--- title: "AP Psychology Unit 4 Practice Test" description: "A timed AP Psychology Unit 4 (Social Psychology and Personality) practice test in the AP format, drawn from 2,088 multiple-choice questions and 33 FRQs written for the unit. The standard version takes about 94 minutes." canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-psych-revised/unit-test/4" type: "unit-test" subject: "AP Psychology" unit: "Unit 4" --- # AP Psychology Unit 4 Practice Test ## Overview A timed AP Psychology Unit 4 (Social Psychology and Personality) practice test in the AP format, drawn from 2,088 multiple-choice questions and 33 FRQs written for the unit. The standard version takes about 94 minutes. ## Test Format - 20 Multiple Choice Questions (24 minutes) - 1 FRQ – FRQ 1 – Article Analysis Question (AAQ) (35 minutes) - 1 FRQ – FRQ 2 – Evidence Based Question (EBQ) (35 minutes) ## Unit FRQs by Type - [FRQ 1 – Article Analysis Question (AAQ)](/ap-psych-revised/frqs/aaq?unit=4): 13 questions - [FRQ 2 – Evidence Based Question (EBQ)](/ap-psych-revised/frqs/ebq?unit=4): 20 questions ## Practice Questions ### Question 1 **Order Effects in Forming Impressions of Others** > Researchers investigated how people form impressions of others based on trait information presented in different orders. A total of 2,780 participants were asked to form impressions of fictional individuals after reading a series of trait descriptions. Some participants received negative trait information first, followed by positive traits, while others received positive traits first, followed by negative traits. After reading all the trait descriptions, participants rated their overall impression of each fictional individual on a scale from 1 (very negative) to 10 (very positive). Researchers also measured how long each type of impression persisted when participants were asked to recall their impressions one week later. > > | Information Order | Mean Impression Rating (Week 1) | Mean Impression Rating (Week 2) | > |---|---|---| > | Negative traits presented first | 3.2 | 3.4 | > | Positive traits presented first | 6.8 | 5.1 | Source: Adapted from Cognition. Bellucci (2023). The organizational principles of impression formation. What feature of the study indicates that it is an experimental design? - (A) The manipulation of trait presentation order - (B) The measurement of impressions over time - (C) The large sample size of participants - (D) The use of a standardized rating scale **Answer: (A)** Experimental designs are uniquely defined by the deliberate manipulation of an independent variable to observe its effect on a dependent variable. The researchers controlled whether participants saw negative or positive traits first, distinguishing this methodology from correlational or observational approaches. ### Question 2 A research team observed a software development team over six months, tracking individual productivity metrics. When team members worked on projects independently, the average lines of code produced per person was 340 per week. When the same individuals worked on group projects with five or more team members, productivity dropped to 210 lines of code per person per week, despite having the same time available. Which concept best explains this productivity decline? - (A) Social loafing - (B) Diffusion of responsibility - (C) Deindividuation - (D) Group polarization **Answer: (A)** Recognizing that individual effort decreases in larger groups while assuming others will compensate directly matches the definition of social loafing. The data pattern—reduced individual output specifically when group size increased—demonstrates this phenomenon rather than other group effects that would manifest differently (groupthink involves decision-making consensus, deindividuation involves loss of self-awareness, and diffusion of responsibility involves accountability for emergencies). ### Question 3 A study examined decision-making in corporate strategy meetings. Researchers recorded the diversity of viewpoints expressed before and after group discussions. Before discussion, the average number of distinct strategic perspectives per meeting was 7.2. After 30 minutes of group discussion, this number decreased to 4.1. Additionally, the intensity of support for the initially dominant strategy increased from 62% to 89% of participants. Which group phenomenon does this data pattern best illustrate? - (A) Group polarization - (B) Groupthink - (C) Diffusion of responsibility - (D) Social facilitation **Answer: (A)** The data shows two key indicators of group polarization: decreased diversity of viewpoints and increased intensity of support for the dominant position after discussion. Group polarization specifically predicts that group discussion strengthens existing attitudes and eliminates moderate positions, producing exactly this pattern of reduced perspective diversity and intensified consensus. ### Question 4 A study examined jury deliberations in mock