Question 1

A researcher is studying how anxiety tends to be experienced by people of different ages. The researcher interviews anxious adolescents, young adults, individuals in their 30s and 50s, and those over 70. The individuals in each age group represent a

Accepted Answer

The individuals in each age group represent a cohort, which refers to a group of people who share a common characteristic or experience, in this case, their age range.

Question 2

Monozygotic twins allow for unique genetic studies because they

Accepted Answer

Monozygotic twins, also known as identical twins, result when a single fertilized egg splits into two embryos. As a result, they have the same exact genetic material, making them an ideal population to study the influence of genetics on various traits and diseases.

Question 3

Who has influenced a whole field of study on personality inventories?

Accepted Answer

Paul Meehl is widely recognized as having influenced the field of personality inventories through his work on construct validity and assessment of personality traits.

Question 4

One of the research methods used to help determine the typical course and progression of a disorder like schizophrenia is a ____________ study.

Accepted Answer

A longitudinal study involves following a group of individuals over time and collecting data from them repeatedly. This can help researchers to track the course of a disorder like schizophrenia and determine how symptoms change over time. Family studies may be helpful in understanding the genetic factors that contribute to the disorder, but would not necessarily provide information on the typical course and progression. A group study or randomized control group study may be useful in investigating the effects of a particular treatment or intervention, but would not necessarily provide information on the natural course of the disorder.

Question 5

A researcher collects data comparing people with and without a disorder. The researcher is particularly interested in inherited tendencies that are not part of the disorder but that occur with much greater frequency in the people afflicted with it. The researcher is conducting a(n)

Accepted Answer

An association study is used to compare individuals with and without a disorder to determine if certain genetic markers, traits, or environmental factors are associated with the disorder. In this case, the researcher is interested in inherited tendencies that occur more frequently in people with the disorder, but are not part of the disorder itself. This type of study focuses on the association between the disorder and potential risk factors. Genetic linkage analysis involves mapping the location of specific genes on a chromosome, and family studies involve analyzing patterns of inheritance within families. DNA analysis can refer to a variety of techniques used to analyze an individual's DNA sequence or genetic markers.

Question 6

A researcher is studying how depression tends to be experienced by people of different ages. The researcher interviews depressed adolescents, young adults, individuals in their 30s and 50s, and those over 70. The research design being used is called

Accepted Answer

The research design being used is cross-sectional because it involves collecting data from individuals of different age groups at a single point in time to compare their experiences of depression.

Question 7

Which can be a valuable tool for projective tests?

Accepted Answer

Ambiguous stimuli are a valuable tool for projective tests because they allow individuals to project their thoughts, feelings, and emotions onto the stimuli, which provides insight into their unconscious processes.

Question 8

One significant limitation of the cross-sectional design is called the "cohort effect." This relates to the fact that

Accepted Answer

The cohort effect refers to the fact that individuals from different age groups (cohorts) may have experienced different life events, leading to differences in attitudes, behaviors, and other variables. Since the cross-sectional design compares individuals from different age groups at one point in time, it is difficult to disentangle the effects of aging from cohort differences. Therefore, age and experience are confounded in the cross-sectional design.

Question 9

TAT stands for _________________.

Accepted Answer

TAT stands for Thematic Appreciation Test, which is a projective psychological test that involves presenting individuals with ambiguous pictures and asking them to generate stories based on what they see.

Question 10

Longitudinal and/or cross-sectional research is often necessary to determine

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal and/or cross-sectional research is necessary to determine how disorders change and progress over a typical patient's lifetime. Longitudinal research involves studying the same group of individuals over an extended period of time, while cross-sectional research involves studying individuals from different age groups at the same time. Both types of research can help to identify trends and patterns in the development and progression of disorders over time.

Question 11

Combining the monozygotic twin and adoption studies, researchers often study identical twins raised in different families. This method helps researchers determine

Accepted Answer

By studying identical twins raised in different families, researchers can isolate the effects of environment and compare them to the effects of shared genes. This allows them to determine the impact of environmental factors on behavior and traits without the confounding influence of genetics.

