" playground at Southview Elementary, which will benefit students with mobility issues by creating a play area accessible to all children in our community
• the campaign to raise funds for a National Museum of Psychology, which would be the first of its kind, a museum specifically devoted to housing artifacts from psychology's history

The cost of the t-shirt is $15, and the campaign will run until September 23, 2016. T-shirts are expected to arrive to supporters around October 12th (date approximate).

To purchase a t-shirt (or make a donation), please visit our campaign website: https://www.booster.com/psych-club-fundraiser

You can choose to have your t-shirt shipped directly to you, or you can pick it up at the high school when the order arrives.

Please feel free to share this link with others! Not only does the shirt benefit some great causes, but it makes a great gift for psychology majors and psychology enthusiasts!

Setting Up E-book Access

Today we'll attempt to have you set up e-book access for your textbook. While most of my students prefer the hard copy of the text, this might be good to have in case circumstances beyond your control leave you stranded without your book.

You'll need to use this link: www.highschool.bfwpub.com/launchpad/myersap2e

When prompted, you'll have to enter the access code found on the card you are provided in class. I'd recommend writing down whatever password you set up because it might be a while before you use this.

Wundt's Reaction Time Task

Today in class we will be exploring the work of Wilhelm Wundt and other early psychologists. As part of the lesson, I may ask you to complete this brief exercise that simulates Wundt's earliest experiments.

While this will give you a sense of the assumptions and methods guiding Wundt's work, keep in mind the technology he was using was a little different. After all, none of his participants had Chromebooks to use. :)

Psych Club T-Shirt Voting

Use the form below to vote for the 2016-17 Psych Club T-shirt! Or, you may also access the form by CLICKING HERE.

NOTE: You MUST be a Chi-Hi student logged in with your .chipfalls.org account to view and vote using this form.

Psych Club Kick-Off Meeting THIS Friday!

Psych Club will host its kick-off meeting for the 2016-17 school year on Friday, Sept 2! Psych Club meets monthly on the 1st Friday of each month, and anyone with an interest in psychology is welcome to join.

One of our first tasks will be to vote on a club t-shirt design for the year so we can place the order as soon as possible (and get our shirts by the time of the October monthly meeting). You can preview the design options below. Votes will be cast electronically, so please have your Chromebook or device with you during the meeting if you wish to vote. 

Because of the size of our group, I am hosting meetings during BOTH Lunch A and Lunch B. I'll set things up for a "drop in" style meeting where you arrive, complete the tasks you need to (e.g., signing in, getting info about upcoming events, voting on t-shirt designs, etc.), and then you can be on your way. I'm hoping that will ease congestion and allow everyone to participate!

There will also be door prize drawings held at 12:30 and 12:45, so plan to be present during at least one of those times if you want a chance to win fabulous psych stuff!

Option 1: Placebo

Shirt color = tangerine

Front text: "New, Extra Strength Placebo: It's just as effective as you think it is!"

Back text: "Psych Club 2016-17"

Cost = $11

Placebo Front

Placebo Back

Option 2: Neurotransmitters

Shirt color = gray

Front text: "Serotonin & Dopamine: Technically, the only two things you enjoy."

Back text: "Psych Club 2016-17"

Cost = $13

Neurotransmitter Front

Neurotransmitter Back

Option 3: Carl Rogers

Shirt color = army green

Front text: "Welcome to Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood"

Back text: "Psych Club 2016-17"

Cost = $12

Carl Rogers Front

Carl Rogers Back

Strive for a 5's Have Arrived!

Workbooks are here!

If you ordered your own (personal) copy of the Strive for a 5 workbook during textbook pick-up, it has now arrived at school! You are welcome to come pick it up (see note on available times below) before the start of classes, OR I can get it to you on Sept 1.

I will be available Thursday, Aug 25 from 9 AM to 3:30 PM to hand out materials, as I will be working in my room during that time. After that, I will post available hours on the course blog (daily) since meetings will mean my availability will be hit or miss.

Friday, August 26: 1 PM to 4:30 PM
Monday, August 29: 3 PM to 5 PM

When picking up your purchased copy, please kindly keep the following in mind:

• If you were issued a rental (school) copy of the Strive for a 5 workbook, please bring it with you so we can swap it out. That way I can remove the item from your list of issued class materials and you won't end up having to locate it again at the end of the year. That would be no fun.
• If you have not yet paid for the copy you ordered, please bring payment with you. Cash or checks (made payable to Chippewa Falls Senior HS) are accepted, and the cost is $30.

Back to School Shopping for AP Psych

Click here for a printer-friendly version of this message.

Greetings, AP Psych Students and Parents!

