Question 1

In statistical calculations,the square root of the variance is called the

Accepted Answer

The square root of the variance is called the standard deviation. It is a measure of the amount of variation or dispersion of a set of data values. It is commonly used in statistical analyses and is a fundamental concept in statistics.

Question 2

A potential problem for the interpretation of IQ scores is the observation that IQ scores in general are rising across generations.The phenomenon is known as the

Accepted Answer

The phenomenon of rising IQ scores across generations is known as the Flynn effect, named after James R. Flynn who extensively studied this trend. This can present a problem for interpreting IQ scores because if one simply compares an individual's IQ score to norms from a previous generation, it may falsely suggest that the individual is above average when in fact they are just benefiting from the overall rise in IQ scores.

Question 3

Which of the following is a similarity between intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders?

Accepted Answer

Both intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders can indeed be a shock to parents when first diagnosed. This is because both conditions involve developmental differences that may not be immediately apparent at birth or in early infancy, but become more noticeable as the child grows and misses developmental milestones.

Question 4

You are watching the film Rain Man and,based on your course work in abnormal psychology,you recognize that an appropriate diagnostic category for the character Raymond,portrayed by Dustin Hoffman,is

Accepted Answer

The character Raymond displays symptoms of social communication deficits, difficulty with nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors, which are all criteria for an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis. Additionally, the film's plot and character background indicate that Raymond experienced developmental delays and atypical behavior patterns from a very young age, further supporting an ASD diagnosis.

Question 5

What system was used in early intelligence tests to compute an IQ?

Accepted Answer

The early intelligence tests computed an IQ by dividing mental age (as determined by the test) by chronological age (actual age of the person) and then multiplying the quotient by 100.

Question 6

The statistic in which the differences from the mean are squared (to eliminate negative numbers)before they are added together and divided by their total number is called the

Accepted Answer

The formula for the variance involves squaring the differences from the mean, thus eliminating negative values, and then taking the average of the squared differences. The other options, such as standard deviation and mean deviations, involve similar calculations but not the squaring of differences from the mean. The median involves finding the middle value in a set of data and is not related to calculating variability or dispersion.

Question 7

IQ scores are derived from standard scores,and to calculate a standard score,you need to know

Accepted Answer

To calculate a standard score, you need to know the mean and standard deviation of the normal distribution. The mode and median are not required for this calculation.

Question 8

Both the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and DSM-5 recognize that

Accepted Answer

Both the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and DSM-5 recognize that intelligence is more than just an IQ score. They view intelligence as a multifaceted concept that includes cognitive, social, and practical skills. Therefore, choice B is the best answer. Choice A is incorrect because IQ scores do not define intelligence. Choice C is incorrect because conceptual skills are only one aspect of intelligence, and they are not the only constituent of IQ scores. Choice D is incorrect because IQ measures intellectual abilities, not social intelligence.

Question 9

According to DSM-5 criteria,a person can only be diagnosed as having intellectual disability if he or she has an IQ that is below approximately

Accepted Answer

According to DSM-5 criteria, a person can only be diagnosed with intellectual disability if their IQ is below approximately 70, with significant limitations in adaptive functioning in at least two domains. Therefore, option C is the correct choice.

Question 10

Which of the following is a DSM-5 criterion for intellectual disability?

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 criterion for intellectual disability includes a significant limitation in adaptive functioning. This refers to difficulties in effectively and independently carrying out everyday activities, such as communication, self-care, and social interactions. The other choices are incorrect as they either do not relate to the DSM-5 criterion for intellectual disability or are inaccurate (such as onset after age 21).

Question 11

The cutoff score for intellectual disability is approximately two standard deviations below the mean.If IQ scores were normally distributed,this would mean that approximately _____ percent of the population would fall below this cutoff?

Accepted Answer

In a normal distribution, approximately 2% of the population falls more than two standard deviations below the mean, which is the cutoff for intellectual disability.

Question 12

Al is 64 years old; he is currently a patient at a local hospital where a psychological battery revealed that he has subaverage intelligence and related deficits.Physicians and psychologists believe that his condition is the result of a degenerative brain disease.What is Al's most likely diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Al's age, symptoms of subaverage intelligence and related deficits, and degenerative brain disease all point to a diagnosis of dementia. Delirium is a temporary state of confusion and disorientation, emotional trauma would not necessarily cause subaverage intelligence and related deficits, and Asperger's disorder is a developmental disorder that typically presents during childhood or adolescence, not in older individuals.

Question 13

What do we call the midpoint of a frequency distribution?

Accepted Answer

The midpoint of a frequency distribution is the value that divides the distribution into two equal halves. This value is known as the median. The mode refers to the most frequently occurring value in the distribution, the norm is not a statistical term, and the mean is another measure of central tendency calculated by taking the sum of all values and dividing by the total number of values in the distribution. However, the mean may not be a good choice if the distribution is skewed or has outliers.

Question 14

What is the mean and standard deviation of most intelligence tests?

Accepted Answer

The most commonly used intelligence tests, such as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, have a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15. Therefore, option C (mean of 100, standard deviation of 15) is the best choice. The other options (A, B, and D) are not consistent with the mean and standard deviation of most intelligence tests.

Question 15

The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD),as well as DSM-5,use the term ________ for what was previously called "mental retardation."

Accepted Answer

The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) and DSM-5 use the term "intellectual disability" for what was previously called "mental retardation". This term has gained acceptance as a more respectful and accurate description of individuals with intellectual limitations. Choice A (intellectually challenged) is a commonly used but not official term, Choice B (savantism) refers to exceptional abilities in a particular area despite intellectual disability, and Choice D (learning disability) is a separate disability category.

Question 16

29-year-old Brenda has an IQ of 67,yet she finished fourth grade.She lives with her boyfriend,pays her bills with money she earns as a factory worker,and is able to live without supervision.What is Brenda's most likely diagnosis in terms of the DSM-5 classification of intellectual disability?

Accepted Answer

The DSM-5 criteria for intellectual disability include both low IQ (below approximately 70) and significant limitations in adaptive functioning in conceptual, social, or practical domains. Brenda, despite her low IQ, demonstrates adaptive functioning by living independently, maintaining employment, and managing her finances. Therefore, she does not meet the full criteria for intellectual disability according to DSM-5.

Question 17

Many human characteristics,such as height,are distributed so the majority of scores fall in the middle of the distribution,with fewer extreme scores.What do we call this type of distribution?

Accepted Answer

A normal distribution is a bell-shaped curve, where the majority of scores fall in the middle of the distribution and fewer scores fall towards the extremes. This is a common distribution for many human characteristics, including height, weight, and IQ. Bimodal curves have two peaks, standardized curves are not a specific type of distribution, and expected distribution is not a commonly used term in statistics.

Question 18

A psychologist has collected some data on the number of friends that college students report they have.The data set follows: 6,4,3,2,7,3,8,5.If the psychologist reports 3 as a measure of central tendency,which measure was used?

Accepted Answer

The mode is the value that appears most frequently in a data set. In this case, the number 3 appears twice, more frequently than any other number, making it the mode.

Question 19

Which child is most likely to show a significant change in IQ score if retested five years later?

Accepted Answer

Younger children, like Anne who is three years old, are more likely to show significant changes in IQ scores upon retesting after a period, such as five years, due to rapid developmental changes and environmental influences.

Question 20

In the United States,the term "mental retardation" has been replaced by the term "intellectual disability" by

Accepted Answer

The term "mental retardation" was replaced with "intellectual disability" by law. The Rosa's Law was signed into law in 2010, which substituted the term within federal education, healthcare, and labor statutes, and was later followed by other states.

Quiz 15: Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders