TEST MODE - Test 4 Flashcards
Cross-validation is associated with which of the following phenomena?
Select one:
A.
utility analysis
B.
relevance
C.
criterion contamination
D.
shrinkage
Cross-validation refers to re-assessing a test’s criterion-related validity with a new sample to determine the generalizability of the original validity coefficient.
a. Incorrect In the context of employee selection, utility analysis is conducted to evaluate the costs and benefits of a selection procedure.
b. Incorrect In test construction, relevance refers to the extent to which test items contribute to achieving the stated goals of testing.
c. Incorrect Criterion contamination refers to the bias introduced into a person’s criterion score as a result of the scorer’s knowledge of the person’s performance on the predictor. Criterion contamination tends to artificially inflate the size of the criterion-related validity coefficient.
d. CORRECT The validity coefficient ordinarily “shrinks” (becomes smaller) on cross-validation because the chance factors operating in the original sample are not present in the cross-validation sample.
The correct answer is: shrinkage
Recent research indicates that people with Parkinson’s disease have lost at least 80% of __________-producing cells in the substantia nigra.
Select one:
A.
norepinephrine
B.
dopamine
C.
serotonin
D.
substance P
Knowing that dopamine is involved in the control of voluntary motor movements would have helped you select the correct response to this question.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response b.
b. CORRECT Degeneration of neurons that secrete dopamine contributes to movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s chorea.
c. Incorrect See explanation for response b.
d. Incorrect See explanation for response b.
The correct answer is: dopamine
During the course of data analysis, a researcher more often double-checks results that seem to conflict with her hypothesis than results that confirm it. This is an example of:
Select one:
A.
the experimenter expectancy effect.
B.
demand characteristics.
C.
the Pygmalion effect.
D.
the correspondence bias.
In this situation, the experimenter’s behavior might have a biasing effect on the study’s results in the direction of her research hypothesis.
a. CORRECT Experimenter expectancy (bias) occurs when the experimenter’s behavior biases the research results in some (usually unconscious) way so that the results are consistent with the research hypothesis.
b. Incorrect Demand characteristics are cues in the research situation that communicate to subjects what behaviors are expected of them. Experimenter expectancies can act as a source of demand characteristics (although that wouldn’t be the case in this situation).
c. Incorrect The Pygmalion effect (aka the self-fulfilling or Rosenthal effect) occurs when a person’s expectations about another individual actually produce subtle changes in the individual’s behavior so that the behavior conforms to the person’s expectations.
d. Incorrect Correspondence bias is another name for the fundamental attribution bias, which is the tendency for observers to attribute another person’s behavior to dispositional (rather than situational) factors.
The correct answer is: the experimenter expectancy effect.
Due to recent changes in technology, a company vice president realizes that many employees will need to be retrained. The first step in identifying training needs will most likely be:
Select one:
A.
performing a job evaluation.
B.
conducting a needs assessment.
C.
identifying training objectives.
D.
performing a personnel audit.
This question is pretty straightforward. It simply requires you to be familiar with the terms used in organizational psychology to describe the procedures involved in developing training programs.
a. Incorrect Job evaluations are used to set wages and salaries.
b. CORRECT Needs analysis (assessment) is done to determine training needs. It encompasses several other analyses such as task (job) analysis and person analysis.
c. Incorrect This is an outcome of a needs analysis.
d. Incorrect A personnel audit is part of an organizational assessment which, in turn, is part of a needs assessment.
The correct answer is: conducting a needs assessment.
Of the cases processed by the APA’s Ethics Committee as the result of revocation of a psychologist’s license by a state licensing board, the most common complaint processed by the committee is which of the following?
Select one:
A.
loss of licensure in another jurisdiction
B.
sexual misconduct
C.
breach of confidentiality
D.
issues related to competence
The correct answer is: B. A review of the reports of the APA’s Ethics Committee published in the American Psychologist from 2000 through 2008 reveals that sexual misconduct with an adult is the most frequent reason for the complaints processed by the Ethics Committee; followed by, in order, inappropriate practice involving child custody, nonsexual dual relationship, and inappropriate practice involving insurance or fees.