I hope this message finds you enjoying a pleasant Wisconsin summer. However, according to virtually every retail establishment I’ve visited during the past two weeks, it’s time for back-to-school shopping. Whether that thought excites you or makes you cringe, I figured I’d give you the heads up about what you’ll need for AP Psych. That way, we can streamline your shopping trip (whenever it happens).

Required:

• Be sure to pick up a 3-ring binder for use throughout the year in AP Psych. You’ll need this to keep your notes and handouts organized by topic area. Look for one 1.5 to 2.5 inches in width (3 in is usually too unwieldy to carry in a backpack daily). Note: I do have a number of free binders generously donated by the parent of a former student (her workplace was discarding them). I’ll have them available at textbook pick-up on a first-come, first-served basis. If you want to save some cash, you are welcome to take one at no cost!
• You’ll also want paper for note-taking (loose-leaf or notebook, your choice). Student preference is the key here: some folks like to use loose-leaf paper so they can insert notes into the binder by topic area, others like keeping their notes all in one notebook (post-it tabs to mark chapters/units can be helpful if going that route). If you like notebooks, be aware that many students fill up their notebooks by spring in AP Psych, so having more than one on hand will help. Also, some students prefer to keep their book notes and class notes separate (not a bad idea), so you’ll want to think about your “system” when shopping.
• Pens and pencils are going to be necessary. Perhaps this is obvious, but I thought I’d be thorough.

Optional:

Some students like to purchase these items to assist with their studying and test preparation throughout the year (and prior to the AP Psych Exam). However, they are not required. (Tip: Parents sometimes purchase these as very practical gifts at birthdays and holidays, so you may want to hang on to this for future reference).

Additional test-prep book(s). There are a lot of these on the market (and you can find them online or at large book stores in the test-prep section), and are not many differences from one brand to another. Cost is usually $17-20. Some students like using them (especially the practice tests usually found in them) as the AP Exam approaches in the spring, but this is completely a matter of personal preference. If purchasing one of these, be sure to look for the 2014-2015 version or later, since our curriculum changes slightly this year (and previous versions will not be up to date). I’ve got examples of these for viewing (or classroom use), so feel free to take a look at them when you come in for textbook pick-up if you want to see what they are like.
• Strive for a 5 Study Guide (cost $30; accompanies the textbook). This workbook helps students process what they read in the text and practice skills in preparation for unit tests and the AP Psych Exam. The district provides each student with a copy; HOWEVER (and this is a big drawback, I think), because the district’s copies will be reused from year-to-year, students cannot write in them. That is a bummer, because they are set up like workbooks and would be much easier to use if students could write in them. Because I think that students might be interested in purchasing their own copies (to be able to write in them), I’m happy to organize an order for those who wish to do so. Students will be getting the copies provided by the district at textbook pick-up in mid-August, so you are free to take a look at the item and decide if you’d like to buy your own instead. If you know you would like to order your own, payments will be accepted at that time (then I can hopefully get the order submitted in time for them to arrive for the start of the school year). Depending on interest, I may place a second order in September (if students would like to wait and see how the first unit goes before buying). Unfortunately, the publisher does not have a direct retail website, so all ordering will have to be organized through the school.
• Flash card sets. Like the test-prep books, it’s easy to find these online or at large book stores, and some students appreciate not having to print/make 1000+ flashcards on their own. (Note, however, that online flashcards are linked up to the class website for free;  this would be for folks who like having physical versions on hand for study.) However, if you wait until March or April to buy them, you may have trouble, since they tend to be in high demand as the AP Exam approaches (when, suddenly, 260,000 AP Psych students decide to simultaneously purchase them). Like the test-prep books, I’ve got sample sets for classroom use, so you can peruse them before deciding if it’s worth buying your own.

If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email (wellevk@chipfalls.org) or ask when you come in to pick-up your textbook in August. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and happy shopping!

AP Exam Scores For Students

Next week AP Exam Scores from 2016 tests will be available for students. I know you're excited to see how you did, so here are some things you can do to be ready:

1. Visit the AP Scores for Students site and check the access schedule. Remember, your ability to access your scores at a particular time depends upon your geographic location when you log in, NOT where you took the test. So, if you are planning on being in Wisconsin next week, then you will have access to your scores at 7 AM on July 7th.
2. Remember that you will need to log in using your College Board account. In my AP Psych classes, I prompted students to either create an account (or attempt to log in to an existing one) the day following our test. If you were gone that day, you might still have to complete that step.

Tips:

• You may have trouble accessing scores via your smartphone. This is because the website might be unable to determine your location (and access is determined by your location). You might have greater success if you try using your home computer instead.
• Score reports have already been sent to colleges by the time you see your results. As long as you requested that your scores be sent to your college/university during preregistration (by entering the school code), there is nothing more you need to do. However, visit the AP Score Reporting Services Website if you have other issues or questions about score reporting.

Results from the AP Psychology Exam Reading

Greetings, all!

