Deck 3: Research Methods in the Study of Developmental Psychopathology

Question 1

Facilitated communication is an example of:

A) An effective new technique to communicate with children with autism
B) An example of a new technique that was developed with cutting edge empirical research
C) An example of what can happen when research is not completed before a technique or therapy is instituted
D) Both a and b are true

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The type of research that was used to investigate facilitated communication after it gained popularity was:

A) A correlational study
B) Prospective research
C) A double blind study
D) A series of case studies

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Based on the classic study of aggression in childhood (where some children observed an adult playing aggressively with a Bobo doll), what did Dr.Albert Bandura discover about children's aggression?

A) Children who observed any adult (whether they were aggressive or not) showed more aggression than children who did not observe an adult
B) Children who observed the aggressive adult acted more aggressively than did children who did not observe any aggression
C) Children in the control group showed comparable levels of aggression as in the aggressive model observation group
D) This study was halted before any results were established because of ethical concerns for children in the study

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The most salient strength of using an experimental design is:

A) It is easier than other designs
B) It can be used to explore almost any research question
C) It is accepted by most research participants because they are used to filling out questionnaires
D) It can lead to answers about causality

Question 5

The researcher manipulates the ___________variable (such as proving a new therapy) and then measures the___________variable (such as psychological symptoms).

A) Dependent; independent
B) Independent; dependent
C) Random; dependent
D) Random; independent

Question 6

Random assignment is used in which type of research methodology?

A) Correlational
B) Case study
C) Experimental
D) Survey

Question 7

Dr.Eager wishes to study the effectiveness of a new type of child therapy.With parent and child permission, he randomly assigns children half the children to receive the new treatment and half of the children to receive the standard treatment.He then measures emotional/behavioral problems before and after the 10-week treatment.In this scenario, the treatment is the:

A) Independent variable
B) Correlational variable
C) Dependent variable
D) Case study

Question 8

What is the primary reason a researcher might not use the experimental research design?

A) Many topics can not be explored ethically with the experimental research design
B) The design does not provide any information about causality
C) Because these studies are across time (e.g., one year or two year follow-up), they take too long to complete
D) The design is looked down upon by the field of developmental psychopathology

Question 9

The quasi-experimental design is used most often when:

A) The research focuses on an issue that is not well understood
B) The research is on children as opposed to adolescents
C) Random assignment is impossible
D) The questionnaires have questionable psychometric properties

Question 10

When researchers compare groups that already exist, they are using the:

A) Experimental design
B) Quasi-experimental design
C) Correlational design
D) Case study design

Question 11

The research study that compared homeless adolescents with adolescents who were from similar neighborhoods but who had a home found that:

A) There were major differences between groups on every variable, with homeless adolescents showing consistently more psychopathology than housed adolescents
B) There were major differences between groups on every variable, with housed adolescents showing consistently more psychopathology than homeless adolescents
C) There were some differences between the two groups (e.g., homeless adolescents showed higher rates of emotional/behavior problems), but there were no differences between groups on other variables (e.g., depression or substance use disorder)
D) There were no differences between the two groups at all

Question 12

The survey method is usually used within the context of:

A) Quasi-experimental designs
B) Correlational designs
C) Experimental designs
D) Longitudinal research

Question 13

Dr.Funding is interested in exploring how self-esteem relates to emotional/behavioral problems in young adolescents.Her research design is most likely:

A) Case study
B) Experimental
C) Correlational
D) Prospective

Question 14

Researchers who wish to study rare behaviors (such as selective mutism) that have not been studied extensively are most likely to use what research design?

A) Prospective
B) Case study
C) High risk design
D) Survey method

Question 15

The research design in which researchers first collect baseline data, then administer some type of intervention, then collect baseline data, then administer an intervention again is known as the:

A) A-B-A-B design
B) Reversal design
C) Quasi-experimental design
D) Both a and b are correct

Question 16

Dr.Empathy is interested in studying children who have a depressed father or a depressed mother.He is most likely using a(n):

A) Accelerated longitudinal design
B) High-risk design
C) Case study design
D) A-B-A-B design

Question 17

Researchers who wish to study children in a disadvantaged situation (such as poverty, family conflict, abuse) are most likely to use a(n):

A) Behavioral genetics design
B) Prospective design
C) Experimental design
D) High-risk design

Question 18

Twin studies and adoption studies are used in what type of research?

A) Behavioral genetics
B) Experimental
C) Correlational
D) Case study

Question 19

When data are gathered at only one point in time, the research is known as:

A) Prospective
B) High-risk
C) Cross-sectional
D) Behavioral genetics

Question 20

Dr.Ambitious wishes to study changes in aggression over time.She recruits a sample of 4-year olds and their parents and then measures aggression each year for five years.The time-frame of this research design is known as:

A) A-B-A-B design
B) Prospective longitudinal research
C) Accelerated longitudinal research
D) Cross-sectional

Question 21

In the description of a prospective longitudinal design conducted in New Zealand, what did the researchers find regarding peer relationships in elementary school (at the age of 9) and adult functioning (at the age of 18)?