The correct answer is: sexual misconduct
A friend asks you how you liked the concert you went to last Saturday night. As you try to recall the concert, you realize that your memory is being affected by other concerts you have attended in the past. In other words, your memory of last Saturday’s concert is being affected by:
Select one:
A.
your implicit memory of concerts.
B.
a lack of encoding specificity.
C.
positive memory transfer.
D.
your schema for concerts.
In this situation, your memory of a particular concert is affected by your previous experiences with concerts.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
c. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
d. CORRECT A schema is a group or cluster of knowledge about an object or event. Your recollection of last Saturday’s concert is being affected by your “cluster of knowledge” regarding concerts.
The correct answer is: your schema for concerts.
Sexual activity among older adults is most related to:
Select one:
A.
sexual activity earlier in life.
B.
attitudes toward sex and sexuality.
C.
interest in sex.
D.
overall life satisfaction.
The research has found that several factors are determinants of sexual activity in old age. These factors include physical health, the availability of a partner, and past sexual activity.
a. CORRECT Once again, past behavior is a good predictor of future behavior: The research indicates that sexual activity in mid-life and earlier is a good predictor of activity in old age, especially for males.
b. Incorrect This is not as good a predictor as past activity, especially for males.
c. Incorrect Interest often exceeds activity.
d. Incorrect This is not as good a predictor as past activity.
The correct answer is: sexual activity earlier in life.
To hire only the most qualified job applicants, a personnel director raises the cutoff score on the selection test. Which of the following accurately describes a consequence of changing the cutoff score in this way?
Select one:
A.
The number of true positives is reduced.
B.
The number of false negatives is reduced.
C.
The number of true negatives is reduced.
D.
The number of false positives is increased.
Drawing a scatterplot like the one in the Test Construction chapter of the written study materials would have helped you identify the correct answer to this question.
a. CORRECT Moving the predictor cutoff score to the right in the scatterplot (i.e., raising the predictor cutoff) will decrease the number of true and false positives and increase the number of true and false negatives.
b. Incorrect See explanation above.
c. Incorrect See explanation above.
d. Incorrect See explanation above.
The correct answer is: The number of true positives is reduced.
Which of the following is LEAST characteristic of infants who were exposed to cocaine in utero?
Select one:
A.
They are abnormally insensitive to tactile, visual, and auditory stimulation.
B.
They are excessively irritable and unresponsive to attempts to comfort.
C.
They often have increased motor tone.
D.
They often have a low birthweight and small head circumference.
Prenatal cocaine exposure is associated with both physical and behavioral problems in childhood.
a. CORRECT This is the opposite of what is true. Early exposure to cocaine is associated with oversensitivity to environmental stimuli, even stimuli of low intensity.
b. Incorrect This is one of the reasons why these children often exhibit disturbances in attachment.
c. Incorrect Cocaine-exposed children often have an unusual pattern of motor development as the result of excessive muscle tone.
d. Incorrect This is true about these children.
The correct answer is: They are abnormally insensitive to tactile, visual, and auditory stimulation.
A client says, “I don’t know where they come from, but these thoughts about swearing and cursing just keep coming back. I just can’t seem to get them out of my mind. All I can think about is cursing and swearing.” Which of the following techniques would be most useful for alleviating this client’s problem?
Select one:
A.
thought stopping
B.
biofeedback
C.
behavioral rehearsal
D.
overcorrection
This client is exhibiting obsessions.
a. CORRECT Although thought stopping is often used to treat obsessions and compulsions, there is some evidence that it is most effective for obsessions, while flooding and other exposure techniques are better for eliminating compulsions. However, of the responses given, this is the best answer.
b. Incorrect Biofeedback is ordinarily used to control involuntary bodily functions and activities such as blood pressure, muscle tension, and body temperature.
c. Incorrect The technique of behavioral rehearsal is not associated with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
d. Incorrect Overcorrection is used to reduce undesirable overt behaviors.
The correct answer is: thought stopping
Which of the following is most true about Conduct Disorder?
Select one:
A.
Individuals with childhood-onset type are more likely than those with adolescent-onset type to develop adult Antisocial Personality Disorder.
B.
Individuals with adolescent-onset type are more likely than those with childhood-onset type to develop adult Antisocial Personality Disorder.
C.
