AP PSYCHOLOGY Scoring Guide
Unit 5 Progress Check: MCQ
1. Ever since Minnie witnessed a serious car crash, she continues to have vivid nightmares and reacts with panic at any
sudden noise. Minnie's symptoms are most indicative of what disorder?
(A) Bipolar disorder
(B) Agoraphobia
(C) Panic disorder
(D) Posttraumatic stress disorder
Answer D
Correct. Minnie shows ongoing symptoms of hypervigilance and jumpy anxiety long after her trauma,
which are indicative of posttraumatic stress disorder.
2.
Mental Health Services Received in Past Year Among U.S. Adults with Serious Mental Illness (2021)
According to the data in the chart, what was the percentage of young adults aged 18–25 years with serious mental
illness (SMI) who received mental health services in the past year?
(A) 57.9 percent
(B) 58.6 percent
(C) 65.4 percent
(D) 71.0 percent
Answer A
Correct. The data highlights that among young adults aged 18-25 years with SMI, 57.9 percent received
AP Psychology Page 1 of 16
Scoring Guide
Unit 5 Progress Check: MCQ
mental health treatment in the past year, which is lower compared to older age groups.
3.
Prevalence of children aged 3–17 years ever diagnosed with selected disabilities, by year: United States,
2019–2021
Which of the following categories of psychological disorders is best described by the data in the graph?
(A) Schizophrenic spectrum disorders
(B) Trauma- and stressor-related disorders
(C) Neurodevelopmental disorders
(D) Bipolar disorders
Answer C
Correct. Neurodevelopmental disorders are characterized by impairments in the growth and development
of the central nervous system, affecting functions such as cognition, language, motor skills, and social
interaction.
4. Which research method is most likely utilized in a study exploring the biopsychosocial causes of bipolar disorder by
extensively examining the personal history, symptoms, and treatment outcomes for the small group of individuals
who first showed symptoms after age 60?
(A) Experimental research
(B) Case study
(C) Naturalistic observation
(D) Survey
Page 2 of 16 AP Psychology
Scoring Guide
Unit 5 Progress Check: MCQ
Answer B
Correct. Case studies involve an in-depth investigation of a single individual, group, or event.
Data for the graph is based on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Prevalence rates include individuals
diagnosable or diagnosed within the past year, meeting the specified duration criteria outlined in the DSM.
Past Year Prevalence of Serious Mental Illness Amount U.S. Adults (2021)
5. Which of the following could be an operational definition for serious mental illness (SMI) in this national survey?
(A) A mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that healthcare professionals commonly diagnose.
(B) A mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder resulting in limits to one or more major life activities.
(C) A mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that may require medication for treatment.
(D) A mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that is highly stigmatized by society.
Answer B
Correct. This option provides a precise and measurable definition of a serious mental illness. It
emphasizes the specific number of major life activities impacted.
AP Psychology Page 3 of 16
Scoring Guide
Unit 5 Progress Check: MCQ
6. Based on the information provided in the graph regarding the prevalence of Serious Mental Illness (SMI) among
U.S. adults in 2021, what type of research design is most likely associated with the data collection?
(A) Experimental
(B) Case study
(C) Meta-analysis
(D) Correlational
Answer D
Correct. The data in the graph is most associated with a correlational study that examines the strength
and direction relationship between different variables (prevalence of SMI and demographic factors)
without manipulating them.
7. To ensure that a survey properly accounts for the prevalence of serious mental illness (SMI) in underrepresented
groups, which of the following methodological processes should the researchers follow?
(A) Following a double-blind procedure
(B) Random sampling of the population
(C) Random assignment to groups
(D) Debriefing participants when the study is over
Answer B
Correct. Random sampling helps ensure that the study accurately represents the prevalence and
experiences of serious mental illness within underrepresented groups by obtaining a representative
sample.
8. Dr. Singer is a university professor. He believes that students are overly stressed because they are involved in too
many activities. He conducts a study with his students. He asks them to give up one activity that causes stress for
two weeks. He gives them a short survey measuring their stress levels, and then after two weeks of reducing their
activities, he gives them the same stress evaluation test and compares the two measures. Dr. Singer concludes that
fewer stressors reduce stress levels.
What would limit the generalizability of Dr. Singer’s findings?
Page 4 of 16 AP Psychology
Scoring Guide
Unit 5 Progress Check: MCQ
(A) Dr. Singer did not clearly define his population.
(B) Dr. Singer used a convenience sample.
(C) Dr. Singer did not have a valid hypothesis.
