Deck 2: Research in Abnormal Psychology

Question 1

Clinical practitioners seek a(n) _____ understanding of human behavior.

Answer 1

idiographic

Question 2

A researcher is designing a study to compare school achievement in children whose mothers drank alcohol during pregnancy and children whose mothers did not drink alcohol during pregnancy. Briefly describe two ways the researcher could ensure that the study has good internal validity and two ways the researcher could ensure that it has good external validity.

Answer 2

not answered

Question 3

The direction of magnitude is expressed by the statistical term called the _____.

Answer 3

correlation coefficient

Question 4

Assume that a researcher wishes to do research designed to pinpoint early childhood events related to later development of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa. Which type of investigation might the researcher use? What would be potential strengths and weaknesses of that type of investigation? Are there any ethical concerns the researcher ought to address?

Question 5

A study has _____ when it controls for all variables except the ones being investigated.

Question 6

Sound research in abnormal psychology uses the _____ method.

Question 7

Design an experiment to test the hypothesis that older women who take estrogen are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. Be sure to identify the control group, experimental group, independent variable, and dependent variable.

Question 8

A researcher wishes to use experimentation to study the effects of stress on the development of abnormal behaviors. Describe how the researcher might conduct that study, using either natural or analogue experiments.

Question 9

An investigation is said to have _____ when findings of the investigation can be generalized beyond the immediate study.

Question 10

Clinical researchers form general, or _____, knowledge about the nature, causes, and treatments of abnormal behavior.

Question 11

The study design in which a researcher meets several times with a single research participant and interviews, tests, and physically evaluates that person to develop a detailed description of the person's life and psychological problem is called a(n) _____.

Question 12

What are important differences between case studies and single-subject experiments? Describe the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Question 13

A major shortcoming of a correlational study is that even when a correlation between two variables is statistically significant, one cannot infer causation. For example, a significant correlation exists between life stress and depression, yet one cannot say for sure that life stress causes depression. Given this major shortcoming, what are some specific reasons one might still wish to conduct a correlational study, as opposed to an experimental study (from which one might infer a cause-and-effect relationship)?

Question 14

Correlations cannot be used to conclude that a(n) _____ relationship exists between two variables.

Question 15

Suppose a researcher found a strong positive correlation between college grade-point average (GPA) and self-esteem. Describe three possible and distinctly different causal explanations for this relationship.

Question 16

When the probability that a study's findings occurred due to chance are less than _____ percent, the findings are said to be statistically significant.

Question 17

Which challenges might clinical scientists conducting research in abnormal psychology encounter? Briefly describe two challenges. Support your answers with examples of each.

Question 18

Which steps would a researcher take to analyze the collected data from a correlational study to determine whether a correlation exists and whether the correlation is positive or negative? Include in your answer a description of each type of correlation: unrelated, positive, and negative.

Question 19

A tentative explanation or hunch that provides a basis for study is a(n) _____.

Question 20

Symptom-exacerbation studies and medication-withdrawal studies may be used to evaluate antipsychotic drug treatments for patients with psychoses. Which ethical issues are involved in each of these studies? Given these concerns, should researchers be allowed to perform these types of studies? Why or why not?

Question 21

The goal of scientific research is BEST described as seeking to:

A) prove cause and effect.
B) advance the field of clinical medicine.
C) explain relationships between variables.
D) generate hypotheses that seek to answer global questions.

Question 22

If you were using the scientific method to conduct research in abnormal psychology, you would be seeking a(n) _____ understanding.

A) idiographic
B) epidemiological
C) nomothetic
D) theoretical

Question 23

If a participant does NOT know in which condition she is being tested, she is participating in a study with a(n) _____ design.

Question 24

A study of a single person that is used to explain the underlying causes or nature of abnormal behavior in that person is consistent with the _____ approach.

A) theoretical
B) nomothetic
C) idiographic
D) correlational

Question 25

Which is the BEST example of the idiographic approach?

