Question 1

A psychologist gives the same test to a client twice. The tests are separated by six days. If the test results are quite dissimilar, we could say that the test has weak ____.

Accepted Answer

Test-retest reliability refers to the level of consistency in scores obtained by the same individual on the same test taken on two or more occasions. If the test results are dissimilar when taken a second time, the test has weak test-retest reliability. Interrater reliability is the degree of agreement among raters or scorers. Internal consistency refers to the extent to which items on a test are all measuring the same construct. Predictive validity is the extent to which a test score can predict future performance.

Question 2

Dr. Simon is observing several schizophrenic patients interact in a mental hospital ward without interfering. Which type of observation is Dr. Simon using?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Simon is observing the patients in their natural environment without any manipulation or interference, making it a naturalistic observation. Diagnostic observation involves actively testing or evaluating a patient's symptoms, analogue observation involves creating a situation similar to the patient's real-life situation for observation, and controlled observation involves manipulating variables in a strictly controlled environment.

Question 3

Dr. Heyer is a behavioral therapist working with a 10-year-old boy named Lee. The boy's parents and teachers both agree that Lee is disobedient and unruly. What assessment method should Dr. Heyer use to most accurately assess the degree to which Lee is excessively active and disobedient?

Accepted Answer

Observation would allow Dr. Heyer to directly observe Lee's behavior in various settings and situations, providing the most accurate assessment of his level of activity and disobedience. Personality testing, interviews, and questionnaires may provide some information, but may not capture the full extent of Lee's behavior in real-life situations.

Question 4

Which assessment best illustrates the concept of reliability?

Accepted Answer

Reliability refers to the consistency of the results of a test over time, across different scores, and across different raters. Choice D is the best answer because it describes a test that yields similar scores when completed two weeks apart, indicating that it has good test-retest reliability.

Question 5

As discussed in the text, which factor is a consideration when assessing characteristics using the mental status examination?

Accepted Answer

The interviewee's cultural background is a consideration in the mental status examination to ensure accurate assessment and avoid cultural bias.

Question 6

A ____ provides therapists with distinct categories, indicators, and nomenclature for different patterns of behavior, thought processes, and emotional disturbances.

Accepted Answer

A classification system provides therapists with distinct categories, indicators, and nomenclature for different patterns of behavior, thought processes, and emotional disturbances. Psychodiagnosis and diagnosis refer specifically to the process of identifying and labeling a specific disorder, while psychometric examination refers to the use of psychological tests to measure various aspects of a person's mental functioning.

Question 7

A psychologist notes that a female client is wearing a heavy wool sweater and cap on a hot summer day. The client walks with a limp and mumbles to herself. The psychologist should ____.

Accepted Answer

The psychologist should assess the significance of these observations by integrating them with interview and other information to understand the client's behavior in context.

Question 8

Professor Wapner wants to develop a new psychometric test of anxiety. He must be careful to have the various items on the test yield similar results to ensure that it will be high in ____.

Accepted Answer

Internal consistency refers to the extent to which different items on a test are measuring the same construct. In the case of Professor Wapner's test of anxiety, it is important for the different items to yield similar results in order to ensure that the test has high internal consistency. This means that if someone scores high on one item measuring anxiety, they should also score high on the other items measuring anxiety. This is important for creating a reliable and valid test of anxiety.

Question 9

A psychologist who is simply looking for any unusual behaviors when interacting with a client is using ____.

Accepted Answer

Observation is the act of watching and noting behaviors, and can be helpful in assessing a client's behavior during a therapy session. Psychological testing, structured interviews, and neuropsychological assessments are more specific types of assessments that require specific procedures and tools.

Question 10

Self-report inventories, unlike projective tests, are ____.

Accepted Answer

Self-report inventories are standardized measures that present a specific set of questions or statements to which respondents must provide answers. This makes them more objective and reliable than projective tests, which rely on the subjective interpretation of ambiguous stimuli. While self-report inventories can be structured or unstructured, they are typically designed to elicit specific types of information and are therefore more structured than projective tests. Self-report inventories can also be administered orally or in written form, but this does not affect their classification as standardized measures. Finally, the validity of a self-report inventory depends on how accurately it measures the construct it is intended to measure, and this can vary depending on the specific inventory in question.

Question 11

A psychologist wants to assess the construct validity of a new test. He can do so by showing that ____.

Accepted Answer

Construct validity is demonstrated when a test correlates well with an established measure that assesses the same construct.

Question 12

What widely used interview procedure is used to briefly evaluate a client's cognitive, psychological, and behavioral functioning?

Accepted Answer

The mental status examination is a widely used interview procedure to evaluate a client's cognitive, psychological, and behavioral functioning.

Question 13

What aspect of interviewing increases the consistency of assessment information?

Accepted Answer

Increasing the structure of the interview by using standard questions and a clear set of criteria for evaluating responses can increase the consistency of assessment information. This helps ensure that all interviewees are evaluated on the same criteria, reducing variability in the data obtained.

Question 14

A psychologist notices that a male client rarely makes eye contact and pulls at his ear when he seems nervous. What type of assessment is the most likely psychologist performing?

Accepted Answer

The psychologist is likely performing an observation assessment, as they are noting the client's non-verbal behaviors and physical cues, such as lack of eye contact and ear pulling, which are typically observed rather than elicited through structured or controlled testing methods.

Question 15

Which of the following is a self-report inventory?

Accepted Answer

The MMPI-2 (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2) is a well-known self-report inventory that consists of true/false questions about a person's personality, mental health, and behavior.

Question 16

When Dr. Wilson administers psychological tests, she strictly follows specific procedures. This refers to what aspect of test administration?

Accepted Answer

Standardization refers to the use of consistent procedures in the administration and scoring of tests. This ensures that test results are reliable and valid, and allows for meaningful comparisons to be made between individuals or groups.

Question 17

Dr. Frederick is developing a new test for binge eating disorders. She finds that people who score high on the test engage in more binge eating and other forms of abnormal eating behaviors than people who score low on the test. These results indicate that the test has ____.

Accepted Answer

Good content validity means that the test accurately measures the construct it is intended to measure. In this case, the test for binge eating disorders accurately measures people's engagement in binge eating and other abnormal eating behaviors, indicating good content validity. The other options are not relevant to this particular scenario.

Question 18

Dr. Peterson has collected clinical observations, neurological test data, psychological test scores, and interview material on Mrs. Davis. If Dr. Peterson is doing this for the purpose of drawing conclusions that will lead to a diagnosis of Mrs. Davis, we can infer that Dr. Peterson is ____.

Accepted Answer

Collecting clinical observations, neurological test data, psychological test scores, and interview material on Mrs. Davis for the purpose of drawing conclusions that will lead to a diagnosis is known as an assessment. Therefore, we can infer that Dr. Peterson is doing an assessment.

Question 19

Gathering information on brain structures focuses on which type of assessment?

Accepted Answer

Gathering information about brain structures involves neurological tests, which can include imaging techniques such as MRI or CT scans. Psychological tests, interviews, and observations are not typically used to assess brain structures.

Question 20

Dr. Miller, a clinical psychologist, observes that his client Jennifer is presenting with a disheveled appearance, constricted emotions, and is speaking slowly. Dr. Miller is likely to use these observations as ____ with diagnostic significance.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Miller is likely to use these observations as behavioral clues, which can provide insight into Jennifer's mental state and help in diagnosing potential psychological conditions.

Quiz 3: Clinical Research, Assessment, and Classification of Mental Disorders