trials. Before discussion, jurors' guilty/not guilty votes were distributed as: 8 guilty, 4 not guilty. After 45 minutes of group discussion, the distribution shifted to: 11 guilty, 1 not guilty. Additionally, jurors who initially voted guilty expressed stronger confidence in their verdict (from 6.8 to 8.2 on a 10-point scale), while the single juror voting not guilty reported feeling pressured to reconsider. Which group phenomenon is most clearly demonstrated? - (A) Group polarization strengthens initial positions and reduces minority viewpoints - (B) Groupthink suppresses critical evaluation to maintain group harmony - (C) Diffusion of responsibility reduces individual accountability for decisions - (D) Deindividuation causes loss of self-awareness and behavioral disinhibition **Answer: (A)** The data shows two hallmarks of group polarization: the initially dominant position (guilty) gained supporters and intensified in confidence (6.8 → 8.2), while the minority position (not guilty) was reduced from 4 to 1 voter. Group polarization specifically predicts that group discussion amplifies initial tendencies, causing those initially leaning toward a position to become more extreme and unified. ### Question 5 A study tracked individual contributions to a shared research project across different team sizes. In a two-person team, each member contributed an average of 18 hours per week. In a four-person team, each member contributed 14 hours per week. In an eight-person team, each member contributed 9 hours per week. Team members reported that with more people involved, they felt their individual contribution was less critical to the project's success. Which concept best explains this pattern of decreasing individual effort? - (A) Social loafing - (B) Diffusion of responsibility - (C) Group polarization - (D) Deindividuation **Answer: (A)** The progressive decline in individual effort (18 → 14 → 9 hours) as team size increased, combined with members' perception that their contribution was less critical, directly demonstrates social loafing. This phenomenon specifically predicts reduced individual effort on shared group tasks as group size increases, because individuals assume others will compensate. ### Question 6 A survey of employees across departments of varying sizes asked: 'Do you think most employees at this company support flexible work schedules?' In a small department (12 employees) where 75% actually supported flexible schedules, 82% of employees believed most colleagues agreed with them. In a large department (120 employees) where 75% actually supported flexible schedules, 68% of employees believed most colleagues agreed with them. Which cognitive bias does this pattern illustrate? - (A) False consensus effect - (B) Availability heuristic - (C) Pluralistic ignorance - (D) Group polarization **Answer: (A)** The data shows employees overestimating agreement with their own position—both groups believed their view was more widely shared than it actually was (82% and 68% believed in majority support when actual support was 75%). The false consensus effect specifically predicts that people overestimate how many others share their beliefs, and this overestimation appears across both group sizes despite identical actual support levels. ### Question 7 A study examined decision-making in investment committees of different sizes. Before meeting, committee members individually ranked five investment proposals. The initial rankings showed moderate diversity, with no single proposal receiving unanimous top ranking. After committee discussion, the proposal that received the most initial support (ranked first by 6 of 10 members) became even more dominant, with 9 of 10 members ranking it first after discussion. Additionally, members who initially ranked it lower reported increased confidence in its superiority. Which group phenomenon does this pattern best demonstrate? - (A) Group polarization - (B) Groupthink - (C) Social facilitation - (D) Diffusion of responsibility **Answer: (A)** The data shows group polarization: the initially dominant proposal gained additional supporters (6 → 9 members) and members shifted their confidence levels toward the dominant position. Group polarization specifically predicts that group discussion amplifies initial tendencies, causing those initially leaning toward a position to become more extreme and unified, exactly matching this pattern. ### Question 8 A workplace study tracked individual task completion rates on a complex project. When employees worked independently, the average completion rate was 89%. When employees worked in small groups (3-4 people) where individual contributions were clearly identifiable, the completion rate was 86%. When employees worked in large groups (8-10 people) where individual contributions were difficult to identify, the completion rate dropped to 62%. Which phenomenon best explains the dramatic drop in performance in large groups? - (A) Social