This year's AP Psych Exam Reading wrapped up last week in Louisville, Kentucky. I had the honor of spending the week with "Danny" the main character in the application scenario for Free-Response Question 2 on this year's test. As always, though it was a lot of work, I gained some important perspective on what students are likely to misunderstand about the concepts in that question.

Since the FRQ scoring is now over, that means we're just now getting word about aggregate data from the nationwide test.

Trevor Packer, head of the Advanced Placement programs at the College Board, tweets results from each subject area as scores become available. He has some good news for AP Psych students, but keep in mind we won't know how CFHS students did until July when school reports come out (and when students can access their individual scores).

Check out what he had to say below:

Let's hope it was a Chippewa Falls student who earned the perfect score he's referencing in that last Tweet. :) 

Regardless, this means that now the wait continues for our own results in early July. Wisconsin students are scheduled to have access to scores beginning on July 7th, so it won't be long!

Presentation Links Docs

Hi all,

Today in class I shared with you some documents for adding links to any presentation materials you need to access during your Final Presentation. Although you should be able to find the document in your email inbox (or via a search of shared docs), I thought I'd post them here, too.

[Note: You only have permission to edit the document from your class hour, so be sure to be signed in if you are trying to edit.]

1st Hour

2nd Hour

3rd Hour

6th Hour

7th Hour

CES-D Scale

Today in class we'll be exploring more research in Positive Psychology, including an article that references use of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) symptom survey. You may choose to complete the scale if you wish to learn more about how symptoms were measured in the study under consideration.

End of Course Survey: Study Strategies and Class Activities

Good morning, AP Psych students!

This morning I'm hoping you could provide me with some feedback on another end-of-course survey. This one will ask you questions about resources, activities and study strategies. Your responses will be kept anonymous and will be used to guide future planning.

Link to Assignment Dropbox

With Part I of your Final Project due on Monday, some of you may soon be ready to submit your work.

Please use this form to submit the link to your paper. 

Example: Formatting Papers in APA Style

Since most of you should be to the point of composing your papers by now, I thought I'd share this example of a paper in APA style.

NOTE: Although this example is good for illustrating margins, spacing, capitalization, headings, etc., it is a manuscript for a research article. You are not writing a research article, so your sections/organization will look different.

You might find it helpful to begin composing your paper using this APA Template. However, keep in mind several of the sections will not apply to you (just like in the example paper above).

Essentially, you're writing a literature review (only), so you would want to include the following elements:

• Title page
• Body of paper. Including:
• Intro
• History of the research on the topic
• Current directions in research
• A conclusion (that sets up Part II).
• References List

Instructor Evaluation Link

Greetings, AP Psych students!

I'm hoping you can take a few minutes today to give me some feedback about my instruction in AP Psych this year. Your comments and responses will remain anonymous, and I do take your feedback seriously as I plan my approaches for the following year.

Here's the link to the 2016 Instructor Evaluation Form. Note: You will only be able to access the link if you are logged in with your chipfalls.org Google account.

Thanks!

Links for Your Final Project

Given that today is a work day on your research project, you may find the following links helpful:

• In addition to the short, user-friendly APA style guide you were given in class, you might find this more thorough guide helpful.
• This doc explains how to create "Hanging Indents" in Google Docs. You will need to do this for your reference list, as APA style requires double-spaced, hanging indents for the entries.

Good luck!

Creating Your College Board Account

Today in class you'll be prompted to create a College Board account so you can access your score reports in July. Here is the link you will need. :)

AP Psych Exam: Final Reminders

This Monday, you'll be taking the AP Psych Exam. Here's what Chippewa Falls AP Psych students need to know:

• The exam begins at 12:00 at Korger-Chesnut School (an old district building). (See Map below) Arrive a few minutes early, if possible, to locate your testing room, as there will be more than one testing room for this exam. 
• You will be automatically excused from 4th - 7th hours (release @ 11:12 AM) for testing. If you wish to use the morning hours to prepare at home, your parents will need to call you in to excuse you from hours 1-3.
• Since there will be little time between the end of your 3rd hour class and the exam start, consider packing a LIGHT lunch to eat on the way/before the exam begins. However, you can't bring food into the exam rooms. You may pack a snack in your backpack, though. Like maybe your Juicebox Robot? 
• You need to provide your own transportation to the test site. Arrange carpools ahead of time, if necessary. Don't wait until the last minute!
• Be sure to practice a solid pre-test regimen: get plenty of sleep the night before, eat healthful meals, and of course, review your course materials!

BRING:

1. A couple of #2 pencils (for the MC part).
2. A couple of pens (blue or black) for the F-R part. Be sure to have a couple in case one runs out of ink!
3. A watch (that does not beep!), in case you are seated in a place where the clock is not easy to see.
4. A sweatshirt? It's ideal to dress in layers so you can adjust if you're too hot/cold.