(D) Dr. Singer did not have a control group.
Answer B
Correct. Dr. Singer did not use a random sample of students at the university. This would make it
difficult to generalize beyond his own students.
9. Dr. Feliz is interested in investigating the effectiveness of a new drug for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Ethical
guidelines require that prior to starting the study he needs to do which of the following?
(A) Have participants give informed consent
(B) Set up an exam room for participants
(C) Write a paper proving the effect of the drug
(D) Debrief participants on the purpose of the study
Answer A
Correct. He must obtain informed consent prior to starting the study.
10. A group of researchers is interested in studying the impact of exercise on stress and sense of wellbeing. They asked
people about their stress and wellbeing as well as how many hours they exercised each week. The number of hours
exercised each week reported by the participants in the study are:
8, 7, 10, 4, 7, 3, 2, 0, 9, 3
What is the average number of hours exercised by the participants in the study?
(A) 7.0
(B) 5.5
(C) 5.3
(D) 3.2
AP Psychology Page 5 of 16
Scoring Guide
Unit 5 Progress Check: MCQ
Answer C
Correct. 5.3 is the average of the data set.
11. Why do psychologists find it challenging to conduct experiments on individuals diagnosed with personality
disorders?
(A) People with personality disorders would resist being randomly assigned to an experimental condition.
(B) Experimental psychologists are not inclined to work with people who are socially challenging.
(C) People with psychological disorders cannot be randomly assigned to groups.
(D) People with personality disorders have a difficult time following instructions.
Answer C
Correct. Random assignment to groups is not possible with internal conditions such as psychological
disorders.
Researchers examined the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on the well-being of young children using
data from a representative survey measuring health in children. The findings indicated significant connections between the
number of ACEs, such as financial struggles and parental stress, and the number of health and developmental issues in
children. A higher number of these early childhood stressors increased the likelihood of problems. The study also
indicated that children who expressed affection toward their parents managed these challenges more effectively.
Understanding the Impact of Early Challenges on Child Health and Development
Page 6 of 16 AP Psychology
Scoring Guide
Unit 5 Progress Check: MCQ
12. According to the graph, which of the following best explains how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) relate to
behavior and mental processes?
(A) ACEs affect childhood experiences, but do not have lasting effects into adulthood.
(B) ACEs solely impact cognitive processes and have no direct correlation with social development.
(C) ACEs can contribute to behavioral issues and altered mental processes.
(D) Children raised with authoritative parents are more likely to experience higher levels of ACEs.
Answer C
Correct. Adverse childhood experiences can significantly contribute to behavioral issues while also
altering mental health and well-being as depicted by the data in the graph.
13. Researchers in this study examined the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on child well-being.
Which psychological theory is most directly connected to this research?
(A) Social clock
(B) Ecological systems
(C) Social learning
(D) Piaget’s stage theory of cognitive development
Answer B
Correct. This theory explores how the social environment influences development, indicating that
experiences within various systems impact an individual's well-being.
14. Which of the following is an accurate interpretation of the results presented in the graph?
The relationship between the number of ACEs and the number of developmental issues in children is
(A)
determined by qualitative measures.
There is a negative correlation between the number of ACEs and the number of health and
(B)
developmental issues in children.
(C) Higher numbers of ACEs lead to higher numbers of developmental issues in children.
There is a positive correlation between the number of ACEs and the number of health and
(D)
developmental issues in children.
AP Psychology Page 7 of 16
Scoring Guide
Unit 5 Progress Check: MCQ
Answer D
Correct. As the number of ACEs increased, so did the likelihood of health and developmental issues in
children.
15. While pregnant, Marley was exposed to the flu virus. Based on current research, which psychological disorder is
Marley’s child most likely to develop?
Depression, because prenatal flu virus exposure is positively correlated with increased risk of
(A)
depression.
Specific phobia, because prenatal flu virus exposure is positively correlated with an increased risk of
(B)
phobias.
(C) Anorexia nervosa, because the flu virus can be extremely stressful to the developing fetus.
Schizophrenia, because flu virus exposure is positively correlated with an increased risk of developing
(D)
schizophrenia.
Answer D
Correct. Prenatal exposure to the flu virus increases the risk of developing schizophrenia later in life.
16.
Number of reported illnesses
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3
High stress group 13 18 28
Moderate stress group 7 10 15
Low stress group 4 4 5
Dr. Gooden studied the effects of stress over time on health outcomes using three groups of fifty participants.
Which of the following is true based on the table?
The high stress group has been in the exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome model for the
(A)
longest time.
