Question 1

A woman sought treatment for her symptoms of depression and anxiety.The psychologist,after checking his references for the best treatment given her symptoms,began twice-a-week cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy.By the end of eight weeks,she reported that she was much better,and had only occasional symptoms of depression and anxiety,which she considered to be normal.The psychologist wrote a report describing the results of his study,stating that her improvement offers conclusive support for the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Do you think the psychologist's conclusions are correct? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

There are two important reasons to suspect the psychologist's conclusions.(1)It is difficult to draw firm cause-effect conclusions Another important factor that limits the ability to make causal inferences based on the case study is that observer bias and biases in data collection may be present.Because the psychologist served both as the therapist and the researcher,his observations may be biased by his dual roles.In addition,the observations of the client's improvement are based on her self-report,and she may be biased to report improvement (e.g.,to please the psychologist or to justify the twice-per-week sessions).

Question 2

Idiographic research,as represented by the case study method,has the potential to reveal

Accepted Answer

Idiographic research, such as the case study method, focuses on understanding individual behavior, including the nuances and subtleties of that behavior. It is not designed to establish definitive evidence of treatment effectiveness or causal mechanisms underlying behavior, which would be better addressed using other research methods. While case studies may provide some evidence of treatment effects, they are not as well-controlled as randomized clinical trials and may not provide the same level of confidence in the findings.

Question 3

Identify a methodological problem specific to the ABAB design and a methodological problem specific to the multiple-baseline designs.

Accepted Answer

A methodological problem specific to the ABAB design is a failure of behavior in the second baseline stage to reverse to the level of the first baseline stage.It is very difficult to interpret whether the intervention was responsible for the change in behavior when the intervention was administered.Possible methodological problems specific to the multiple-baselines designs occur when behavior changes before the intervention and when the treatment generalizes to other behaviors or situations.

Question 4

Case studies have been used successfully to study individuals with brain disorders and individuals with exceptional memory abilities.These studies illustrate the use of the case study method to

Accepted Answer

Case studies are particularly useful in studying rare phenomena and individual cases that may not be easily replicated in larger experiments. The exploration of exceptional abilities or unusual symptoms can inform larger theories and contribute to a better understanding of brain function.

Question 5

The task confronting clinical psychologists can be described as trying to predict "what any one person will do." Actuarial predictions and group norms can be useful,but the clinician's task also illustrates the need for

Accepted Answer

Idiographic research focuses on understanding individuals as unique cases, rather than trying to generalize findings to a larger group. This approach is particularly relevant to the task facing clinical psychologists, as the clinician must consider not only group norms and actuarial predictions, but also the specific characteristics and circumstances of the individual they are working with. Psychoanalytic and spiritual research may be relevant to some clinical contexts, but are not directly related to the task of predicting individual behavior. Nomothetic research, which seeks to identify general patterns and principles that apply to groups of people, can be useful in developing actuarial predictions, but is not sufficient on its own in predicting individual behavior.

Question 6

In the nomothetic approach to the study of psychology,researchers generally conduct

Accepted Answer

In the nomothetic approach, researchers aim to identify universal laws and principles that apply to all individuals. Therefore, studying many individuals and using their average behavior to describe how people behave in general is the most appropriate method. Option A and B refer to the idiographic approach where researchers study an individual in detail to describe their unique characteristics. Option C is not correct as the nomothetic approach does not aim to describe the unique aspects of individuals; rather, it aims to generalize findings across individuals.

Question 7

Researchers are often unable to control extraneous variables when they use the case study method.This poor degree of control makes it difficult to use the case study method to

Accepted Answer

Control of extraneous variables is essential for establishing cause-and-effect relationships, and the case study method is often limited in this aspect. Therefore, it is challenging to draw causal conclusions about behavior using the case study method. However, the case study method can still be useful for developing descriptions of behavior, considering alternative theoretical explanations of behavior, and developing predictions of behavior.

