AP®PsychologyCollege BoardExam QuestionsDevelopment & LearningCommunication & Language Development

Communication & Language Development (College Board AP® Psychology): Exam Questions

2 mins2 questions
1
1 mark

A developmental psychologist observes a group of three-year-old children over six months. She records instances of children's spoken language, paying particular attention to errors in verb tense.

She notes that children who previously used correct irregular past tenses (e.g., "went," "ran") begin producing incorrect but rule-governed forms (e.g., "goed," "runned") after a period of exposure to regular past-tense verbs. The psychologist does not manipulate any variables; she records language as it naturally occurs.

Which of the following best describes the language errors the children are making?

  • Telegraphic speech

  • Overgeneralization

  • Babbling

  • Overextension

Choose your answer

2
1 mark

Researchers surveyed 300 adults and found that those who were bilingual scored significantly higher on tests of executive function than those who spoke only one language. The researchers concluded that learning a second language causes improvements in executive function.

Which of the following most accurately identifies a flaw in this conclusion?

  • The sample size is insufficient to detect a meaningful difference between the groups

  • Executive function cannot be measured validly using standardized tests

  • The study does not account for the possibility that individuals with stronger executive function may be more likely to learn a second language

  • The researchers should have used a longitudinal design to track changes in executive function over time

Choose your answer