Question 1

Prevalence statistics- stem In epidemiological studies,researchers obtain prevalence statistics when they want to investigate the percent of people who:

Accepted Answer

Prevalence statistics measure the proportion of individuals in a population who have a disease at a certain point in time or over a specified period. This means that researchers are investigating the proportion of people who have ever had a given disease, making choice A the best option. B, C, and D are not accurate descriptions of prevalence statistics.

Question 2

Cross-sequential design- choice A researcher finds that after completing all three analyses in the Most Efficient Design,the 50-year-olds differ from the 60-year-olds in two of the three analyses.To conclude that age was a factor in producing these results,which design would need to show no significant effects?

Accepted Answer

The cross-sequential design combines elements of longitudinal and cross-sectional studies, allowing researchers to separate age effects from cohort effects. If the cross-sequential design shows no significant effects, it suggests that the differences observed are likely due to age rather than cohort or period effects, supporting the conclusion that age was a factor.

Question 3

Incidence studies- choice Which type of epidemiological study do researchers use when they want to estimate the percent of people who first show symptoms of a disease?

Accepted Answer

Incidence studies are used to estimate the number or percentage of new cases of a disease that occur within a specific time period. This includes determining the onset and first appearance of symptoms. Prevalence studies, on the other hand, measure the total number or percentage of people who have a disease at a specific point in time, regardless of when symptoms first appeared. Multivariate studies involve examining multiple variables and their relationships with a health outcome, while descriptive studies simply describe the characteristics of a population or disease without making comparisons or predictions.

Question 4

Reliability- choice Tests that produce consistent results are said to be psychometrically:

Accepted Answer

Reliability refers to consistency and stability of test results over time and across different raters or versions of the test. Therefore, tests that produce consistent results are considered to be reliable. Validity refers to the degree to which a test measures what it is intended to measure, while predictive validity refers to the ability of a test to accurately predict future behaviors or outcomes. Replicability refers to the ability to reproduce the same results in multiple studies. While all four of these concepts are important in psychometric testing, the question specifically asks for the term used to describe tests that produce consistent results, which is reliability.

Question 5

Meta-analysis example- choice To evaluate the relationship between gender and psychological well-being,a researcher examines a set of 45 studies that all include similar types of measures.The researcher then is able to provide a measure of "effect size" to indicate the strength of the relationship.This type of approach is called a(n):

Accepted Answer

The use of a set of studies with similar measures and providing a measure of effect size to determine the strength of a relationship is characteristic of a meta-analysis.

Question 6

Moderator example- choice In multivariate study,researchers are attempting to understand the joint contributions of age and gender to the outcome of scores on a measure of depression.Because age does not predict gender nor does gender predict age,both variables have the status of being:

Accepted Answer

Age and gender are not merely structures or latent variables, as they are directly measured and manipulated in the study. They are also not mediators, as they are not believed to be the causal mechanism through which the outcome of scores on the measure of depression is affected. Instead, age and gender are likely moderators in this study, as their joint contributions are expected to have an interactive effect on the outcome of interest.

Question 7

Structural equation models- choice Researchers who want to test causal hypotheses about a set of relationships involving age and other variables are likely to use which specific type of design?

Accepted Answer

Structural equation modeling is the best choice for researchers who want to test causal hypotheses about a set of relationships involving age and other variables. This approach allows researchers to model and test complex theoretical frameworks of causal relationships between latent (unobserved) variables, using observed variables as indicators. It is a statistical technique that allows researchers to test hypotheses about the underlying structure of constructs and the relationships among them.

Question 8

Interpret sequential findings- choice For a researcher in a given field to find that both the time-sequential and the cohort-sequential designs produce significant age effects,then it is possible that the results reflect true ________ aging:

Accepted Answer

Personal aging refers to individual changes that occur over time and are unaffected by external factors such as historical, social, or cultural events. Therefore, if both time-sequential and cohort-sequential designs produce significant age effects, it suggests that personal aging is the most likely explanation for the findings.

Question 9

Observational study example- choice In a study examining the factors that influence whether drivers of different ages are likely to speed through an intersection,researchers set up recording devices at several major traffic lights in one town.They then estimate their ages and estimated speeds from the recordings.This would be an example of what type of study?

Accepted Answer

This is an observational study as it involves observing and recording the behavior of the drivers without manipulating any variables.