Question 8

Suppose the following data were observed for an individual who sought treatment for kleptomania.Using a single-case experiment,the psychologist used "covert sensitization" to treat the stealing behavior across a number of different situations (e.g.,stealing at the grocery store,drug store,discount store).Covert sensitization was applied systematically to each situation.The psychologist concluded that the treatment was very effective for reducing kleptomania.
As shown in the following graphs,an initial baseline period was conducted for each of three situations.The session in which covert sensitization was implemented is indicated with each situation (session 3,6,or 9).The dependent variable is the number of shoplifted items.    What is your conclusion about the effectiveness of treatment? Explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suppose the following data were observed for...

Question 9

Identify two advantages and two disadvantages of the case study method.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify two advantages and two disadvantages of...

Question 10

Describe an advantage and a disadvantage of single-case experimental designs relative to multiple-groups designs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe an advantage and a disadvantage of...

Question 11

Suppose the following data were observed for an individual who sought treatment for kleptomania.Using a single-case experiment,the psychologist used "covert sensitization" to treat the stealing behavior across a number of different situations (e.g.,stealing at the grocery store,drug store,discount store).Covert sensitization was applied systematically to each situation.The psychologist concluded that the treatment was very effective for reducing kleptomania.
As shown in the following graphs,an initial baseline period was conducted for each of three situations.The session in which covert sensitization was implemented is indicated with each situation (session 3,6,or 9).The dependent variable is the number of shoplifted items.    What type of research design was used in this study? [Be specific.]

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suppose the following data were observed for...

Question 12

Which of the following is an advantage of the case study method?

Accepted Answer

Case studies are valuable for generating ideas and hypotheses about behavior, as they provide detailed insights into individual cases.

Question 13

The relationship of the case study method to other research methods of investigation can best be described as

Accepted Answer

The case study method is interrelated with and complementary to other research methods of investigation, such as surveys, experiments, and observational studies. It is often used to provide in-depth understanding and insights into complex phenomena that cannot be easily generalized through more controlled methods.

Question 14

The most serious disadvantage of the case study method,because of internal validity issues,is the

Accepted Answer

The case study method often lacks control and randomization, making it difficult to establish causal relationships and thus affecting internal validity.

Question 15

Describe the common features that are present in both ABAB and multiple-baseline experimental designs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the common features that are present...

Question 16

What two methodological problems dealing with the measurement of baselines apply to all single-case experimental designs?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What two methodological problems dealing with the...

Question 17

A cognitive psychologist did an intensive descriptive study of a person who had suffered an unusual brain injury.Which of the following methods did the psychologist most likely use?

Accepted Answer

The case study method involves an in-depth examination of an individual or group, often focusing on a unique or unusual experience or condition. Given that the cognitive psychologist conducted an intensive descriptive study of an individual with an unusual brain injury, the case study method is the most likely method used. The other options (baseline method, idiogram method, unipolar method) are not typically associated with intensive descriptive studies of individuals with brain injuries.

Question 18

The major difficulty with the case study method as a basis for drawing cause-and-effect conclusions is that

Accepted Answer

The major difficulty with the case study method as a basis for drawing cause-and-effect conclusions is that the simultaneous use of several treatments and failure to control extraneous variables prevent causal inference. Case studies are typically limited to one or a few individuals or situations, making it difficult to generalize the findings to larger populations. Additionally, case studies are often retrospective and may rely on self-report, which can be biased. Therefore, researchers must be cautious when attempting to draw causal conclusions from case study data.

Question 19

The fundamental characteristic of case studies is

Accepted Answer

The fundamental characteristic of case studies is that they lack a high degree of scientific control. They are typically focused on a specific individual or group, making it difficult to generalize the findings to other populations. However, they can provide valuable insights into complex or rare phenomena that would be difficult to study using experimental methods.

Question 20

A woman sought treatment for her symptoms of depression and anxiety.The psychologist,after checking his references for the best treatment given her symptoms,began twice-a-week cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy.By the end of eight weeks,she reported that she was much better,and had only occasional symptoms of depression and anxiety,which she considered to be normal.The psychologist wrote a report describing the results of his study,stating that her improvement offers conclusive support for the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy.
What type of research did this psychologist conduct?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A woman sought treatment for her symptoms...

Quiz 9: Single-Case Research Designs