The majority of individuals with Conduct Disorder receive a diagnosis of Antisocial Personality Disorder in adulthood, regardless of age of onset.
D.
Conduct Disorder is normally associated with Antisocial Personality Disorder only when there is a family history of antisocial behavior.
According to the DSM, the long-term outcomes for Conduct Disorder vary but, for the majority of individuals, it remits by adulthood.
a. CORRECT This is the best answer since there is evidence that an early onset of symptoms places the child at greatest risk for Antisocial Personality Disorder in adulthood.
b. Incorrect Adolescent onset is less associated with antisocial behavior in adulthood.
c. Incorrect See explanation above.
d. Incorrect See explanation above.
The correct answer is: Individuals with childhood-onset type are more likely than those with adolescent-onset type to develop adult Antisocial Personality Disorder.
Elaine considers her friend, Tom, to be quiet and reserved. She says that when she is alone with Tom or when they are in a small group, Tom listens more than he talks and is never one to “make a scene.” One day, however, Elaine observes Tom in a large crowd that is waiting for the arrival of a “special celebrity guest” at the opening of a new shopping mall. The guest is nearly 30 minutes late, and the crowd is beginning to show signs of impatience. Elaine is surprised when she sees Tom initiate loud “booing” and other derogatory comments while waving his clenched fist in the air in anger. Which of the following best explains Tom’s unusual behavior?
Select one:
A.
deindividuation
B.
social facilitation
C.
catharsis
D.
paradoxical intention
A number of studies have shown that anonymity increases the likelihood that an individual will engage in antisocial or other uncharacteristic behaviors.
a. CORRECT The increased tendency to act in uncharacteristic ways when anonymity is likely is referred to as “deindividuation” (Zimbardo, 1970). Deindividuation is believed to be the result of a decreased sense of responsibility, reduced self-consciousness, a lowered fear of evaluation, and/or a loss of other inhibitory mechanisms.
b. Incorrect Social facilitation refers to the tendency toward improved task performance in the presence of others.
c. Incorrect Catharsis is the therapeutic release of tension, anxiety, etc.
d. Incorrect Paradoxical intention is a behavioral technique and is not related to this situation.
The correct answer is: deindividuation
As a result of brain injury, Thom Tenacity often has difficulty stopping a behavior once he starts it. For example, when Thom goes to the drawer to get a fork before dinner, he often ends up taking out all of the silverware; and when he intends to take only one jacket out of his closet, he ends up removing all of his jackets. Most likely, Thom’s problem is due to damage to which of the following areas of the brain?
Select one:
A.
frontal lobe
B.
parietal lobe
C.
temporal lobe
D.
occipital lobe
Thom’s behavior is referred to as perseveration.
a. CORRECT Perseveration (the inability to stop a behavior once it begins) has been linked to lesions in the dorsolateral area of the frontal lobes.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response a.
c. Incorrect See explanation for response a.
d. Incorrect See explanation for response a.
The correct answer is: frontal lobe
A client with Borderline Personality Disorder is most likely to respond to her therapist in which of the following ways?
Select one:
A.
with hostility and suspiciousness about the therapist’s intentions
B.
in an inappropriately sexually provocative manner
C.
in a manner that fluctuates between argumentativeness/hostility and excessive admiration
D.
in a consistently demanding manner and with hypersensitivity to criticism
A key distinguishing characteristic of the various Personality Disorders is the nature of the individual’s interpersonal relationships.
a. Incorrect This sounds more like Paranoid Personality Disorder.
b. Incorrect This is characteristic of Histrionic Personality Disorder.
c. CORRECT Instability in relationships is a primary feature of Borderline Personality Disorder. People with this disorder may be overly complimentary and flattering toward a person one day and extremely hostile and critical the next.
d. Incorrect This sounds more likely Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
The correct answer is: in a manner that fluctuates between argumentativeness/hostility and excessive admiration
Fluoxetine and other SSRIs act by:
Select one:
A.
increasing the release of serotonin at synapses.
B.
increasing the manufacture of serotonin by nerve cells.
C.
increasing the sensitivity of nerve cells to serotonin.
D.
increasing the availability of serotonin at synapses.