A) Early peer relationship problems were associated with anxiety disorders at the age of 18
B) Early peer relationship problems were associated with externalizing behaviors at the age of 18
C) Early peer relationship problems were associated with depression at the age of 18
D) All of the above are correct

Question 22

Suzy Gogetter, a second year graduate student, wants to study changes over time in symptoms of anxiety.In particular, she is interested in the changes from middle-school to high school.For her dissertation, she plans to recruit a sample of 12-year-olds, 13-year-olds, 14-year olds, and 15-year-olds and measure their symptoms of anxiety over the course of a year.This design is known as:

A) Prospective longitudinal
B) Cross sectional
C) Accelerated longitudinal
D) A no-no for graduate students

Question 23

Programmatic research occurs when:

A) Researchers test the effectiveness of a particular therapy program
B) Researchers develop a line of research from which they create a number of different but related research topics
C) A professor's research program is funded by grants
D) Both a and c are correct

Question 24

What is one of the most common problems that students face in identifying a research topic?

A) Asking a research question that is not important (e.g., Do children with learning disorders study better in a blue room as compared to a yellow room?)
B) Asking a research question that requires an experimental design (e.g., How does rap music influence children's aggressive behavior?)
C) Asking a research question that has already been established (e.g., Is interparental conflict harmful to children?)
D) Asking a research question that is too large (e.g., What therapy is most effective?)

Question 25

The most common p-value used in research on developmental psychopathology is:

A) p < .50
B) p < .05
C) p < .01
D) p < .001

Question 26

In the time-frame to consider in sharing new research results with the profession, which of the following is CORRECT?

A) Data can be presented at a professional conference and then published in a professional journal (but not vice versa)
B) Data can be published in a professional journal and then presented at a professional conference (but not vice versa)
C) It does not matter whether data are presented at a conference first or published in a journal first
D) It depends on the research question

Question 27

In the Global Issues box discussing Dr.Jeffrey Arnett's work, what is "the neglected 95%?"

A) Lack of research on children
B) Lack of research on adolescents
C) Lack of research on gender differences in the United States
D) Lack of research outside of the United States

Question 28

When researchers collect data, analyze data, and draw conclusions based on objective and numerical data, it is called:

A) Qualitative research
B) Quantitative research
C) Psychometric research
D) Reliable research

Question 29

Research that is not empirically driven and that focuses more on the experience of the participants is called:

A) Qualitative research
B) Quantitative research
C) Accelerated longitudinal research
D) Unethical

Question 30

Dr.Touchyfeely wishes to examine the connections between feelings and writing in a diary.He reads participants diaries and asks them to describe how they feel.This research is most reflective of:

A) Qualitative research
B) Quantitative research
C) Survey research
D) Facilitated communication

Question 31

Based on the controversy discussed in your book about a review article on the effects of child abuse, which of the following statements is most CORRECT?

A) There are few, if any, problems associated with child sexual abuse
B) Researchers can interpret and present their findings as they see fit
C) Sex with children is abuse
D) All of the above are correct

Question 32

The ethical guidelines presented in your textbook are from the:

A) American Psychiatric Association
B) American Psychological Association
C) International Association of Psychology
D) National Association of School Psychologists

Question 33

An Institutional Review Board is used to review:

A) Research
B) Therapy
C) Therapists' advertisements
D) All of the above

Question 34

Dr.Know is a well-respected researcher who investigates the connections between family dynamics and eating disorders.She wishes to recruit a sample of high school students who would complete a series of questionnaires.Dr.Know needs to:

A) Have the research study reviewed by the Institutional Review Board at her university
B) Gain written informed consent from the adolescents' parents and gain written informed assent from the adolescents themselves
C) Gain permission from the school where she wishes to conduct this research
D) All of the above

Question 35

Describe four different research methodologies used in developmental psychopathology.

Question 36

Give an example of a research study that uses an experimental design.Be sure to include a specific independent variable and a specific dependent variable.

Question 37

Give an example of a research topic that could not be studied using the experimental design due to ethical concerns.What alternative design would you suggest using for that topic?

Question 38

Describe the following research designs and give an example of each: Correlational design, case study, and quasi-experimental design.

Question 39

Discuss the pros and cons of four different research methodologies.

Question 40

Discuss the differences and similarities between the quasi-experimental design and the experimental design.Provide a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Question 41

Define cross-sectional research, prospective longitudinal research, and accelerated longitudinal research.Provide an example of each.

Question 42

Which research design is the best? Provide your rationale.

Question 43

Describe the research process from start to finish.

Question 44

Name and describe the ways in which researchers share their research findings with the profession.

Question 45

How do researchers gain permission to conduct research with children, adolescents, and families?