Question 1

A hypothesis is defined as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is an educated guess or prediction about a relationship between variables that can be tested through empirical research. It is not a theory or research study, and while it may be informed by empirical observations, it is not an empirical conclusion in and of itself.

Question 2

DSM-5 is based on a ________ classification system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of DSM-5 is based on a ________ classification...

Question 3

The observation that people of different age groups differ in their values and experiences called ______.

Accepted Answer

The observation that people of different age groups differ in their values and experiences is known as the cohort effect. This term refers to the fact that individuals who were born in different time periods (cohorts) may have unique experiences and values that differentiate them from other age groups. This can impact the way they respond to various social, political, and economic situations throughout their lives.

Question 4

The classical (or pure) categorical approach to diagnosis assumes that each person with a particular disorder will

Accepted Answer

The classical categorical approach assumes that individuals with a particular disorder will experience the same symptoms with little or no variation. This assumes that there is a clear separation between those with the disorder and those without, and that there are discrete categories of disorders. However, this approach has been criticized for failing to account for individual differences in symptom expression and response to treatment.

Question 5

A researcher studying the effect of a dietary supplement on sleep finds that research participants who take the supplement sleep an average of 8 hours and 25 minutes per night, while participants who were given a placebo pill with no active ingredients in it sleep for an average of 6 hours and 20 minutes. These findings are likely

Accepted Answer

The difference between the two groups (8 hours and 25 minutes vs 6 hours and 20 minutes) is statistically significant, which means it is unlikely to have occurred by chance alone. In addition, the difference of more than two hours of sleep per night is also clinically significant, as it could have significant health benefits for individuals who are struggling with sleep difficulties. Therefore, option D, clinically significant, is the best choice.

Question 6

Which of the following involves a change in behavior resulting from the person's expectation of change rather than from the experimental manipulation itself?

Accepted Answer

The placebo effect is when a person experiences a change in behavior or symptoms based on their expectation of change, rather than any actual treatment or intervention. This can happen in clinical trials where participants receive a placebo (an inactive substance) instead of the actual treatment, but still show improvement simply because they believe they are receiving the real medication.

Question 7

A researcher is testing the effects of sunlight on depression. The independent variable is

Accepted Answer

The independent variable in this scenario is the variable that is being manipulated and tested by the researcher, which is sunlight.

Question 8

In research studies, the term "effect size" refers to

Accepted Answer

Effect size refers to the magnitude of the difference between two groups in a research study. It is a measure of how much the independent variable (treatment) has affected the dependent variable (outcome). Option A correctly defines effect size in relation to the changes observed in treated and untreated individuals. Option B refers to the statistical power of the study, which is not the same as effect size. Option C is irrelevant to the concept of effect size, and option D is incorrect as external validity is not related to effect size.

Question 9

The terms taxonomy and nosology refer to

Accepted Answer

The terms taxonomy and nosology both refer to scientific classification, particularly in the fields of biology and medicine. Taxonomy is the practice of classifying organisms based on their shared characteristics, while nosology is the classifying and naming of diseases and disorders.

Question 10

The dimensional approach to diagnosis is characterized by

Accepted Answer

The dimensional approach to diagnosis focuses on measuring the severity and intensity of various symptoms experienced by a patient. This is typically done through the use of scales or questionnaires that assess a patient's experiences in multiple areas, such as anxiety or depression. The quantification of patients' experiences is a key aspect of the dimensional approach.

Question 11

A researcher separates the participants into two groups. Group A receives an active medication, and Group B receives an empty capsule that looks and feels like the real medication. Group B is the

Accepted Answer

Group B is the control group as they are receiving a placebo instead of the active medication being tested. The control group is used to compare the effects of the active medication to the effects of not receiving any medication, in order to determine whether the active medication is actually effective. The other options are not correct because Group A is the treatment group, the term "analog group" is not a commonly used term in research, and the term "experimental group" could be used for either group A or B, depending on the context.

