AP Psychology Final Project

FINAL PROJECT ASSIGNMENT

Now that we are done with the curriculum, it’s time wrap up our term with the Final Project. The goals of this assignment are:

1. To give you the opportunity to conduct an in-depth exploration of a specific area of the AP Psychology curriculum that is of interest to you.

2. To work with your peers if you chose to do so. 3. To construct a creative and informative product based on a specific area of Psychology.

There are many different project options from which to chose, and after selecting your project type, you will then select a psychological topic/concept for exploration. So here are the decisions you will need to make:

1. Which project option interests me? 2. Do I want to work alone or with others? 3. What psychological concept would I like to learn more about?

Below are brief summaries of each project option. Once you have decided on the type of project you want to do, pick up a complete set of instructions and requirements. If you’re debating between two or more options, you may pick up both sets of instructions for comparison.

ALL FINAL PROJECTS ARE DUE WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

AND WILL MAKE UP 15% OF YOUR AP PSYCHOLOGY GRADE.

Project Types

Individual or Group

Format

1. Children’s Book/Story/Program

This final project involves creating a book that explains/represents/symbolizes one aspect of the psychology curriculum we have covered this term. Your book must be able to explain or address a topic in a way that is understandable to a child (preoperational or concrete operational stages!). Books must contain illustrations as well as text. This book should not teach the information to a child like a textbook, but symbolize or represent the concept in an insightful and meaningful narrative way. This is much harder than it seems! It can be adapted to a children’s educational TV program.

Individual or Pairs (book) Group (video)

Book format or Video

2. Dream Journal

The purpose of this assignment is to give you insight into your unconscious world, and what your unconscious world has to say about your conscious experiences. You are required to thoroughly analyze 5 dreams, explain what was going on in your life during the time you were having these dreams, research the symbolism in your dreams, and write a dream synthesis.

Individual Only

Paper or Diary/ Journal

3. Observational/Correlational Study

Become a psychologist by writing your own hypothesis, creating your own survey, gathering your own research, and confirming (hopefully) your own theories. Once you have written your hypothesis (or hypotheses), identify traits or behaviors that you would like to study for positive or negative correlation. When selecting your factors for comparison, go with what is simple and observable. Select factors that are all compatible with each other. Then create your survey, gather information from a minimum of 30 people, complete your correlation charts, and discuss your findings.

Individual or Pairs

Paper

4. Cultural Comparison

We often assume that the ways in which things are done in America are the same around the world. However, in many different areas of life, there are significant cultural differences. In addition, there are areas of life in which people of all cultures behave similarly. You or you group will compare and contrast American culture to another culture of your choice. It is recommended that you select a culture that is collectivistic (Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Middle Eastern, South American, etc.); this will give your group more room for comparison and contrast.

Individual or Pairs

Paper (Individual only) Presentation (Individual or Pairs)

5. Documentary

If you enjoy research and film, then this is the assignment for you. Perhaps you’re interested in exploring the History of Mental Institutions, Parenting Practices among the Aka people of Central Africa, or the Psychology of Cults. With this assignment, you will select one area/concept/topic of Psychology that interests you and thoroughly research this area. Then present your research to the class in the form of a presentation. You can present your information live, with a video, or the combination of the two. Your presentation should include the information you gathered during your investigation as well as visuals such as images, video clips, interviews, graphs, illustrations, etc.

Individual or Group

Presentation (live, recorded, or a combination of the two)

6. Talk Show (Dr. Phil, Oprah, etc.)

Interested in screen writing? Do you enjoy acting? This project option gives you the opportunity to do both. You and your group will select a topic/area/concept of Psychology, research that topic thoroughly, and present that information in a creative and entertaining interview-style program. For example, after researching findings from twin studies, you and your group members write a show that reunites twins who were separated at birth. Or perhaps you and your group want to research body language; you can have the host interview the “expert” about what different body positions, gestures, etc. mean.

Group

Presentation (live, recorded, or a combination of the two)

7. Fictional Character Diagnosis Paper

If you prefer writing a traditional analytical paper, then this project may be best for you. You will select a character from a fictional novel that you think is suffering from a psychological disorder. Is Holden Caulfield suffering from Major Depressive Disorder? Is Hamlet Bipolar? In your paper, you will diagnose your character, collect examples from the novel to support your claim, and develop a therapeutic plan for your character. Will you use family therapy? Cognitive therapy? Prescribe medication? You book must be fictional…not an autobiography! Be creative!

Individual

Paper

8. Therapy Session

If you are curious about a particular psychological disorder and/or the methods for treating this disorder, you may be interested in this project option. For this assignment, you will thoroughly research your disorder of choice and the most effective methods for treating this disorder. You are encouraged to include information about therapies not mentioned specifically in the curriculum but are considered effective (art therapy, sand tray therapy, etc.). After researching you will write dialogue between therapist and client that covers symptoms, diagnosis, medical prescriptions in necessary, therapeutic approach, techniques and homework, and spans several therapy sessions from the beginning, middle and end of treatment.

Group

Presentation (live, recorded, or a combination of the two)