DO NOT BRING:

1. Cellular phones, beepers, MP3 players, or personal data assistants (PDAs)
2. Books, correction fluid, dictionaries, highlighters, or notes
3. Scratch paper (notes can be made on portions of the exam booklets)
4. Calculators
5. Watches that beep or have an alarm
6. Portable listening or recording devices (even with headphones) or photographic equipment
7. Clothing with psych-related information on it (e.g. sorry, even Psych Club shirts are a no-no)
8. Food or drinks

Good luck, everyone! You can do it!

Map to testing site:

Reviewing Key People and Bio for the AP Psych Exam

Today, many of you expressed interest in getting more practice with key people/names in psychology, as well as Biological Psychology. To help you with your studies, I'm going to point out a couple of resources that can help.

• First, the Quizlet sets below on Famous Psychologists and Biological Bases of Behavior are a good place to start.
• Want to test your understanding of Bio? Try these practice questions: join.quizizz.com and enter game code 624469.
• People Quizizz: join.quizizz.com and enter game code 176976.
• If you never really understood what an action potential is, try viewing some of the Bio crash course videos below. Be sure to test yourself afterwards, though.

Famous Psychologists to Know



Biological Bases of Behavior



Crash Course: The Chemical Mind



Crash Course: Meet Your Maker (Brain Anatomy)

Tips and Tricks for Preparing for Your AP Psych Exam

There are SO many things you can do to help you review for your AP Psych Exam, and it can be hard to know where to start. Never fear! Here are some links and general tips, including some important "Do's" and "Don'ts" to help you out.

What NOT to Do:
The following strategies have been shown by researchers to be ineffective (people using them don't do much better than people who hadn't studied at all), so DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME ON THEM.

• Re-reading your textbook. Skimming over previously read passages of your text is a terrible way to study, in part because 1.) it is time-consuming, 2.) you don't actually retain any more info after doing this, and 3.) (even worse) it fosters the "illusion of mastery,"  which leads to WORSE performance. For example, you may think you "know" something just because you think to yourself, "oh, sure, that seems familiar," when actually you aren't able to answer questions about it correctly. Of course, this tip assumes you read the textbook the first time. Also, note that there is nothing wrong with looking up a specific topic that you don't understand in order to get a question clarified or answered. Just avoid passive re-reading of whole chapters (or the whole book).
• Highlighting stuff in your notes. While it sure makes stuff look pretty, there is little processing going on when you highlight terms or ideas in your notes. Since memory is the product of thinking about something, you're better off doing something that forces you to think about the material.

What works?

• Distributed Practice. You may remember this being called "the spacing effect" in your textbook. Spacing out study of your material, rather than planning one giant cram session, leads to better memory. In fact spacing is most powerful once a little "forgetting" has set in. So, study a topic until you feel you've "got it," then come back to it in a day or two and quiz yourself. This strategy can also be a time-saver, since less overall time is needed to achieve the same result as cramming. However, it takes more planning, which is the hard part.
• Retrieval Practice or Self-Testing. There is NO BETTER way to prepare yourself for a test than to practice pulling information from memory. There are LOTS of online tools to help you do this, and I've included some of them below.
• Use what you've learned this year about memory! If you are continuously stumbling over the same term, researcher name, or list of things you need to recall, use encoding strategies to help you! Mnemonics, acronyms, chunking, and DEEP PROCESSING/ELABORATIVE REHEARSAL (thinking about connections between course concepts and what you already know.

So...where do I start?

1. Take a practice test. This will help you identify areas of strength and weakness and provide you with feedback about how "far" you have to go yet to achieve mastery. If you haven't already taken advantage of a weekend practice exam, here are some options to get you started:
• There are online full-length practice tests available for free.
• Don't have time for a full-length one? This one gives you 25 new questions each time.
• Others will provide you with some free content, but charge for full-length versions.
• The College Board also has publicly released two previously given tests, and you could print these for your own practice: the 1999 Released Exam and the 1994 Released Exam. Granted, these are pretty old, but they still aren't bad for practice purposes.
2. Narrow your focus and make a plan. If you found out that you rock at Abnormal Psychology, but are not exactly comfortable with Developmental Psych, use that to plan your study sessions! 
• Write in "Study Time" on your calendar, and the topic you plan to work on each day.
• Plan to review your weakest areas more than once. You may need to go back and watch a video about a topic that is particularly confusing before testing yourself on it again. Some more tricky topics are explained here, too. 
• Brush up on the vocab for a topic by using Quizlet flashcards.
• Then, try out some practice multiple choice questions on a topic that has been troublesome. 
3. In the last couple of days before the test, plan time for "polishing." 
• Review Famous Psychologists to help practice many different areas of the course. Can you identify how these people are similar to each other? Different? 
• Use the "combine sets" feature on Quizlet to study multiple topic areas at once.
• Study with a friend: take turns quizzing each other on major course topics (using flashcards or term lists).