A) A detailed study of one case
B) A study of the most effective treatment for phobias
C) A study of the relative frequency of horse and rat phobias among adults
D) A review of all of a clinician's phobic patient cases

Question 26

A case study of a patient includes a history, tests, and interviews with associates. A clear picture is constructed of this individual so her behavior is understood. This approach is described as:

A) nomothetic.
B) idiographic.
C) experimental.
D) correlational.

Question 27

The controversy regarding research with animals centers on the:

A) rights of animals versus their usefulness in understanding human problems.
B) financial cost of using animals versus the cost of research with humans.
C) fact that animal research really doesn't contribute to human well-being.
D) lack of standards for using animals in research.

Question 28

The statement or prediction made about a potential causal relationship in a proposed study is called the:

A) theory.
B) hypothesis.
C) conclusion.
D) explanation.

Question 29

Studies that determine the incidence and prevalence of a disorder in a given population are called _____ studies.

Question 30

The type of study that allows a direct determination of a causal relationship between two variables is a(n) _____.

Question 31

In surveys assessing people's feelings about animal research, two-thirds of respondents report that animal research is:

A) unacceptable under all circumstances.
B) acceptable on deceased animals only, and only if the findings would contribute to improving the human condition.
C) acceptable on rodents only, and only if measures are taken to limit the rodent's pain during experiments.
D) acceptable for scientific research if there is no other way to obtain the data and unnecessary cruelty is avoided.

Question 32

Clinical researchers are usually concerned with a(n) _____ understanding of abnormality, while practitioners focus on a(n) _____ understanding.

A) nomothetic; idiographic
B) nomothetic; nomothetic
C) idiographic; idiographic
D) idiographic; nomothetic

Question 33

The idea that children from single-parent families show more depression than those from two-parent families is a(n):

A) variable.
B) experiment.
C) correlation.
D) hypothesis.

Question 34

A person says, "I think the Red Sox win more games on Tuesdays than on any other day of the week." Although this statement is not very scientific, it is a(n):

A) research finding.
B) hypothesis.
C) example of a case study.
D) research conclusion.

Question 35

The nontreated or comparison group that is NOT exposed to the independent variable in an experiment is called the _____.

Question 36

As opposed to clinical practitioners, who search for individualistic understanding of human behavior, clinical researchers search for general truths about abnormality. The approach of clinical researchers is described as:

A) idiosyncratic.
B) nomosynthetic.
C) idiographic.
D) nomothetic.

Question 37

Clinical researchers would NOT:

A) assess individual clients.
B) study the causes of a disease.
C) conduct experimental studies.
D) evaluate the effectiveness of various treatments.

Question 38

Which is NOT considered a research method?

A) A case study
B) A correlation
C) An experiment
D) A treatment plan for an individual

Question 39

When a researcher studies the same individuals on many occasions over a period of time, the investigation is referred to a(n) _____ study.

Question 40

A general understanding of the underlying nature, causes, and treatments of abnormal behavior is called:

A) theoretical.
B) nomothetic.
C) idiographic.
D) correlational.

Question 41

Which statement is BEST describes medical animal research?

A) It has positively contributed to human society but raises ethical questions.
B) Because of the controversy surrounding its practice, it is no longer an acceptable means of scientific research.
C) Although some research has led to improvements in human health, many of the findings are not applicable to humans.
D) There are no guidelines regarding the use of animals in experiments, so researchers will continue to face backlash when using animals in research.

Question 42

The ability to generalize results from a study of certain individuals to other individuals not studied is called:

A) construct validity.
B) context validity.
C) internal validity.
D) external validity.

Question 43

A psychologist does a study of an individual involving a history, tests, and interviews of associates. A clear picture is constructed of this individual so her behavior is better understood. This study is a(n):

A) longitudinal study.
B) case study.
C) experimental study.
D) correlational study.

Question 44

Surveys measuring people's feeling about animal research have reported that people are more comfortable with experiments that use:

A) cats.
B) monkeys.
C) guinea pigs.
D) mice or rats.