As long as you know what “SSRI” stands for, you should have been able to identify the right answer to this question.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
c. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
d. CORRECT SSRI stands for selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, which means that the SSRIs exert their effects by reducing the uptake of serotonin at nerve synapses, thereby increasing their availability.
The correct answer is: increasing the availability of serotonin at synapses.
A physician is most likely to prescribe which of the following for a 36-year old man who has just received a diagnosis of Premature Ejaculation?
Select one:
A.
a drug that stimulates dopamine receptors
B.
a drug that inhibits GABA receptors
C.
a drug that inhibits the reuptake of serotonin
D.
a drug that stimulates the reuptake of endorphins
Premature ejaculation has been linked to low serotonin levels.
a. Incorrect Increased dopamine activity can cause or exacerbate premature ejaculation.
b. Incorrect GABA helps reduce anxiety. Therefore, it would likely be more effective to stimulate (rather than inhibit) GABA receptors.
c. CORRECT SSRIs (e.g., dapoxetine) are currently used to treat premature ejaculation.
d. Incorrect Endorphins have not been linked to premature ejaculation.
The correct answer is: a drug that inhibits the reuptake of serotonin
An assumption underlying the notion of “groupthink” is that:
Select one:
A.
pressures toward uniformity limit task effectiveness.
B.
increasing cohesiveness results in more extreme decisions.
C.
excessive pressures toward conformity produce reactance.
D.
lack of familiarity with task demands leads to maintenance of the status quo.
Groupthink is characterized by a decrease in willingness to consider divergent points of view, resulting in inappropriate decisions and actions (although not necessarily more extreme ones).
The correct answer is A.
According to Janis (1972, 1982), groupthink results when groups become excessively cohesive. For information on other conditions that contribute to groupthink, see the Industrial-Organizational chapter of the written study materials.
The correct answer is: pressures toward uniformity limit task effectiveness.
The most important contributor to a predictor’s incremental validity is its criterion-related validity coefficient: The higher the coefficient, the greater the validity. However, incremental validity is also affected by other factors. Specifically, a predictor will have the greatest incremental validity when:
Select one:
A.
the selection ratio is moderate and the base rate is high.
B.
the selection ratio is low and the base rate is moderate.
C.
the selection ratio is high and the base rate is moderate.
D.
the selection ratio is moderate and the base rate is low.
The incremental validity of a predictor is determined by several factors including the validity coefficient, the selection ratio, and the base rate.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response b.
b. CORRECT A predictor will have the greatest incremental validity when the selection ratio is low (there are lots of applicants for the job) and when the base rate is moderate (the current selection technique is moderately accurate).
c. Incorrect See explanation for response b.
d. Incorrect See explanation for response b.
The correct answer is: the selection ratio is low and the base rate is moderate.
Because research has found low to moderate inter-rater reliability for the diagnosis of __________, there is some controversy among experts regarding its validity.
Select one:
A.
Specific Phobia
B.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
C.
Panic Disorder
D.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Inter-rater reliability has been found to be a problem for a number of diagnoses, including some of the Anxiety Disorders.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response b.
b. CORRECT Reported inter-rater reliability coefficients for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) vary, but tend to be lower than those reported for other Anxiety Disorders. The primary reasons for the low inter-rater reliability for GAD are disagreements regarding the severity of symptoms (i.e., what constitutes “excessive anxiety and worry”) and whether it should be the primary or secondary diagnosis. See, e.g., L. A. Papp and M. S. Kleber, Phenomenology of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, in D. J. Stein and E. Hollander (Eds.), Textbook of anxiety disorders (pp. 109-118), Washington, D.C., American Psychiatric Press, 2002. Note that low inter-rater reliability has also been reported for PTSD.
c. Incorrect See explanation for response b.
d. Incorrect See explanation for response b.
The correct answer is: Generalized Anxiety Disorder
The effectiveness of clomipramine in alleviating symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and trichotillomania suggests that these disorders are due to:
Select one:
A.
oversensitivity to GABA.
B.
an imbalance between acetylcholine and dopamine.
C.
oversensitivity to serotonin or dopamine.
D.
a lower-than-normal level of serotonin.
Clomipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant that has been found to be an effective treatment for OCD.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
c. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
d. CORRECT Clomipramine is believed to exert its effects by blocking the reuptake of serotonin from synaptic clefts.