Want a helpful list of the NEED-TO-KNOW terms for the AP Psych Exam? This list won't probably get you a 5, but it will make sure you've got the absolute basics down.

Peep Diorama Contest Voting

I am very impressed with this year's entries in the Social Psych Peep Diorama Contest. Particularly notable is the diversity of concepts students chose to illustrate with Peeps (or other anthropomorphic candies). We even had a video submission! Well done, everyone!

I believe I've correctly included all of the entries that were sent to me. If yours is missing, please email me ASAP and I'll add it to the form. With submissions coming in on several different platforms, I worry that I might lose track of one, and I'll be happy to update the form to include it if that is the case.

Rules for Voting:

• Voting will open at Noon on Sunday (4/24) and will close on Tuesday (4/26) at 8 AM.
• You may only vote once.
• Voting is only open to Chi-Hi staff and students, so you'll need to log on to your .chipfalls.org account in order to access the form.
• You may encourage peers to vote for a particular choice, including those not currently in a psychology course, though current and former psychology students will likely be the most discerning voters. I will be emailing the form to Psych Club members to encourage them to cast votes as well.

Here's the link: 2016 AP Psychology Social Psych Peep Diorama Contest

Study Resources for Your Social Psych Test

Our LAST unit test in AP Psych will happen on Tuesday. Be sure to finish strong, knowing that doing so is simultaneously preparing you for a major chunk of the AP Psych exam on May 2!

Some resources you might find useful:

• Review this unit's Learning Objectives. Can you do all of these things?
• The MC Study Guide you picked up after your unit quiz
• Why not complete the Days in your 40-Day Packet on Social Psych? (the whole thing is due on Friday, after all)
• Quizlet Flashcards
• Online Practice Multiple Choice Questions
• Crash Course Videos (embedded below). Note: Don't assume passively viewing videos constitutes "studying," be sure to actively process that info by testing yourself on it. Use the testing effect to your advantage!!!!
• Study Session Resources: (posted here soon)
• Which One Doesn't Belong? (Suggested Answers here...)
• Practice FRQ
• Quizizz Review: go to join.quizizz.com and enter game code 939529. This will stay up until the end of the day on 4/26/16.

Notes from Your Social Psych Unit



Crash Course Episode #37: Social Thinking


Crash Course Episode #38: Social Influence


Crash Course Episode #39: Prejudice and Discrimination


Crash Course Episode #40: Aggression v. Altruism

Exploring the Social and Cognitive Roots of Prejudice

Hi.

So, I think I overdid it yesterday by staying late to finish scoring practice tests. Still sick. Still no voice. Blergh. So I'm staying home to (hopefully) recover and also to stop spreading disease, which means the Internet will be teaching you today. My apologies to those of you who want to see your Practice Exam results...they are with me here at my house. I will be sure to show you them on Friday. (Thanks for your patience.)

Be nice to your sub. Odds are, given the sub shortages, it may be someone who is just filling in for a single class period, so they know as much about what is happening in class today as you do right now.

DIRECTIONS

1. Watch the Crash Course Video Below on Prejudice and Discrimination

2. Once you have viewed the video, find a PARTNER to work with. 

It could be your table buddy, or maybe someone else? You are certainly welcome to make a new friend. :) Regardless, you need to find someone to work with because we don't have enough plastic animals for people to work independently...and groups tend to produce Social Loafing, so...yeah.

3. Get a bunch of those plastic figurines we've been working with. The more diverse, the better.

I'm not there right now, and I'm pretty sure those were left on one of the tables near the front of the room, but I don't know for sure. Either way, be resourceful and find them. Remember, SHARING IS CARING, so don't hoard the toys and leave every other group with nothing.

4. With your partner, complete the activity found here. 

You can use your text as a reference if you need (including the extras in the room). Be sure to share this document with me before the end of the hour.

5. IF YOU HAVE TIME REMAINING, you may choose to complete one of the Implicit Association Tests discussed in the video.

Measuring Racism

Today in class we'll be discussing the roots of prejudice and discrimination. For some background, please read through this article: Racial Bias, Even When We Have Good Intentions.

It will provide you with some examples of how psychologists and other social scientists isolate and test for racial biases.

If you would like, after you finish the article you may choose to take an Implicit Association Test (IAT). This is one of the ways researchers have attempted to assess unconscious bias.

The Stanford Prison Experiment

Today in class we'll be continuing our discussion of landmark studies in Social Psychology.

After you complete the questions in Socrative, I'd like you to view the video below. It provides a summary of Zimbardo's Prison Experiment. As you watch, please consider the following question:

What ethical concerns were raised by Zimbardo's work?

WARNING: There is some emotionally intense imagery and dialogue in this video.

AP Exam Review: There's An App for That

Looking for a user-friendly, mobile solution for your AP Exam Review? Spending a lot of time on the bus or waiting out rain delays in spring athletics?

You might appreciate the iScore5 App for AP Psychology.

Available for iPhone and Android, the app features game-based review and costs $4.99 to download.

Users progress through 5 different Levels, starting with basic vocabulary and proceeding to more difficult questions. 800 different AP Psychology terms are included, and questions are sorted by topic area.

Overall, this is a very comprehensive review tool. If you can complete all 5 levels I'd anticipate an amazing test performance on the actual exam come May 2!

Full disclosure: I was one of the question contributors for this app. However, my paid work for the developers is complete, so I'm not promoting this as part of some money-making scheme. I don't get paid anything if you purchase it. 

Results: Diagnosis Hero

Today in class we'll have the opportunity to review results from yesterday's Diagnosis Hero challenge.

Here is the document with explanations for the correct diagnoses. (Sorry, this document is accessible only to my students at this time. You'll need to be logged in to your chipfalls.org account to view.)

Study Resources for Psychological Disorders and Treatment

I will be updating this post gradually over the next couple of days (and the weekend), as I gather and add resources we'll be using both in class and during study sessions. This unit can be a challenging one, as there is a lot of new vocabulary and terminology to nail down. You guys have become much more adept at thoroughly preparing for your unit tests over the course of this year, so you'll want to bring those skills with you as you move into 4th Quarter!

Some ideas:

• Review the Learning Objectives for this unit. Can you do all of these things?
• Use your Multiple Choice Study Guide that you receive in class after the quiz.
• Review this unit's vocabulary on Quizlet. 110 terms?! Yikes! 
• You got a Psych Disorders matching worksheet to help practice identifying different types of disorders. Here is the answer key!
• Feeling lost? Need a brief overview of a specific topic from this unit? Check out Hank Green's Crash Course videos.
• Psychological Disorders (background, models of illness, controversies, etc.)
• OCD & The Anxiety Disorders (overview of categories & etiology)
• Depressive & Bipolar Disorders 
• Trauma & Addiction
• Schizophrenia & Dissociative Disorders (helps distinguish between these types of disorders...which are totally different!!!)
• Eating and Body Dysmorphic Disorders
• Personality Disorders
• Getting Help: Psychotherapies
• Biomedical Treatments
• Don't forget we have a Study Session scheduled for 5 PM on Monday (4/11). I will post materials (at least those that can be posted electronically) as we get closer...
• Slide Show
• Which One Doesn't Belong? (and ANSWERS)
• Practice FRQ
• Psych Disorders Quizizz Review: join.quizizz.com and enter game code 296990.
• Therapies Quizizz Review: join.quizizz.com and enter game code 572078.

Psych Disorders Notes


Biomedical Treatments



Psychotherapies

Anxiety Disorders Booklet

Today (or yesterday) in class you received directions and materials for your Anxiety Disorders Booklet.

Some helpful links:

• Anxiety and Depression Association of America
• National Alliance on Mental Illness
• National Institute of Mental Health 

Sign Up for Your Spring Conference

Please sign up for your Spring 1:1 Conference with Mrs. Welle.  If you need to set a reminder on your calendar or phone, please do so!

Looking forward to meeting with you to discuss your progress and plans for AP Exam Review!

Spring Conferences with Your Instructor

Greetings, all! I hope this message finds you wrapping up a relaxing and refreshing Spring Break.

As you may remember, when we parted back on March 18, I had mentioned that tomorrow might be a good day to take care of your required 1:1 conference with me. Parent-Teacher conferences will be held from noon to 8 PM tomorrow (Monday, March 28). If you want to stop in during that time (with or without Mom & Dad) to discuss your progress in the course and your plans for studying for the AP Psych Exam, please feel free to do so! That will save you having to find some other time to sign up for it later (before or after school, during lunch, etc.).

Especially for athletes or working folks, this might be a real headache-saver, so I hope many of you take advantage of the available time!

Note: I will also be in the building from about 9 AM onward, though I will be in and out of my room from time to time (as I prepare for conferences and make photocopies in preparation for our return to classes). If you happen to be in the building during those hours and wish to stop in to conference, that's fine, too. Just be patient as I might still be getting things organized and you might have to wait for me to return from the copy room if I'm not at my desk.

Save your Peeps!

Should the Easter Bunny have gifted you any marshmallow Peeps, you might wish to hang onto them! You can use them in a few weeks for a Peep Diorama project in connection with our Social Psych unit (note: dates on this document are not updated for 2016...but will be soon)

These Peeps are demonstrating Ingroup Bias, a concept we will learn about in late-April.