Question 10

Latent variable- choice In a large-scale study investigating the relationship between intelligence and lifestyle,researchers administer a set of 10 intelligence tests which they then convert into one underlying factor.They relate this underlying factor,in turn,to various lifestyle variables such as exercise,diet,and leisure activity participation.The converted intelligence factor is known,in structural equation modeling terms,as a(n):

Accepted Answer

The converted intelligence factor that is used as a common underlying factor for the intelligence tests and related to lifestyle variables is known as a latent variable in structural equation modeling.

Question 11

Survey example- choice (Aging Today) In the National Social Life,Health and Aging Study,researcher collected data on the sex lives of adults 57 to 85 years of aging by using which type of methodology?

Accepted Answer

The question asks about the methodology used to collect data on the sex lives of older adults, and the National Social Life, Health and Aging Study is a well-known survey-based study. A focus group would gather qualitative data through group discussion and may not be appropriate for collecting sensitive information about sexual behavior. A laboratory may be used for studying physiological aspects of sexuality but not for gathering information on sexual behavior. An observational study would involve the researchers observing the subjects engaging in sexual activity, which would be unethical and impractical for a large-scale study. Therefore, the best answer is D, survey.

Question 12

Most Efficient Design- stem The Most Efficient Design would most likely be employed when researchers wish to compare the effects of:

Accepted Answer

The Most Efficient Design is a factorial design. In a factorial design, the independent variables are crossed, meaning that each level of one IV is combined with each level of the other IV. In this question, the two independent variables being compared are age and cohort. Therefore, the most efficient design would be a 2x2 design with age (young vs. old) and cohort (new vs. old). The other options do not involve two independent variables being crossed, so they would not be appropriate for a factorial design.

Question 13

Path analysis- choice Although only experimental studies can ultimately test causality,many researchers in the field of aging use multivariate techniques,such as ____________,because they allow for testing inferences about causality.

Accepted Answer

Path analyses are the multivariate techniques that allow testing of inferences about causality. While archival methods, cross-sectional studies, and case reports can provide valuable insights, they do not allow for rigorous testing of causality.

Question 14

Focus group method example- choice The most appropriate method of analysis for data obtained from focus groups,such as older adults discussing their views about healthcare,would be:

Accepted Answer

Focus groups are typically used for qualitative research, as they involve obtaining in-depth insights and perceptions about a particular topic through group discussion. The goal is not to establish cause-and-effect relationships or quantitative associations, but rather to gather subjective impressions and experiences. Therefore, a qualitative analysis method would be most appropriate for data obtained from focus groups with older adults discussing their views about healthcare.

Question 15

Diary study- choice A method in which researchers gather data on a frequent basis from the same people over a period of weeks or months is called a(n)_______ study:

Accepted Answer

A diary study involves collecting data from the same group of individuals on a frequent basis over a period of weeks or months. This method is useful for understanding how behaviors, attitudes, and experiences change over time. Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

Question 16

Cross-sequential design- stem The cross-sequential design is designed to allow researchers to determine whether cohort and ___________ influence the patterns of results in developmental studies.

Accepted Answer

The cross-sequential design combines both longitudinal and cross-sectional designs, allowing researchers to assess the effects of cohort and time of measurement on developmental changes.

Question 17

Logistic regression method- choice Researchers attempting to predict whether or not a person will develop a disease from a set of risk factors are most likely to use the statistical method called:

Accepted Answer

Logistic regression is the most commonly used statistical method for predicting binary outcomes, such as whether or not someone will develop a disease. It allows researchers to analyze the relationship between one or more predictor variables and a binary outcome variable. Structural equation modeling, mediational analysis, and latent variable measurement are methods that are typically used for more complex analyses than simple binary outcome prediction.

Question 18

Qualitative method example- stem The qualitatitve method would be most appropriate for research investigating topic in the psychology of aging?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative methods are best suited for exploring subjective experiences and feelings, such as how older adults feel about their grandchildren.

Question 19

Mediation- choice In multivariate correlational studies testing _________,researcher compare the correlation between two variables with and without the effect of a third.

Accepted Answer

In multivariate correlational studies testing mediation, the researcher compares the correlation between two variables with and without the effect of a third variable. This third variable is considered the mediator variable, as it explains the relationship between the other two variables. Therefore, the correct answer is D) mediation.

Question 20

Cohort-sequential design- stem In the cohort-sequential design,researchers manipulate cohort and:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Cohort-sequential design- stem In the cohort-sequential design,researchers...

Quiz 3: The Study of Adult Development and Aging: Research Methods