Question 1

Suppose I am interested in knowing whether adults who are very introverted at age 20 are still highly introverted at age 50. Which of the following statistical analyses will I be most likely to use?

Accepted Answer

The best choice would be the calculation of the correlation between scores on the key variable at two time points in a group of subjects studied longitudinally between age 20 and age 50. This analysis would allow for the examination of the relationship between introversion scores at two different time points for the same individuals, providing insight into whether there is a stable pattern of introversion over time. Choice B would also be a viable option, as it would examine the changes in introversion scores over time for the same individuals, but the correlation analysis is more specific to the research question at hand.

Question 2

What is a meta-analysis and why would a researcher choose to do it?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is a meta-analysis and why would...

Question 3

Briefly describe two of the significant problems with longitudinal design.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Briefly describe two of the significant problems...

Question 4

A researcher reports that adults in their forties have fewer close friends than do adults in their twenties. List briefly at least two (three if you can manage it) broad types of explanations for this finding.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A researcher reports that adults in their...

Question 5

There is a significant positive correlation between IQ scores and academic performance (grades). Given this statistic, we can reasonably conclude that _______.

Accepted Answer

The statement provides evidence that there is a significant positive correlation between IQ scores and academic performance (grades), suggesting that having a high IQ score is predictive of good grades. However, it does not indicate that low IQ scores are solely a result of neglectful parenting or that there is no relation between low IQ scores and low grades. Therefore, choice B is the best option.

Question 6

I were to select a sample of 30-year-olds, another sample of 40-year-olds, and a third sample of 50-year-olds, test or interview them once, and then test or interview them again 10 years later, this would be an example of what kind of research design?

Accepted Answer

This is a sequential research design, which combines elements of both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs by studying different age groups over time.

Question 7

researcher selects a sample of 65-year-olds and interviews and tests them every two years for 14 years. Over these years, some of the subjects die or drop out of the study. This phenomenon is referred to as _______.

Accepted Answer

Attrition refers to the loss of participants over time in a longitudinal study, typically due to factors such as death, dropout, or failure to respond to follow-up. Terminal drop refers to a rapid decline in cognitive functioning that is sometimes observed in the months or years before death. Longitudinal loss is not a commonly used term in this context and selective bias refers to a situation where certain types of participants are more likely to drop out of a study, potentially biasing the results.

Question 8

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of cross-sectional and longitudinal research designs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare the advantages and disadvantages of cross-sectional...

Question 9

Which of the following scenarios best represents a cross-sectional research design?

Accepted Answer

A cross-sectional research design involves collecting data from participants at one point in time, without following them over time. In scenario A, the researcher randomly selects a sample from various age cohorts to examine their political views at one point in time, making it a cross-sectional design. The other scenarios involve longitudinal designs where data is collected from the same individuals over time.

Question 10

I want to know whether successive cohorts show the same pattern of decline in frequency of close friendships in their 30s, which research design should I use?

Accepted Answer

A sequential research design allows for the examination of changes over time within different cohorts, making it suitable for studying patterns across successive cohorts.

Question 11

Which of the following correlation coefficients shows the strongest relationship between the two variables entered into the correlation?

Accepted Answer

C) - 82 is not a valid correlation coefficient because correlation coefficients range from -1 to +1. The correct answer showing the strongest relationship is actually B) +.70, as it is the closest to either -1 or +1.

Question 12

Suppose a researcher, using a cross-sectional design, finds that the incidence of depression is highest among young adults and lowest among the elderly. Which of the following is a possible valid interpretation of this result?

Accepted Answer

The findings could be interpreted in multiple ways: A) Biological changes with age might influence mental health; B) Shared experiences or tasks common to certain age groups might impact mental health; C) Differences between cohorts (e.g., varying stress levels across generations) might explain the variation in depression incidence. Each interpretation is plausible without further specific data to narrow down the cause.

Question 13

Suppose you wanted to know whether adults become more religious in their forties and fifties than they were at earlier adult ages. Briefly describe a study you would design to answer this question.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suppose you wanted to know whether adults...

Question 14

Schwebel combined data from 30 studies to examine the link between optimism and health. This is an example of a(n):

Accepted Answer

Schwebel's combining of data from 30 studies to examine the link between optimism and health is an example of a meta-analysis, which is a statistical method for combining the results of multiple studies in order to assess the overall effectiveness or significance of an intervention or relationship.

Question 15

sequential research design _______.

Accepted Answer

Sequential research design includes multiple longitudinal comparisons taken at different times. Cross-sectional designs are carried out at one point in time, while a single cohort studied over time is known as a longitudinal design. Sequential designs may take longer than cross-sectional designs due to the multiple comparisons.

Question 16

Explain briefly why differences in the average level of education between older and younger adults might affect our interpretation of age differences in such variables as intellectual performance or work satisfaction.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain briefly why differences in the average...

Question 17

would be the very best research design to determine whether middle-aged adults are really more psychologically "mature" than young adults?

Accepted Answer

A sequential design allows for the examination of both age changes and cohort effects over time, providing a comprehensive understanding of psychological maturity development across different age groups.

Question 18

Three groups of males take a timed reaction test. All the males in Group 1 are aged 20. The males in Group 2 are all aged 40. The males in the last group (Group 3) are all aged 60. The statistic reported to describe the differences in reaction times between groups is each group's mean score. However, this mean score does NOT identify _______.

Accepted Answer

The mean score only gives information about the average reaction time for each group, but it does not provide information about each individual's reaction time. Therefore, option C is the correct answer. The other options are possible conclusions that can be drawn from the reported means. Option A can be inferred if one of the groups has a significantly higher mean score than the others. Option B can be supported if there is a pattern of slower reaction times with increasing age. Option D is a possible interpretation if the job requires a specific age range and the group that falls within that range has the best reaction times.

Question 19

Describe and discuss at least two categories of shared, age-graded experiences that can shape adult development.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe and discuss at least two categories...

Question 20

There are at least three factors or processes that produce age-graded changes. Briefly list and describe them.

Accepted Answer

The answer of There are at least three factors or...

Quiz 1: Introduction to Adult Development