.

No Peeps in your household? Hit up Walgreens, Wal-Mart, or any major retail store sometime in the next couple of days. You can probably get an entire box for a quarter. And, when it comes to Social Psych Peep Dioramas, more Peeps are better. :)

What Makes Something a Psychological Disorder?

Today in class we'll begin our unit on Psychological Disorders and Treatment. The first thing we have to do, of course, is to figure out what a "psychological disorder" really is (and what it is not).

So, after you finish your brain model, I'd like you to read through this article, "Is Internet Addiction a Real Thing?" Be prepared to offer your views on the issue. In other words, decide if you think Internet Addiction should be classified as a psychological disorder.

Holy Graphs!

Today in class we'll be reviewing results from your Holy Graphs! Activity that you completed yesterday. Because it may be helpful to get a closer look at some of those charts and graphs, I'm posting them for you here.

Happy Brain Awareness Week!

Happy Brain Awareness Week!

This week we will be celebrating all things neuroscience in honor of Brain Awareness Week. Thanks to Psych Club for creating all the cool brain fact signs that are posted around the building. Special thanks to members Chloe Kofman and Brittney Webb who volunteered to post the 100+ pink "brains" last week Friday!

If you are currently in AP Psych, you'll be enjoying brain-themed review exercises this week in class.

However, everyone is welcome to join us on Friday (March 18) during Lunch B for a Brain Trivia Competition. You will need your Chromebook to participate, as you'll be answering questions in Quizizz, a review game platform. Everyone will be a winner (as there will be food... of some sort. Maybe cookies...) AND our top-scorer will take home the fabulous grand prize: The Amazing Squishy Brain!

(Look, even if you have no interest whatsoever in winning The Amazing Squishy Brain...though I can't imagine not wanting one of these...if you are currently an AP Psych student this will simply be a great way to brush up on your neuroscience in preparation for the AP Exam. So, what not give it a shot?)

Study Resources for Your Testing and Intelligence Unit Test

Below you'll find notes and vocabulary from our Intelligence and Testing unit.

Don't forget that our study session will be Tuesday, March 15th at 5:00 PM!

Some other links to help you out:

• Review this unit's learning objectives. Can you do all of these things? You will be asked to demonstrate mastery of each item on the unit test!
• Don't forget that you have a practice MC study guide (that you picked up after the quiz). Some of the folks that struggled on last unit's test had trouble specifically because they did not use this, so don't let it happen to you!
• More practice MC questions on this topic. (Note: this and other practice items you might encounter for Intelligence and Testing may not have up-to-date diagnostic language, since the DSM-5 was published in 2013, and 2015 was the first year the AP Psych exam reflected the new language. So, for example, some practice items might use the old term, "mental retardation," in place of "intellectual disability." This is not a reflection of the author's insensitivity, but merely use of an old diagnostic term that used to be part of the DSM-IV-TR. Materials I have created myself will use the new terminology, but not everyone has updated yet.)
• Crash Course Videos (embedded below)
• Video Review: Standard Deviation, Normal Curve, Percentiles, Z-scores (helpful if you're uncertain about these concepts)
• Practice FRQs (from Study Session)
• Slide Show from Study Session (will update as I add slides)

Crash Course Video: Controversy of Intelligence (Theories)



Crash Course Video: Brain v. Bias

Battle of the Brains

For the benefit of those who were out of class today, I'm posting the video we began viewing. In most of my classes, we are about halfway finished with this.

Examples & Tips for Your Personality Unit Project

Hi all!

With the deadline for your Personality Unit project approaching on Thursday, I know a lot of you will be turning your attention to that task over the next couple of days. I'm expected to field a lot of questions about this project, and that's fine. But, I thought I'd post some examples of how previous students have handled these projects so you have some ideas about how to begin your own.

Note: NEITHER of these examples is perfect, but they should give you an idea about how you might proceed with your own project.

Example: Option 1 (Note: This is a former student's project, shared with permission. I've added some comments so you can see how the person's work is using elements of strong argumentative writing while meeting the requirements of the project.)

Example: Option 2 (Also the work of a former student, edited to fit this year's requirements).

Project Resources
If you need them one more time, here are the project directions and scoring criteria:

• Project Option 1: Personality Self-Assessment
• Project Option 2: Character/Historical Figure
• Scoring Rubric (same for both options)

Big Five Inventory

For tomorrow's class, I'd like you to complete this Big Five Personality Inventory. You can record your results using this form, and may even wish to print off a copy if you'll be using this as part of the Personality Self-Assessment (project option 1).

Study Resources for the Personality Unit

As the results from Friday's quiz illustrated, this unit can be a challenging one for students. It's not enough just to know vocabulary, or to have a vague sense of the unit's concepts/research. You'll need to be able to distinguish between different major theoretical approaches to personality and to articulate their advantages and disadvantages.

