Psychological Research Self-Check
Studies that investigate differences among groups from a target population without random assignment are known as: A. Quasi-Experimental B. Single-Blind Studies C. Double-Blind Trials D. Correlational Designs
A. Quasi-Experimental
In the context of descriptive research methods in psychology, ________ are performed by clinical psychologists for the purpose of having an up-close, in-depth, and detailed examination of an individual's course of treatment. A. Case Studies B. Naturalistic Observations C. Surveys D. Correlational Studies
A. Case Studies
The frequency of new cases of a disorder within a given time period is referred to as: A. Incidence B. Prevalence C. Probability D. Concordance Rate
A. Incidence
In a well-designed experimental study, the ________ variable is the only important difference between the experimental and control groups and we expect that the ________ variable will change as a function of that variable. A. Independent; Dependent B. Quantitative; Categorical C. Confounding; Third D. Dependent; Independent
A. Independent; Dependent
Which organization reviews research conducted using animal subjects? A. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) B. United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) C. Institutional Review Board (IRB) D. Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW)
A. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
Dr. Remington does not feel that he has the necessary resources to effectively treat Amoli's condition. He gives Amoli a referral to another clinician because he lacks which of the following core competencies for psychology? A. Necessary Knowledge and Skill B. Beneficence C. Responsibility D. Cultural Competence
A. Necessary Knowledge and Skill
Communicating to the client the potential risks and benefits of the therapy technique and its limits is required so that the client can: A. Provide Informed Consent B. Choose the duration of the therapy C. Establish rapport with the psychologists D. Understand the strict confidentiality rule of therapy
A. Provide Informed Consent
Which statement is true about the APA's Ethical Principles? A. The general principles represent ethical goals, but do not explicitly inform or instruct adherence to the goals. B. There are five general principles that have a legal backing. C. There are five general principles that serve as enforceable rules. D. Failure to follow the five general principles can result in sanctions.
A. The general principles represent ethical goals, but do not explicitly inform or instruct adherence to the goals.
A correlation coefficient can indicate: A. The strength and direction of the relationship between two variables B. A positive relationship, but not a negative relationship between variables C. Whether one variable causes an effect on another variable D. A negative relationship, but not a positive relationship between variables
A. The strength and direction of the relationship between two variables
If an experiment measures what it is supposed to measure, it is considered: A. Reliable B. Predictable C. Falsifiable D. Valid
D. Valid
Which of the following psychological research methods is likely to be most effective for the purpose of determining possible increase of drug/alcohol use in a large population during the coronavirus pandemic? A. Case Study B. Computerized Survey C. Observational Study D. Experiment
B. Computerized Survey
Research studies that do not test specific relationships between variables are called: A. Meta-Analysis Studies B. Descriptive Studies C. Correlational Studies D. Experimental Research
B. Descriptive Studies
An intelligence test yields the same results when administered on three separate occasions. However, the test's results are more strongly correlated with hours spent doing homework than they are with other standardized intelligence tests. This test has ________ reliability and ________ validity. A. Low; High B. High; Low C. Low; Low D. High; High
B. High; Low
A negative correlation means that: A. A third variable eliminates a correlational relationship. B. One variable decreases as the other increases. C. Two variables decrease together. D. Two variables increase together, but they are associated with an undesirable outcome.
B. One variable decreases as the other increases.
Which of the following statements is true with regard to the APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Clients? A. Psychologists should not consider the effects of stigma (i.e., prejudice, discrimination, and violence) and its various contextual manifestations in the lives of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. B. Psychologists are encouraged to recognize how their attitudes and knowledge about lesbian, gay, and bisexual issues may be relevant to assessment and treatment and seek consultation or make appropriate referrals when indicated. C. Psychologists should oppose same-sex attractions, feelings, and behaviors because they are not normal variants of human sexuality. D. Psychologists should make efforts to change sexual orientation because lesbian, gay, and bisexual orientations are mental illnesses.
B. Psychologists are encouraged to recognize how their attitudes and knowledge about lesbian, gay, and bisexual issues may be relevant to assessment and treatment and seek consultation or make appropriate referrals when indicated.