The low stress group has been in the exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome model for the
(B)
longest time.
(C) The moderate stress group has been in homeostasis for the entire three weeks.
The number of illnesses reported in the high stress group indicate that they are in the alarm stage by
(D)
week 3.
Page 8 of 16 AP Psychology
Scoring Guide
Unit 5 Progress Check: MCQ
Answer A
Correct. The number of illnesses matches the GAS model that says the longer stress occurs then the less
ability to combat sickness.
17. Dr. Gunther wants to find out if he can cause phobias in children by exposing them to loud noises. He walks down
the hall to a preschool classroom and suddenly starts blaring sounds of thunder and watches to see which children
seem scared. Which of the following ethical procedures does Dr. Gunther fail to obtain?
(A) Informed consent
(B) Double-blind information
(C) Random Sampling
(D) Confounding variables
Answer A
Correct. Dr. Gunther does not get informed consent before conducting the study.
18. Owners of a new restaurant needed to hire 10 new servers before opening day. They gave potential employees a test
to identify their signature strengths and only hired people who scored high on the wisdom trait, even if the potential
employee had years of experience working as a server.
Which of the following describes why this use of the signature strengths test might not be valid?
The restaurant owners need to conduct a study in order to determine that wisdom is the best trait for
(A)
servers.
The signature strengths assessment was not designed to be used to identify who would make the best
(B)
server.
(C) The signature strengths assessment was not given in a standardized way.
The restaurant owners should have used the potential employee’s lowest score instead of their highest
(D)
score.
Answer B
Correct. Using results in a valid way means that the measure is used for what it is supposed to measure.
This assessment measures strengths, not job readiness.
AP Psychology Page 9 of 16
Scoring Guide
Unit 5 Progress Check: MCQ
19. In investigating the impact of social environment on the development of anxiety in children, Anthony places
children in chaotic rooms with loud noises and scary situations after gaining their guardians permission. At the end
of the day, he measures the children’s blood pressure then sends them home.
According to ethical guidelines, which of the following is Anthony forgetting?
(A) Debriefing
(B) Placebo effect
(C) Random Sampling
(D) Informed Consent
Answer A
Correct. Anthony is not debriefing the participants following the study.
20. Researchers designed an assessment for measuring signature strengths in individuals using a self-report inventory.
The evaluation includes 100 questions in which individuals read a statement and determine if it describes them. For
each statement, individuals can choose very much like me, like me, neutral, unlike me, or very much unlike me.
What type of measurement device is being used in this scenario?
(A) Structured interviews
(B) Multiple-choice questionnaires
(C) Likert-style items
(D) Observational Methods
Answer C
Correct. This assessment asks individuals to respond to statements using a scale that includes options
such as "very much like me," "like me," "neutral," "unlike me," and "very much unlike me.” This is an
example of Likert-style items.
21. Clinicians must consider a variety of factors, such as biological, environmental, and cultural, before diagnosing
someone with a mental illness. Which of the following is an example of a cultural factor?
Page 10 of 16 AP Psychology
Scoring Guide
Unit 5 Progress Check: MCQ
Five years ago, Samantha was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Her twin sister, Savannah, is now
(A)
exhibiting characteristics of the disorder.
Miremba was exposed to toxic levels of lead in early childhood. He now struggles to learn in elementary
(B)
school.
Keldon is a high student who often demonstrates behaviors associated with severe depression. There are
(C)
very few mental health providers in her community because few people seek their services.
Vera struggles with anorexia nervosa but her twin brother, Vernon, does not show any symptoms of the
(D)
illness.
Answer C
Correct. Having few mental health providers in her community because few people seek their services
would be an example of a cultural factor.
22.
Which of the following describes the theory depicted in the figure?
AP Psychology Page 11 of 16
Scoring Guide
Unit 5 Progress Check: MCQ
(A) General adaptation syndrome
(B) Broaden-and-Build
(C) Diathesis-stress
(D) Post-traumatic growth
Answer B
Correct. The broaden-and-build theory suggests that accumulating positive emotions (e.g., joy, gratitude)
increases personal resources leading to greater resiliency.
23.
Minutes of Gratitude Training
Hours of Work Productivity 30 60 90
Men 2 3 4
Women 4 7 2
Based on the table, which of the following is correct?
(A) Minutes of gratitude training is unrelated to work productivity.
(B) Women who participate in gratitude training longer have greater work productivity.
(C) Men who participate in gratitude training less have greater work productivity.
(D) Minutes of gratitude training affects work productivity differently for men and women.