If that seems daunting, don't forget that we still have one week to go (test on Monday, Feb 29). And, we have a scheduled study session on Sunday, Feb 28 at 5:00 PM.

When I've finished this unit's slides, I'll post them here (still a work in progress). I'll also post any resources we use at the study session (as it approaches). However, especially if the quiz was a rough one for you, it might be a good idea to check out some of these things:

• Your Multiple Choice study guide! (you got this after the quiz)
• Quizlet Flashcards for Personality Unit
• Review this list of the Unit Learning Objectives! Can you do all of these things?
• Here are the Slides we used at tonight's study session. You'll they are organized around this unit's learning objectives, so don't neglect those!
• Study Session Resources: Which One Doesn't Belong? (To check  your answers, click here)
• Study Session Resources: Kahoot - Defense Mechanisms
• Practice FRQ (sort of...a huge one, anyway)
• More practice MC Items on Personality
  

Slide Show from this Unit:

Crash Course Videos Missed class? Can't make sense of a specific personality theory? Maybe the nice folks at Crash Course can help. This first video addresses some of the more "historic" theories of personality (Psychoanalytic, Psychodynamic, and Humanistic): 

Trait Theory and Social-Cognitive Perspectives are addressed here: 

Defense Mechanisms Practice

Today in class we practiced identifying examples of Defense Mechanisms in action.

• Here are some additional practice items that people got to work on in class.
• And, here is the answer key so you can check your understanding.

Personality Unit Project Directions and Links

Today in class you'll be receiving directions for your personality unit project. Since some of the assessments for the project are available via hyperlink, I figured I'd post the documents here for your use.

• Project Option 1: Personality Self-Assessment
• Project Option 2: Character/Historical Figure
• Scoring Rubric (same for both options)

Development Letter Project

Clearly, in an attempt to stay warm on this very cold Valentine's Day, many of you have set fire to your class handouts, including the directions for your Development Letter.

At least, this is what I am concluding after responding to numerous panicked emails and texts requesting the link to the directions.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to start preparing a lovely Valentine's Day dinner for myself and the hubby, featuring our favorite foods: steak and cake.

Study Resources for your Developmental Psychology Test

Your first test of 3rd quarter is just around the corner, so you'll want to review carefully to start the semester strong! The resources posted here should help with your review, as should the MC study guide you received after last week's quiz.

• Quizlet flashcards will help you review vocabulary.
• Review your Unit Learning Objectives. If you are not ready to do each of these things, you're not ready for your test!
• If you finish the MC Study Guide and need additional practice, try these questions:
• Developmental Psych
• Child Development
• Sex and Gender Development
• If confused about certain course topics, or if you have been absent, consult the Slide Shows below. 
• For additional explanation, you might wish to view these Crash Course videos (note: these move pretty quickly and should be supplemented with retrieval practice for best outcomes).
• The Growth of Knowledge (Cognitive Development)
• Monkeys and Morality (Social and Moral Development)
• Adolescence 
• Study Session Resources: (I will post more as I finish building them...perhaps finalizing the slides after Tuesday's study session)
• Practice FRQ + Commonly Confused Term Pairs
• Slide Prompts for Review
• Also, I will leave a Socrative practice review up for your use tonight (rm 109495), if interested.

Snow Day Assignment - Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Greetings, AP Psych students!

Given the weather predictions for today, it turns out we'll not see each other in class. But, we also can't afford to fall behind in our studies, so you've got a (brief) assignment to do for AP Psych today.

Required:

1. Use your text (print or online*) to complete this worksheet on Nature-Nurture issues in Development. If you have access to a printer, you may print your own and fill it out, OR you can make a copy of the file and complete it in Google Docs. You will earn points for completion. Note: Make a note of any questions you have about these topics. I will set aside time for answering questions, but (because of our lost class time) I will not be lecturing on this material. However, we still need to know it for tests/quizzes.

Optional: Other Good Stuff to Do:

1. If you haven't completed your AP Exam Registration Form, today would be a good day to fill it out and get payment ready.
2. Your Reading Quiz on Unit IX will still be on Thursday, so today would be an excellent day to finish up that reading!
3. You can certainly preview (and begin, if you like) working on your Development Project, which is a letter to your hypothetical future child. I was planning on introducing this in class today, but now that may have to wait until Thursday. This is not due until February 15th, but perhaps you want to start thinking about it and organizing your ideas.

*Panicking because you can't remember your login information for the etext? Follow the link, click "log in" and then request to have your password emailed to you.

Slides: Infant Social and Cognitive Development

Because I've had a few people out sick this past week who could benefit, I'm posting slides on the topics we've addressed in class. Nothing new for those of you who were here, but for those who are trying to catch up, this should help.