loafing increases when individual contributions cannot be monitored - (B) Diffusion of responsibility reduces accountability for task completion - (C) Group polarization causes members to abandon the task - (D) Deindividuation causes loss of focus on work tasks **Answer: (A)** The data shows minimal performance decline in small groups (89% → 86%) where contributions were identifiable, but dramatic decline in large groups (89% → 62%) where contributions were difficult to identify. Social loafing specifically predicts reduced effort when individual contributions are hidden or unmonitored, exactly matching this pattern of performance decline correlated with anonymity of contribution. ### Question 9 A study of online discussion forums examined how group size affected opinion diversity. In a forum with 20 active members discussing climate policy, members expressed an average of 6.8 distinct policy perspectives per discussion thread. In a forum with 200 active members discussing the same topic, members expressed an average of 4.2 distinct perspectives per thread. In a forum with 2,000 active members, only 2.1 distinct perspectives appeared per thread. Additionally, support for the initially dominant perspective increased from 58% in the small forum to 84% in the large forum. Which group phenomenon is illustrated by this pattern? - (A) Group polarization amplifies initial positions and reduces perspective diversity - (B) Conformity pressure reduces perspective diversity as group size increases - (C) Group polarization increases perspective diversity by creating opposing factions - (D) Diffusion of responsibility reduces perspective diversity as individual members contribute less **Answer: (A)** The data shows two key indicators of group polarization: decreased diversity of perspectives (6.8 → 4.2 → 2.1) and increased intensity of support for the dominant position (58% → 84%). Group polarization specifically predicts that group discussion strengthens initial tendencies, eliminating moderate positions and reducing the range of viewpoints expressed. ### Question 10 A study examined individual performance on a routine assembly task in groups of varying sizes. In pairs, workers completed an average of 47 units per hour. In groups of four, workers completed 38 units per hour per person. In groups of eight, workers completed 28 units per hour per person. When researchers asked workers why their individual output decreased, workers in larger groups reported that 'my effort doesn't matter as much' and 'others will pick up the slack.' Which concept best explains this pattern of decreasing individual productivity? - (A) Social loafing - (B) Diffusion of responsibility - (C) Group polarization - (D) Social facilitation **Answer: (A)** The progressive decline in individual output (47 → 38 → 28 units per hour) as group size increased, combined with workers' statements that their individual effort mattered less, directly demonstrates social loafing. This phenomenon specifically predicts reduced individual effort on shared group tasks as group size increases, because individuals assume others will compensate. ## Review the Unit - [4.1 Attribution Theory and Person Perception](/ap-psych-revised/unit-4/1-attribution-theory-and-person-perception/study-guide/VWPFy3rd62k64tT2) - [4.2 Attitude Formation and Attitude Change](/ap-psych-revised/unit-4/2-attitude-formation-and-attitude-change/study-guide/C1lCBnr5mDBS9EB4) - [4.3 Psychology of Social Situations](/ap-psych-revised/unit-4/3-psychology-of-social-situations/study-guide/OrDWs3qPu5UXGpNO) - [4.4 Psychodynamic and Humanistic Theories of Personality](/ap-psych-revised/unit-4/4-psychodynamic-and-humanistic-theories-of-personality/study-guide/obepPfTAaNtOn14a) - [4.5 Social-Cognitive and Trait Theories of Personality](/ap-psych-revised/unit-4/5-social-cognitive-and-trait-theories-of-personality/study-guide/szUuCNr3hhKR4NuY) - [4.6 Motivation](/ap-psych-revised/unit-4/6-motivation/study-guide/ejKphjzI71jpngsa) - [4.7 Emotion](/ap-psych-revised/unit-4/7-emotion/study-guide/Szn8FZvfygLjPFSb) ## Other Unit Tests - [Unit 1: Biological Bases of Behavior](/ap-psych-revised/unit-test/1) - [Unit 2: Cognition](/ap-psych-revised/unit-test/2) - [Unit 3: Development and Learning](/ap-psych-revised/unit-test/3) - [Unit 5: Mental and Physical Health](/ap-psych-revised/unit-test/5) ## About This Document Canonical Fiveable pages are available as Markdown at the same path plus `.md`. - [llms.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms.txt): index of Fiveable's sections and URL patterns - [llms-full.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms-full.txt): complete subject and unit listing - [MCP server](https://fiveable.me/mcp): call Fiveable as tools instead of fetching pages (`https://fiveable.me/api/mcp`) - [MCP server for AP teachers](https://fiveable.me/mcp/teachers): a teacher's classes, assignments and AP-rubric grading (`https://fiveable.me/api/mcp/teacher`)