Question 45

If a particular study of alcoholism failed to control for cultural patterns in drinking among participants, the study would have low:

A) external validity.
B) internal validity.
C) face validity.
D) natural validity.

Question 46

Case studies are useful for:

A) forming general laws of behavior.
B) studying unusual problems.
C) conducting scientific experiments.
D) eliminating observer bias.

Question 47

The case study MOST likely to be helpful in the study of abnormality would be one that included a well-tested, research-supported form of therapy used to treat a(n):

A) common disorder.
B) depression.
C) substance abuse.
D) uncommon disorder.

Question 48

The term external validity refers to the extent to which the results of a study:

A) rule out alternative explanations.
B) reflect the manipulation of a single variable.
C) apply to subjects and situations other than the ones studied.
D) support the theory being tested.

Question 49

A therapist has created a new psychotherapy approach and initiates this treatment with a client. The therapist conducts a case study and publishes the results. Which factor is MOST likely to be present in this study?

A) Observer bias
B) Placebo effect
C) Lack of informed consent
D) High external validity

Question 50

Internal validity reflects how well a study:

A) rules out the effects of all variables except those being studied.
B) can be generalized to others that are not studied directly.
C) appears to be measuring what it is designed to measure.
D) predicts some future behavior.

Question 51

Which statement describes a limitation of the case study?

A) It does not result in high external validity.
B) It does not lead to an individualized approach.
C) It does not enable the therapist to understand the whole patient.
D) It does not allow the therapist to propose a course of treatment for a patient.

Question 52

One of the problems with animal research is the question of whether the results can apply to human beings. This is a question of:

A) face validity.
B) internal validity.
C) external validity.
D) content validity.

Question 53

Which statement BEST describes the rights of animals with regard to animal research?

A) Animals have no rights.
B) Animal rights are secondary to human rights.
C) Controversy surrounds what animals' rights should be.
D) The federal government has defined animal rights in different situations.

Question 54

Freud's study of Little Hans is an example of a(n):

A) case study.
B) experimental study.
C) matched design.
D) correlational study.

Question 55

Which type of study is said to offer TENTATIVE support of a theory?

A) An epidemiological study
B) A study using the experimental method
C) A correlational study
D) A case study

Question 56

Which is an example of a case study?

A) A study involving use of a control group
B) A long-term study of a clinical client
C) A study of all the cases of a disorder in a community
D) The creation of a disorder in a group of lab rats

Question 57

A psychologist studies memory techniques in adult volunteers and learns how to facilitate memory. The psychologist then applies the results to a new class of students in a psychology course. This application demonstrates faith in the:

A) internal validity of the study.
B) external validity of the study.
C) content validity of the technique.
D) conceptual validity of memory.

Question 58

Which is NOT a feature of correlational and experimental research designs that contributes to nomothetic insights?

A) Inclusion of many study participants
B) Uniform application of research procedures
C) Use of statistical tests to analyze the data collected
D) Publication of both positive and negative findings

Question 59

If a study's findings generalize beyond the immediate study to other persons and situations, then the study has:

A) external observer bias.
B) internal observer bias.
C) external validity.
D) internal validity.

Question 60

The impact of medical animal research is estimated to have increased human life expectancy by approximately:

A) 6 years.
B) 12 years.
C) 18 years.
D) 24 years.

Question 61

A researcher finds a strong positive correlation between ratings of life stress and symptoms of depression. Therefore, the researcher may be confident that:

A) life stress causes symptoms of depression.
B) symptoms of depression cause life stress.
C) something else causes stress and depression.
D) life stress and depression are related.

Question 62

One factor in correlational research that contributes to high external validity is:

A) inclusion of the full population.
B) a focus on causation.
C) application of statistical analyses.
D) oversight by multiple researchers.

Question 63

Correlation coefficients indicate the:

A) magnitude and direction of the relationship between variables.
B) cause-and-effect relationship between variables.
C) internal and external validity between variables.
D) significance and variability between variables.