A(n) ________ is a general, tentative explanation that proposes explanations for observed behavior that can be used to predict future outcomes whereas a(n) ________ is a specific prediction about the relationship between two or more variables that is to be tested. A. Prediction; Experiment B. Theory; Hypothesis C. Hypothesis; Theory D. Outcome; Theory
B. Theory; Hypothesis
Harper is being treated by Dr. Odewale for a mood disorder. When Harper talks about her husband, Steve, Dr. Odewale immediately realizes who Steve is because he is the married man she has been seeing for several months. Why should Dr. Odewale refer Harper to another therapist? A. Because Harper would not benefit from therapy B. Because she cannot guarantee confidentiality C. To avoid multiple relationships D. To avoid being threatened by the client
C. To avoid multiple relationships
A mental health professional's responsibility to notify a potential victim of a client's harmful intent toward that individual is referred to as: A. Substituted Judgment B. The Durham Rule C. Duty to Warn or Protect D. Civil Commitment
C. Duty to Warn or Protect
Evelyn has severe suicidal ideation. Despite the fact that she does not want to be hospitalized, her doctor may begin ________ proceedings if Carol is deemed to be a danger to herself. A. Competency B. Insanity Defense C. Involuntary Commitment D. Irresistible Impulse Defense
C. Involuntary Commitment
Dr. Helen Mayberg conducted a study and found that deep-brain stimulation showed multi-year effectiveness in treating severely depressed, treatment-resistant patients. In order for her study to be considered verifiable: A. It should be capable of being disproved B. It should not have any mistakes in the procedure C. It must be replicable by another researcher D. It should make predictions about future events
C. It must be replicable by another researcher
Dr. Diaz is a researcher who thinks that compared to traditional learning in a classroom setting, virtual learning will cause anxiety in young children. What steps should Dr. Diaz follow to conduct a study consistent with the scientific method? A. Make an observation, do an experiment, analyze the results, make a hypothesis, prove or disprove hypothesis, ask a question B. Ask a question, create a hypothesis, prove or disprove the hypothesis, conduct an experiment, analyze the results C. Make an observation, ask a question, form a hypothesis, do an experiment, analyze the results, prove or disprove the hypothesis D. Conduct an experiment, form a hypothesis, prove or disprove the hypothesis, analyze the results, ask a question
C. Make an observation, ask a question, form a hypothesis, do an experiment, analyze the results, prove or disprove the hypothesis
What best describes the purpose of the IRB? A. To ensure that every research proposal has a clear and falsifiable hypothesis B. To ensure that new research meaningfully adds to the scientific literature C. To review proposals for research that involves human participants D. To review operational definitions in experiments
C. To review proposals for research that involves human participants
In ________, participants receive a treatment that is very similar to but not the same as the actual experimental treatment. A. A Quasi-Experimental Condition B. A Single-Blind Condition C. A Correlational Study D. A Placebo Condition
D. A Placebo Condition
Longitudinal research is complicated by high rates of: A. Deception B. Naturalistic Observation C. Generalization D. Attrition
D. Attrition
Research that compares multiple segments of the population at the same time is known as: A. Comparative Research B. Longitudinal Research C. Archival Research D. Cross-Sectional Research
D. Cross-Sectional Research
Depression is strongly related to both suicidal ideation and attempt, but it lacks specificity as a predictor, and little is known about the characteristics that increase the risk of suicide among people with depression. As part of the Australian Rural Mental Health Study, the relationship between depression and suicidal behavior was investigated. The findings of the research state that in 2018, out of 1,051 participants, 364 reported lifetime depression. Of these, 48% reported lifetime suicidal ideation and there were 58 cases of suicide attempts in 2018 due to life-time depression. This reflects the ________ of suicide attempts due to life-time depression in rural Australia during 2018. A. Concordance Rate B. Probability C. Prevalence D. Incidence
D. Incidence
Anthony, a young man with an anxiety disorder, volunteers to participate in a psychological study so that he can earn $200. The researchers have informed him that he will be required to reflect upon his adolescence, but they do not explain this experiment is unsuitable for individuals with anxiety. During the experiment, Anthony feels quite a bit of anxiety and asks to withdraw. In this case, the ethics guideline that has most likely been violated is: A. Debriefing B. Ethics C. Confidentiality D. Informed Consent
D. Informed Consent
When a lawyer argues that the defendant is not responsible for his or her actions due to an episodic or persistent psychiatric disorder at the time of the criminal act, he/she is using a(n): A. Irresistible Impulse Defense B. Substituted Judgment Defense C. Parens Patriae Defense D. Insanity Defense
D. Insanity Defense
________ involves following a group of research participants for an extended period of time. A. Cross-Sectional Research B. Naturalistic Observation C. Archival Research D. Longitudinal Research
D. Longitudinal Research
The findings of an experiment conducted by a group of researchers prove that with the increase in the consumption of alcohol, the vulnerability of developing mental disorders increases. This is an example a(n) ________ correlation. A. Illusory B. Confounding C. Negative D. Positive
D. Positive
A group of researchers studying the effects of alcohol use on academic achievement in high school asked respondents whether they drank alcohol during the past month. In this instance, the investigators were collecting ________ data. A. Incidence B. Ordinal C. Concordance Rate D. Prevalence
D. Prevalence
Dr. Daniels is a practicing marriage counselor. She went through a messy divorce last year and has been experiencing mood disturbances since then. She finds it difficult to give clients her full attention. Her personal feelings about marriage have begun to influence the way she advises her clients. Which of the following roles and responsibilities from the five ethical principles would be in question in this case? A. Principle C: Integrity B. Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility C. Principle E: Respect for People's Rights and Dignity D. Principle A: Beneficence and Non-Maleficence
D. Principle A: Beneficence and Non-Maleficence
If an experiment can be easily replicated by another researcher and provide similar results, it is considered: A. Valid B. Duplicable C. Falsifiable D. Reliable
D. Reliable