Question 12

Adoption studies are often used when attempting to study the influence of genetic factors on psychological disorders because these studies allow examination of genetic influences of psychopathology

Accepted Answer

Adoption studies help separate genetic influences from environmental ones by examining individuals who are genetically related but raised in different environments, thus avoiding the confound of siblings raised together.

Question 13

Which of the following study types must be conducted to identify the location of specific genes associated with psychopathology?

Accepted Answer

Association studies are typically used to identify the location of specific candidate genes associated with psychopathology. These studies compare the frequency of specific genetic variants between individuals with the disorder and healthy individuals in the general population. This helps researchers identify specific genes that may be involved in the development of the disorder. Family, twin, and adoption studies are useful in investigating the heritability of psychopathology, but they may not necessarily identify the specific genes involved.

Question 14

Use of a cross-sectional design would be appropriate in trying to find an answer to all of the following questions EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A cross-sectional design examines a group of participants at one point in time and is therefore appropriate for questions that compare differences across groups at that moment. Questions about early behaviors (in this case, of adult panic disorder patients) would require a longitudinal study. A, B, and D all compare differences between children and adults at one point in time and are therefore appropriate for a cross-sectional design.

Question 15

Family studies are often used to help determine whether a psychological disorder has a genetic component. Which of the following patterns is typical for a disorder that is influenced by genetics?

Accepted Answer

If a disorder has a genetic component, it is more likely to be present in siblings than in the general public, as they share more genetic material. However, cousins share less genetic material and are therefore less likely to have the disorder. Option A is incorrect because cousins are not as likely to have the disorder as the general public. Option B is also incorrect because it suggests that siblings will almost always have the same disorder, which is not necessarily true for all genetic disorders. Option D is incorrect because it suggests that cousins may have a similar rate of the disorder as the general public, which is not consistent with a disorder that has a genetic component.

Question 16

One reason that we can expect rapid increases in our understanding of the genetic influences of psychopathology over the next several years is the

Accepted Answer

The success of the human genome project has provided researchers with a map of the entire human genome, allowing them to identify specific genes and genetic variations that may contribute to psychopathology.

Answer: B
 Powerful new statistical techniques, such as genome-wide association studies, can analyze vast amounts of genetic data to identify patterns and associations with specific disorders.

Answer: C
 Fast, new-generation computers allow for the analysis of large datasets and complex genetic information to uncover relationships between genes and psychopathology.

Answer: D
 While brain-scanning technology can provide insights into how brain structure and function relate to mental disorders, it may not directly inform our understanding of the genetic influences that contribute to these disorders.

Question 17

What is a problem with administering the MMPI?

Accepted Answer

Administering the MMPI takes a significant amount of time, as it consists of over 500 true/false questions and can take up to 2-3 hours to complete. This can be a challenge for both the examiner and the test taker, as it requires a substantial investment of time and attention. While factors such as cost and the availability of trained professionals may also be challenges, time is a key problem with administering the MMPI.

Question 18

Given what we know about the effects of genes and the environment, which of the following pairs of children would be expected to be most similar in terms of overall personality, psychological disorders, and intelligence?

Accepted Answer

Biological siblings raised in the same house share both genetic material and environmental influences, making them more similar in personality, psychological disorders, and intelligence compared to other pairs.

Question 19

The research design most helpful in determining how individuals with particular disorders change over time is the

Accepted Answer

The longitudinal method involves studying the same group of individuals over a period of time, making it the most helpful research design for determining how individuals with particular disorders change over time. This method allows researchers to track the individual's progress, observe patterns of onset and progression, and identify factors that contribute to the development or evolution of the disorder. Cross-sectional designs compare different groups at the same time and do not allow for the examination of changes over time; family studies examine the prevalence of a disorder within families but may not provide information regarding changes over time in individuals; association studies examine the relationship between specific genes and a particular disorder but do not track changes over time in individuals.

Question 20

The two most frequently used methods in prevention research for examining psychopathology across time are

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal and cross-sectional are the two most frequently used methods in prevention research for examining psychopathology across time. Longitudinal studies follow a group of participants over time, measuring changes in their psychopathology, while cross-sectional studies compare groups of participants at different points in time. Both methods are important for understanding how psychopathology changes over time and what factors contribute to its development.

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