CLEP Introductory Psychology

by Sharpsteen, Don J., Ph.D.

• ISBN13: 9780738610177
• ISBN10: 0738610178
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-02-16
• Publisher: Research & Education Assn

Summary

CLEP Introductory Psychology Test Prep with Online Practice Tests Earns You College Credits! If you're looking for an easy and inexpensive way to earn college credit, why not take the CLEP Introductory Psychology exam? The CLEP Introductory Psychology test prep with online practiceis the latest addition to REA's CLEP library.Our CLEP test preps are perfect for adults returning to college (or attending for the first time), military service members, high-school graduates looking to earn college credit, or home-schooled students with knowledge that can translate into college credit. REA's test prep covers all the Psychology topics found on the official CLEP exam: biological bases of behavior, consciousness, learning, motivation, development, psychological disorders, and more. Start your study by taking our half-length diagnostic practice test online.This timed test includes automatic scoring and diagnostic feedback, so you can pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses. The book includes two full-length practice tests that mirror the actual exam, allowing you to become familiar with the test format before taking the CLEP. Each practice test comes with detailed explanations of answers to help you identify areas in need of improvement and be prepared on test day. Our online exams feature the book's practice tests in a timed formatwith instant scoring, diagnostic feedback, and detailed explanations of answers. A study schedule and test-taking strategies round out this complete test prep package. What is CLEP? CLEP is the College Board's credit-by-examination program for more than 30 subjects. Each exam passed earns the student between 3-12 credits at more than 2,900 colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad. REA is the acknowledged leader in CLEP preparation, with the most extensive library of CLEP titles and software available. REA's CLEP test preps will help you earn valuable college credits, save on tuition, and advance your chosen career by earning a college degree.

Table of Contents

About the Author	p. vii
About Research & Education Association	p. vii
Acknowledgments	p. vii
Passing the CLEP Introductory Psychology	p. 1
Getting Started	p. 3
The REA Study Center	p. 4
An Overview of the Exam	p. 5
All About the CLEP Program	p. 6
Options for Military Personnel and Veterans	p. 7
SSD Accommodations for Candidates with Disabilities	p. 7
6-Week Study Plan	p. 8
Test-Taking Tips	p. 8
The Day of the Exam	p. 10
Online Diagnostic Test: www.rea.com/studycenter
History and Methods	p. 11
Psychology's History	p. 13
Modern Approaches to Understanding Human Behavior	p. 14
Research Methods	p. 15
Biological Bases of Behavior	p. 19
Neurons	p. 21
Neurotransmitters	p. 22
Sub-Systems of the Nervous System	p. 23
Brain Organization	p. 25
Sensation and Perception	p. 27
Sensation	p. 29
Perception	p. 30
Consciousness	p. 33
Patterns of Waking and Sleeping	p. 35
Sleep Disorders	p. 37
Dreams	p. 37
Altered States of Consciousness	p. 38
Learning	p. 39
Non-Associative Learning	p. 41
Associative Learning	p. 42
Cognition	p. 47
Thinking	p. 49
Language	p. 50
Memory	p. 51
Intelligence	p. 51
Motivation and Emotion	p. 53
Motivation	p. 55
Emotions	p. 57
Development	p. 59
Developmental Research Methods	p. 61
Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development	p. 62
Erikson's Theory of Psycho-Social Development	p. 64
Personality	p. 67
The Psychoanalytic Approach	p. 69
The Humanistic Approach	p. 72
The Social-Cognitive Approach	p. 72
The Individual Difference (or Trait) Approach	p. 73
Psychological Disorders	p. 75
Anxiety Disorders	p. 77
Mood Disorders	p. 78
Dissociative Disorders	p. 78
Schizophrenia	p. 78
Somatoform Disorders	p. 79
Personality Disorders	p. 80
Explanations for Abnormal Behavior	p. 80
Psychological Therapies	p. 81
The Psychoanalytic Approach	p. 83
The Humanistic Approach	p. 84
The Cognitive Approach	p. 85
The Learning (or Behavioral) Approach	p. 85
The Biological (or Medical) Approach	p. 86
Social Psychology	p. 89
Social Cognition	p. 91
Social Influence	p. 92
Social Relations - Aggression and Altruism	p. 93
Testing, Measurement, and Statistics	p. 95
Reliability, Validity, and Standardization	p. 97
Descriptive Statistics and Statistical Inference	p. 98
Practice Test 1 (also available online at www.rea.com/studycenter)	p. 101
Answer Key	p. 127
Detailed Explanations of Answers	p. 128
Practice Test 2 (also available online at www.rea.com/studycenter)	p. 139
Answer Key	p. 165
Detailed Explanations of Answers	p. 166
Answer Sheets	p. 179
Glossary	p. 183
Index	p. 197
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

CHAPTER 1

PASSING THE CLEP INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY EXAM

Congratulations! You’re joining the millions of people who have discovered the value and educational advantage offered by the College Board’s College-Level Examination Program, or CLEP. This test prep covers everything you need to know about the CLEP Introductory Psychology exam, and will help you earn the college credit you deserve while reducing your tuition costs.GETTING STARTED
There are many different ways to prepare for a CLEP exam. What’s best for you depends on how much time you have to study and how comfortable you are with the subject matter. To score your highest, you need a system that can be customized to fit you: your schedule, your learning style, and your current level of knowledge.