Question 64

A correlational study of college employees shows a strong positive correlation between self-reported stress levels and days of work missed for illness, allowing the researcher to conclude that:

A) stress causes illness.
B) illness causes stress.
C) some other variable causes both increases in stress levels and illness.
D) the researcher can make a fairly accurate prediction of days a person will miss for illness if the person's stress level is known.

Question 65

Which correlation coefficient represents the weakest relationship?

A) -.95
B) -.06
C) +.30
D) +.54

Question 66

If the correlation between severity of depression and age is -.05, it means that:

A) older people have more severe depression.
B) older people have less severe depression.
C) younger people have almost no depression.
D) there is no consistent relationship between age and severity of depression.

Question 67

Which correlation is MOST likely to be statistically significant?

A) +.85, based on a sample of 10 people
B) -.08, based on a sample of 100 people
C) +.35, based on a sample of 10 people
D) -.80, based on a sample of 100 people

Question 68

Which correlation coefficient is of the highest magnitude?

A) +.05
B) -.81
C) +.60
D) -.01

Question 69

If you were to graph the relationship between the numbers of negative life events experienced in the past month and people's perceptions of stress, you would probably find a(n):

A) vertical line.
B) horizontal line.
C) upward-sloping line (to the right).
D) downward-sloping line (to the right).

Question 70

"The heavier you are, the more food you are likely to eat." If true, this statement expresses:

A) no correlation at all.
B) a causal relationship.
C) a positive correlation.
D) a negative correlation.

Question 71

If stress levels and physical health are negatively correlated, the researcher can conclude that:

A) stress causes people to have poor health.
B) as stress increases, health decreases.
C) poor health causes people to experience stress.
D) mental illness causes both stress and poor health.

Question 72

Which is NOT a merit of the correlational method?

A) It can be replicated.
B) It can be analyzed statistically.
C) Its results can be generalized.
D) It provides individual information.

Question 73

In correlational and experimental study designs, the sample consists of the:

A) population whom the researchers are investigation.
B) study participants.
C) process of eliminating potential study participants.
D) target group of participants to include in the study.

Question 74

In a graph of a correlational study, the line of best fit:

A) inevitably runs from the lower left to the upper right.
B) is as close as possible to all points in the graph.
C) allows the researcher to determine causality.
D) has no meaning unless it is positive.

Question 75

The major advantage of a correlational study over a case study is that it:

A) allows us to determine causation.
B) is more individualized.
C) has better external validity.
D) requires fewer participants.

Question 76

Assume variables X and Y are correlated. A researcher would be able to make the MOST accurate predictions of scores on variable Y if the correlation between X and Y is:

A) close to zero.
B) +.45.
C) -.53.
D) -.88.

Question 77

A student says, "Quick! I have to take a test in two minutes. I need help remembering which kind of correlation coefficient shows a weak relationship between two variables." Which answer will help this student?

A) One that is statistically significant
B) One that is close to minus one (-1)
C) One that is close to zero (0)
D) One that doesn't prove a causal relationship between the variables

Question 78

Which statement is TRUE regarding the correlation coefficient?

A) It ranges from 0.00 to +1.00 and indicates the strength of the relationship between two variables.
B) It ranges from -1.00 to +1.00 and indicates the strength and the direction of the relationship between two variables.
C) It ranges from 0.00 to +1.00 and indicates the strength and the direction of the relationship between two variables.
D) It ranges from -1.00 to +1.00 and indicates the strength of the relationship between two variables and the total variability of those measurements.

Question 79

A researcher finds that individuals who report large numbers of "hassles" in their lives usually also report higher levels of stress. Those who report fewer "hassles" generally report lower levels of stress. The correlation between number of "hassles" and stress level is:

A) positive.
B) negative.
C) curvilinear.
D) nonexistent.

Question 80

The interdependence that exists between events or characteristics is described as:

A) matching.
B) correlation.
C) multivariable.
D) clinical significance.