The correct answer is: a lower-than-normal level of serotonin.
From the Freudian perspective, interpretation:
Select one:
A.
is appropriate only during the final “working through” phase of therapy.
B.
is most useful when it evokes material at the deepest level of the unconscious.
C.
helps the client uncover and gain insight into unconscious material.
D.
involves restating and clarifying the client’s statements in clearer terms.
Interpretation is a key process in Freudian psychoanalysis and is applied to free associations, dreams, resistances, etc.
a. Incorrect Interpretations are made throughout therapy.
b. Incorrect The opposite is true. Interpretation is most successful when it addresses unconscious material that is just below the surface.
c. CORRECT This is the most accurate description of interpretation.
d. Incorrect This is a better description of clarification than intepretation.
The correct answer is: helps the client uncover and gain insight into unconscious material.
During an initial session with a client, the client tells Dr. Paphian that he and his wife have not been getting along well lately, and he thinks they may need couples counseling. As the client describes his wife, Dr. Paphian realizes that he had a brief affair with her ten years ago (prior to her marriage). Dr. Paphian should:
Select one:
A.
make an appointment with the wife and discuss the matter with her before agreeing to see the couple together in therapy.
B.
see the husband in individual therapy only and refer them to another therapist for couples therapy.
C.
see the couple in therapy but not bring up the issue of his previous relationship unless the wife does.
D.
not see the husband or the couple in therapy but, instead, make a referral to another therapist.
This situation is covered by the Ethic Code Standard 10.07, which prohibits psychologists from providing therapy to former sexual partners.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
c. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
d. CORRECT Seeing the couple in therapy would clearly violate the requirements of Ethical 10.07. Seeing the husband only is not as directly addressed by the Code, but certainly would represent a situation that might impair your objectivity or otherwise interfere with effectively performing your functions as a psychologist (Ethical Standard 3.05). It would also not be consistent with the requirement that psychologists avoid and minimize harm to clients (Ethical Standard 3.04).
The correct answer is: not see the husband or the couple in therapy but, instead, make a referral to another therapist.
The National Institute of Mental Health Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD (MTA) compared the effectiveness of four treatments - medication management alone, behavioral treatment alone, combined medication and behavioral treatment, and routine community care. The results of the initial study indicated that:
Select one:
A.
behavioral treatment alone is as effective as medication alone.
B.
medication alone or behavioral treatment alone is as effective as the combined treatment.
C.
medication alone or the combined treatment is more effective than behavioral treatment alone or routine community care.
D.
behavioral treatment alone or the combined treatment is more effective than medication alone or routine community care.
Overall, the initial MTA results indicated that the combination treatment or medication management alone were significantly more effective than intensive behavioral treatment alone or routine community care.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
c. CORRECT Of the answers given, this is the best one. The initial results (which is what this question is asking about) found that medication management alone and the combined treatment had similar effects (and better effects than behavioral treatment alone or routine community care) for alleviating the core symptoms of ADHD. However, follow-up studies found that the superiority of medication alone and the combined treatment was true for short-term effects but not long-term effects. See, e.g., P. S. Jensen et al., Findings from the NIMH Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD (MTA): Implications and applications for primary care providers, Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 2001, 22(1), 60-73.
d. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
The correct answer is: medication alone or the combined treatment is more effective than behavioral treatment alone or routine community care.
The extrapyramidal motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease are caused primarily by an imbalance between which of the following neurotransmitters?
Select one:
A.
dopamine and acetylcholine
B.
epinephrine and norepinephrine
C.
dopamine and serotonin
D.
norepinephrine and acetylcholine
Knowing that Parkinson’s disease has been linked to a deficiency of dopamine and that acetylcholine is involved in the control of voluntary movements would have helped you identify the correct answer to this question.
a. CORRECT Dopamine is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the extrapyramidal motor system, while acetylcholine is an excitatory neurotransmitter. Parkinson’s disease is caused by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (which is part of the extrapyramidal motor system) which disrupts the balance between dopamine and acetylcholine and produces the tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural changes associated with this disorder.
b. Incorrect See explanation for answer a.
c. Incorrect See explanation for answer a.
d. Incorrect See explanation for answer a.
The correct answer is: dopamine and acetylcholine