This book, and the online tools that come with it, allow you to create a personalized study plan through three simple steps: assessment of your knowledge, targeted review of exam content, and reinforcement in the areas where you need the most help. Let’s get started and see how this system works.

Test Yourself& GetFeedback -Score reports from your online diagnostic and practice tests give you a fast way to pinpoint what you already know and where you need to spend more time studying.Review with the Book -Study the topics tested on the CLEP exam. Targeted review chapters cover everything you need to know.Improve Your Score -Armed with your score reports, you can personalize your study plan. Review the parts of the book where you’re weakest and study the answer explanations for the test questions you answered incorrectly.THE REA STUDY CENTER
The best way to personalize your study plan and focus on your weaknesses is to get feedback on what you know and what you don’t know. At the online REA Study Center, you can access two types of assessment: a diagnostic exam and full-length practice exams. Each of these tools provides true-to-format questions and delivers a detailed score report that follows the topics set by the College Board.Diagnostic Exam
Before you begin your review with the book, take the online diagnostic exam. Use your score report to help evaluate your overall understanding of the subject, so you can focus your study on the topics where you need the most review.Full-Length Practice Exams
These practice tests give you the most complete picture of your strengths and weaknesses. After you’ve finished reviewing with the book, test what you’ve learned by taking the first of the two online practice exams. Review your score report, then go back and study any topics you missed. Take the second practice test to ensure you have mastered the material and are ready for test day.If you’re studying and don’t have Internet access, you can take the printed tests in the book. These are the same practice tests offered at the REA Study Center, but without the added benefits of timed testing conditions and diagnostic score reports. Because the actual exam is computer-based, we recommend you take at least one practice test online to simulate test-day conditions.AN OVERVIEW OF THE EXAM
The CLEP Introductory Psychology exam consists of approximately 95 multiple-choice questions, each with five possible answer choices, to be answered in 90 minutes. The exam covers the material one would find in a college-level introductory psychology course. The exam stresses basic facts and principles, as well as general theoretical approaches used by psychologists.The approximate breakdown of topics is as follows:8–9% History, Approaches, Methods8–9% Biological Bases of Behavior7–8% Sensation and Perception5–6% States of Consciousness10–11% The Sociological Perspective8–9% Cognition7–8% Motivation and Emotion7–8% Personality8–9% Psychological Disorders and Health7–8% Treatment of Psychological Disorders7–8% Social Psychology3–4% Statistics, Tests, and MeasurementALL ABOUT THE CLEP PROGRAM
What is the CLEP?
CLEP is the most widely accepted credit-by-examination program in North America. CLEP exams are available in 33 subjects and test the material commonly required in an introductory-level college course. Examinees can earn from three to twelve credits at more than 2,900 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada. For a complete list of the CLEP subject examinations offered, visit the College Board website:www.collegeboard.org/clep.Who takes CLEP exams?
CLEP exams are typically taken by people who have acquired knowledge outside the classroom and who wish to bypass certain college courses and earn college credit. The CLEP program is designed to reward examinees for learning—no matter where or how that knowledge was acquired.Although most CLEP examinees are adults returning to college, many graduating high school seniors, enrolled college students, military personnel, veterans, and international students take CLEP exams to earn college credit or to demonstrate their ability to perform at the college level. There are no prerequisites, such as age or educational status, for taking CLEP examinations.However, because policies on granting credits vary among colleges, you should contact the particular institution from which you wish to receive CLEP credit.Who administers the exam?
CLEP exams are developed by the College Board, administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), and involve the assistance of educators from throughout the United States. The test development process is designed and implemented to ensure that the content and difficulty level of the test are appropriate.When and where is the exam given?
CLEP exams are administered year-round at more than 1,200 test centers in the United States and can be arranged for candidates abroad on request. To find the test center nearest you and to register for the exam, contact the CLEP Program:CLEP Services
P.O. Box 6600
Princeton, NJ 08541-6600
Phone: [phone] (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET)
Fax: [phone]
Website:www.collegeboard.org/clep

OPTIONS FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND VETERANS
CLEP exams are available free of charge to eligible military personnel and eligible civilian employees. All the CLEP exams are available at test centers on college campuses and military bases. Contact your Educational Services Officer or Navy College Education Specialist for more information. Visit the DANTES or College Board websites for details about CLEP opportunities for military personnel.Eligible U.S. veterans can claim reimbursement for CLEP exams and administration fees pursuant to provisions of the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004. For details on eligibility and submitting a claim for reimbursement, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website atwww.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/testing.htm.CLEP can be used in conjunction with the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which applies to veterans returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of operation. Because the GI Bill provides tuition for up to 36 months, earning college credits with CLEP exams expedites academic progress and degree completion within the funded timeframe.SSD ACCOMMODATIONS FOR CANDIDATES WITH DISABILITIES
Many test candidates qualify for extra time to take the CLEP exams, but you must make these arrangements in advance. For information, contact:College Board Services for Students with Disabilities
P.O. Box 6226
Princeton, NJ 08541-6226
Phone: [phone] (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET)
TTY: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]