Answer D
Correct. Women have highest productivity at 60 minutes and men at 90 minutes.
Page 12 of 16 AP Psychology
Scoring Guide
Unit 5 Progress Check: MCQ
24.
Pre-training Mean (Standard deviation in Post-training Mean (Standard deviation in
Survey
parentheses) parentheses)
Hope 42 (7.2) 58 (8.3)
Life
19 (5.5) 24 (6.2)
Satisfaction
Depression 66 (4.6) 31 (2.8)
Anxiety 63 (5.2) 32 (3.2)
Note: High scores on Hope and Life Satisfaction indicate increase. Low scores on Depression and Anxiety indicate
decrease.
A university professor wanted to see if providing positive psychology training would affect students’ cognitions.
The professor assessed the students’ cognitive perceptions in four specific areas. The results are listed in the table.
Which statement accurately describes the variable with the largest spread of scores around the mean for the post-
training set of scores?
(A) The variable “depression” has the largest spread among the scores because standard deviation is 6.2.
(B) The variable “anxiety” has the largest spread among the scores because the mean is 32.
(C) The variable “hope” has the largest spread among the scores because the standard deviation is 8.3.
(D) The variable “life satisfaction” has the largest spread among the scores because the mean is 24.
Answer C
Correct. This answer is correct because it identifies the standard deviation as the appropriate measure for
assessing spread.
AP Psychology Page 13 of 16
Scoring Guide
Unit 5 Progress Check: MCQ
Researchers interested in examining the effect of various treatments on reducing symptoms of cases of persistent
depressive disorder compared treatment method outcomes for three groups. They measured the reduction in symptoms for
three groups of 10 individuals with persistent depressive disorder over the course of 16 weeks. The results depicted in the
graph indicate that no significant differences were found among the three groups.
Impact of Treatments on Persistent Depressive Disorder Symptoms
25. What factor in the research design most directly limits the generalizability of the findings?
(A) The differences in treatment methods.
(B) The operational definition of symptom reduction.
(C) The use of a small sample size.
(D) The measurement of symptom reduction.
Answer C
Correct. The small sample size (10 participants in each group) limits the generalizability of the findings
because it might not adequately represent the broader population's diversity, reducing the study's external
validity.
26. What research design was most likely used in the study?
(A) Experimental design with a control group and random assignment
(B) Cross-sectional design comparing different groups at a single point in time
(C) Longitudinal design following participants over an extended period
(D) Descriptive research using the method of naturalistic observation
Page 14 of 16 AP Psychology
Scoring Guide
Unit 5 Progress Check: MCQ
Answer B
Correct. The study involves comparing different treatment groups at a specific point in time, suggesting a
cross-sectional design.
27. Which of the following represents a variable of interest in this study?
(A) Median number of therapy sessions attended
(B) Mean percentage of symptom reduction
(C) Mean rating of participant satisfaction on a Likert scale
(D) Total duration of treatment for each group
Answer B
Correct. The effectiveness of the treatment is a variable of interest and is measured in terms of symptom
reduction.
28. Researchers are investigating the impact of stress-management therapy on individuals with schizophrenia who are
already receiving pharmacological treatment. In the study, half of the participants were randomly assigned to have
stress management therapy, and the other half continued with only their medication treatment. After six weeks,
individuals in the experimental group demonstrated significant improvement in their negative symptoms compared
to the control group.
Which of the following describes the ethical concern specific to this study and how it should be addressed?
(A) Ensure participants' anonymity to protect their privacy
(B) Implement a comprehensive debriefing session to explain the study's purpose as required by the IRB
Offer stress management therapy to the control group after the initial 6-week period to protect
(C)
participants from harm
(D) Provide participants in the control group with additional compensation for their time and involvement
Answer C
Correct. This procedure addresses potential harm to the control group by providing access to the
potentially helpful additional therapy.
AP Psychology Page 15 of 16
Scoring Guide
Unit 5 Progress Check: MCQ
29. Dr. Whitlock is conducting an experimental study on the effectiveness of antipsychotic medication. Which of the
following will most likely be her dependent variable?
(A) Type of medication, because this is the variable she is manipulating.
(B) Frequency of auditory hallucinations, because this is the variable she is measuring.
(C) Self-reported depression, because this is the variable she is manipulating.
(D) Serotonin levels, because this is the variable she is measuring.
Answer B
Correct. To measure the effectiveness of antipsychotic medication, Dr. Whitlock will measure its effect
on psychotic symptoms, such as auditory hallucinations.
Page 16 of 16 AP Psychology