Question 1

Dr. Cummins publishes an article describing a man who abused alcohol for 25 years before becoming abstinent after having a religious conversion experience. This article illustrates a ____.

Accepted Answer

The article describes one individual's experience and is therefore a case study. It does not involve testing a specific hypothesis or comparing groups, so it is not a nomothetic study or a single-participant experiment. While the individual's experience may have happened in a natural setting, it is not described as an observational study, so it is not a field study.

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of analogue research?

Accepted Answer

Analogue research involves studying phenomena in a controlled environment that mimics real-world conditions. Studying the effects of alcohol on pregnant rats to understand fetal alcohol syndrome in humans is an example of this, as it uses an animal model to simulate human conditions.

Question 3

Which type of study is especially valuable for studying rare phenomena and for evaluating the course of a disorder and its treatment?

Accepted Answer

A case study involves in-depth examination of an individual, or a small group of individuals, and can provide rich, detailed information about rare phenomena and the course of a disorder and its treatment.

Question 4

The primary method for gathering data in a field study is ____.

Accepted Answer

The primary method for gathering data in a field study is through observation in the natural environment. This allows researchers to collect data on the behavior and interactions of participants in a real-world setting, rather than relying on self-reported information or data from past events. While questionnaires and interviews can also be useful methods for collecting data, they are not the primary method used in a field study. Analyzing archival data may be a useful supplement to field study data, but it is not the primary method for gathering data in a field study.

Question 5

To better understand bulimia among college students, a researcher lives in a female freshman dorm for the fall semester to observe and interview students about their stresses, attitudes, and eating behaviors. This is an example of what type of study?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a field study, where the researcher is observing and interviewing participants in their natural environment. The researcher is not manipulating any variables or comparing different groups, making it not an experimental study. It also does not focus on a specific individual or group, ruling out case studies. It is not an analogue study, as it is not simulating a situation or behavior.

Question 6

A researcher has identified seventy individuals with a relatively rare psychological disorder. These individuals are asked to identify blood relatives, who are contacted by the researcher to see if they have the same disorder. What kind of research study is being performed?

Accepted Answer

This is a genetic linkage study, as the researcher is attempting to identify genetic factors that may contribute to the psychological disorder by examining blood relatives of those affected.

Question 7

Typically, when new drugs are developed, their effects are first tested on animals rather than on humans. The use of animals as substitutes for humans in research is often referred to as ____.

Accepted Answer

Analogue research refers to the use of animals as substitutes for humans in research to study effects that are expected to be similar in humans.

Question 8

The 2007 Parents Television Council Study reported that people who watch more than three hours of television a day during the family time slot were much more likely to commit violent acts than people who watched less than one hour of television a day. What can be said about this research?

Accepted Answer

The study suggests a correlation between watching television and committing violent acts, but it does not establish causation.

Question 9

Dr. Chin told his students, "Incidence rates tell us the percentage of individuals in a targeted population who have a particular disorder during a specified period of time, while prevalence rates describe the number of new cases within a specified period. Shorter periods of time generally reveal higher prevalence rates. Moreover, incidence rates are likely to be lower than prevalence rates." Which part of Dr. Chin's statement is accurate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Dr. Chin told his students, "Incidence rates...

Question 10

In a genetic linkage study, which piece of information would be important?

Accepted Answer

Identifying family members who have the same disorder as the proband is important in a genetic linkage study because it allows researchers to examine patterns of inheritance and identify potential genetic markers associated with the disorder.

Question 11

In addition to describing the distribution of disorders in populations, epidemiological research is also important for ____.

Accepted Answer

Epidemiological research helps identify potential causal factors by studying patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations.

Question 12

Which statement about psychodiagnosis is accurate?

Accepted Answer

Psychodiagnosis involves the process of describing and drawing inferences about a person's psychological state based on their behavior, thoughts, and emotions. It is typically used as the initial step in identifying psychological disorders and developing a treatment plan. While physical or biological causes may be considered in the diagnostic process, they are not necessarily included in every case. Psychodiagnosis is not the last step in the treatment process, as ongoing monitoring and adjustment of the treatment plan may be necessary. Option B is incorrect because psychodiagnosis is not the basis of all research on psychological disorders, but rather a clinical tool for identifying and treating them.

Question 13

Analogue studies are used when researchers ____.

Accepted Answer

Analogue studies are typically used when researchers want to study behaviors that cannot be observed practically or ethically in real life. They simulate a situation in a controlled environment to study the behavior of interest.

Question 14

Martin and Matthew are identical twins. Matthew has obsessive-compulsive disorder, but Martin does not. In a biological research study, who would be the proband?

Accepted Answer

The proband is the individual being studied or reported on in genetic research, often the one with the condition of interest. In this case, Matthew, who has obsessive-compulsive disorder, would be the proband.

Question 15

Dr. Richards focuses her research on how many school teachers had anxiety disorders in 2012, regardless of when the disorders were diagnosed. What information is she trying to determine?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Richards is interested in the prevalence of anxiety disorders among school teachers in 2012, which refers to the total number of cases (both new and existing) present in that year.

Question 16

Research that examines the rate and distribution of mental disorders in the population is called ____ research.

Accepted Answer

Epidemiological research examines the rate and distribution of mental disorders in the population.

Question 17

A school psychologist was concerned with the number of children being diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). If she were interested in learning how many new cases of ADHD had been diagnosed within the last year, she will look at ____.

Accepted Answer

Incidence rates refer to the number of new cases of a disease or condition diagnosed within a specific time period, such as the last year.

Question 18

All endophenotypes are ____.

Accepted Answer

Endophenotypes are heritable traits or characteristics that are associated with a particular condition or disorder, often used in genetic research to understand the underlying biology.

Question 19

Measurable heritable characteristics like brain abnormalities, attention processing deficits, or eye movements that give clues about specific genes involved in psychological disorders are called ____.

Accepted Answer

Measurable heritable characteristics that give clues about specific genes involved in psychological disorders are called endophenotypes. Examples of endophenotypes include brain abnormalities, attention processing deficits, and eye movements.

Question 20

A clinician has collected data about a client based on observations, interview material, and psychological test results. As a first step in the treatment process, the clinician will evaluate this information and formulate a(n) ____.

Accepted Answer

The clinician will evaluate the collected data to formulate a psychodiagnosis, which involves identifying and categorizing psychological conditions or disorders based on the observed symptoms and test results.

Quiz 3: Clinical Research, Assessment, and Classification of Mental Disorders