Question 12

All of the following are potential dangers of assigning a diagnostic label EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Assigning a diagnostic label can aid in predicting the course of a disorder and tailoring treatment. The other options are all potential dangers of labeling, including negative effects on self-esteem and how others perceive the individual.

Question 13

A researcher studies the impact of cell phone use during class lectures on college students' exam scores. Whether the results of this study help us to understand the relationship between cell phone use during class lectures and work performance in real-life institutions is a question of

Accepted Answer

External validity refers to the extent to which results from a study can be generalized to real-life situations outside of the study setting. Therefore, whether the findings of this study can be applied to real-life institutions is a question of external validity. Internal validity refers to the accuracy of the study's conclusions within the study itself, study confounds are factors that may influence the results of the study, and the original research hypothesis pertains to the specific question being investigated in the study.

Question 14

What is the basic principle of genetic linkage analysis?

Accepted Answer

The basic principle of genetic linkage analysis is to study a family disorder and assess other inherited characteristics at the same time to determine the location of the gene responsible for the disorder on the chromosome. This is done by comparing the inheritance pattern of the disorder with that of various genetic markers along the chromosome. By identifying genetic markers that are inherited together with the disorder more often than expected by chance, researchers can narrow down the location of the gene responsible for the disorder on the chromosome.

Question 15

While studying the impact of ginkgo biloba on memory, a researcher has one group of rats on a normal diet while the other rat group is given measured doses of ginkgo biloba with their meals. While observing the rats run a complicated maze, the researcher notes that the ginkgo biloba-enhanced rats' maze is more brightly lit than the normal diet rats' maze. The difference in lighting in this study is a(n)

Accepted Answer

The difference in lighting between the two mazes is not a deliberate manipulation by the researcher and is therefore an extraneous variable that could affect the rats' performance on the maze. This makes it a confound. The independent variable is the ginkgo biloba, the dependent variable is likely the rats' performance on the maze, and a hypothesis has not been given in the scenario.

Question 16

Internal validity is defined as

Accepted Answer

Internal validity refers to the extent to which the results of a study can be explained by the independent variable. It is concerned with addressing whether the causal relationship between the independent and dependent variables is sound and whether the results are not confounded by extraneous variables. A study that has high internal validity means that it is more likely that the independent variable had a significant impact on the dependent variable.

Question 17

Which of the following involves trying to generalize the findings to groups whose experiences are different from those of the study participants?

Accepted Answer

The cross-generational effect refers to the challenge of generalizing study findings to groups with different experiences than the original study participants, often due to differences in cultural, social, or historical contexts.

Question 18

Researchers use control groups to

Accepted Answer

Control groups are used to make comparisons to the treatment group. This is important for determining whether the treatment is actually having an effect or if any observed changes are simply due to chance or other factors. Control groups are designed to be as similar as possible to the treatment group, but they do not receive the treatment being tested.

Question 19

Statistical significance determines whether an observed difference between a treatment and control group is likely due to

Accepted Answer

Statistical significance determines the likelihood that the observed difference between a treatment and control group is due to chance. Random assignment helps to ensure that other factors are equally distributed between the groups, but statistical significance specifically addresses the likelihood that the observed difference is not simply a fluke occurrence. External validity refers to how well the findings can be generalized to other populations or settings, and confounds refer to extraneous variables that can affect the outcome of the study.

Question 20

In well-designed research studies, medications that enhance serotonin functioning have been found to help patients recover from episodes of depression. Given the realities of the patient uniformity myth, it would be a mistake to conclude that

Accepted Answer

While medications that enhance serotonin functioning have been found to help some patients with depression, not all patients will respond to this treatment. The patient uniformity myth suggests that all patients with the same diagnosis will respond the same way to treatment, but this is not accurate. There are a variety of factors, including biology, environment, and individual differences that can impact a patient's response to medication. Therefore, it would be a mistake to assume that all depressed patients will benefit from medications that enhance serotonin functioning.

Quiz 3: Clinical Assessment, Diagnosis, and Research in Psychopathology