AP Computer Science Principles Practice Quiz: Crowdsourcing
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 14 questions to check your progress.
Question 1 of 14
All Questions (14)
A) Scientific research conducted by a small, dedicated team of experts.
B) The practice of obtaining input or information from a large number of people via the Internet.
C) A method for securing funding exclusively from government grants.
D) The use of supercomputers to solve complex scientific problems.
Correct Answer: B
This directly matches the definition provided in the content: "Crowdsourcing is the practice of obtaining input or information from a large number of people via the Internet."
A) A government program that mandates scientific literacy for all citizens.
B) Scientific research conducted by distributed individuals, who may not be professional scientists, contributing data.
C) A social media platform where scientists share their findings with the public.
D) The process of peer-reviewing scientific papers by a closed group of experts.
Correct Answer: B
The content defines citizen science as "scientific research conducted in whole or part by distributed individuals, many of whom may not be scientists, who contribute relevant data to research using their own computing devices."
A) A closed-source data analysis project.
B) A traditional laboratory experiment.
C) Citizen science.
D) Corporate data mining.
Correct Answer: C
This scenario perfectly illustrates citizen science, where distributed individuals (the app users), who may not be scientists, contribute data using their own devices to a scientific research project.
A) Strict government regulation of the internet.
B) The limited availability of specialized computing hardware.
C) Widespread access to information and public data.
D) The requirement of advanced scientific degrees for all participants.
Correct Answer: C
The text explicitly states, "Widespread access to information and public data facilitates the identification of problems, development of solutions, and dissemination of results."
A) By relying less on data and more on theoretical models.
B) By restricting research to only accredited institutions.
C) By using distributed and “citizen science” to solve problems.
D) By eliminating the need for professional scientists.
Correct Answer: C
The content directly mentions that "Science has been affected by using distributed and “citizen science” to solve scientific problems."
A) Individual, isolated work.
B) Competition between corporations.
C) Collaboration via computing.
D) Strict adherence to traditional methods.
Correct Answer: C
The content states, "Human capabilities can be enhanced by collaboration via computing," which is the underlying principle of these large-scale participation models.
A) Traditional venture capital.
B) A corporate merger.
C) A government subsidy.
D) Crowdsourcing.
Correct Answer: D
The text describes that "Crowdsourcing offers new models for collaboration, such as connecting businesses or social causes with funding," which is precisely what this scenario depicts.
A) To design the entire research methodology.
B) To secure funding for the project.
C) To contribute relevant data using their own devices.
D) To formally publish the final research papers.
Correct Answer: C
The definition of citizen science highlights that participants "contribute relevant data to research using their own computing devices."
A) Identification of problems.
B) Development of solutions.
C) Dissemination of results.
D) Securing of proprietary patents.
Correct Answer: D
The text explicitly lists the identification of problems, development of solutions, and dissemination of results as being facilitated by access to information. Securing proprietary patents is a legal process not mentioned in this context.
A) They are unrelated concepts that achieve similar goals.
B) Crowdsourcing is a specific type of citizen science focused on business.
C) Citizen science is an application of crowdsourcing principles to scientific research.
D) The terms are identical and can be used interchangeably in all contexts.
Correct Answer: C
Crowdsourcing is the broad practice of getting input from a large group online. Citizen science is a specific use of this practice where the input is data for scientific research. Therefore, citizen science is an application of the broader concept of crowdsourcing.
A) Must have a doctoral degree in the field of study.
B) Are employed by the research institution leading the project.
C) May not be professional scientists.
D) Are required to use laboratory-grade equipment.
Correct Answer: C
The text specifies that citizen science is conducted by individuals, "many of whom may not be scientists," highlighting the participation of non-professionals.
A) Dedicated satellite networks.
B) The Internet and personal computing devices.
C) Quantum computers.
D) Closed-circuit television systems.
Correct Answer: B
The definition of crowdsourcing mentions it occurs "via the Internet," and the definition of citizen science notes that participants use their "own computing devices."
A) International diplomacy.
B) Connecting businesses or social causes with funding.
C) Professional athletic training.
D) The creation of classified government intelligence.
Correct Answer: B
The content explicitly states that crowdsourcing offers new models for "connecting businesses or social causes with funding."
A) The complete automation of scientific discovery, removing human involvement.
B) Problem-solving processes to be conducted at a large scale through collaboration.
C) A reduction in the amount of public data available for research.
D) The isolation of researchers to prevent the spread of misinformation.
Correct Answer: B
The text focuses on how people "participate in problem-solving processes at scale" and how "human capabilities can be enhanced by collaboration via computing," making large-scale collaborative problem-solving the central theme.