Question 1

The results of a study indicate that there is a strong positive correlation between cigarette smoking and lung cancer. Which of the following can be concluded from this study?

Accepted Answer

A strong positive correlation between cigarette smoking and lung cancer means that the more people smoke, the greater the risk of developing lung cancer. Therefore, choice C is the correct option. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect as they are not supported by the study's findings.

Question 2

A study evaluating the effect of stress on the overall quality of life indicated that increased stress was instrumental in substantially lowering the overall quality of life. This is an example of the _____ kind of correlation.

Accepted Answer

The statement suggests that as stress increased, the overall quality of life decreased, indicating a negative correlation.

Question 3

_____ refers to a research tool used to gather information from a sample of people considered representative of a particular population, in which participants are asked to answer questions about the topic of concern

Accepted Answer

A survey is specifically designed to gather information from a sample of people representative of a particular population. This research tool requires participants to answer questions about the topic of concern, making it a valuable method of gathering data for research purposes. A search engine and blog are not specific research tools, and a probabilistic design is a method of selecting participants for a survey, rather than a tool itself.

Question 4

In a _____, the same person serves as the subject in both the experimental and control conditions.

Accepted Answer

In a single case experimental design, the same individual serves as the subject in both the experimental and control conditions. This design is used to evaluate the effects of a treatment on an individual's behavior. The individual serves as their own control, eliminating the need for separate control groups.

Question 5

The frequency of new cases of a disorder within a given time period is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Incidence refers to the number of new cases of a disorder within a given time period. Prevalence refers to the total number of cases of a disorder within a population at a given point in time. Base-rate refers to the frequency of a given behavior or characteristic in the general population. Probability refers to the likelihood of a particular event occurring.

Question 6

The _____ of a disorder refers to the number of people who have ever had the disorder over a specified period of time.

Accepted Answer

Prevalence refers to the overall number of individuals in a population who have a specific disorder at a certain point in time or over a specified period. In contrast, incidence refers to the rate of new cases of a disorder that emerge in a specific population over a set period. Probability and validity are not relevant to measuring the number of individuals with a disorder.

Question 7

A group of researchers studying the effects of alcohol on the overall health of urban adults asked respondents whether they drank alcohol during the past month. In this instance, the researchers were collecting _____ data.

Accepted Answer

Prevalence data refers to the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific health condition or behavior at a certain point in time. In this case, the researchers want to know how many adults in the urban population have consumed alcohol in the past month, which is an example of prevalence data. Tangential, incidence, and secondary data do not accurately describe the type of data being collected in this scenario.

Question 8

The findings of a research states that in July 2003, 18 cases of suicides due to severe depression occurred in the city of San Francisco. This reflects the _____ of suicides due to severe depression in San Francisco during July 2003.

Accepted Answer

The incidence refers to the number of new cases that occur in a specific population during a specified time period. In this case, the research states that 18 cases of suicides due to severe depression occurred in July 2003, which reflects the incidence of suicides due to severe depression in San Francisco during that specific month.

Question 9

A _____ refers to an intensive study of a single person described in detail.

Accepted Answer

A case study is a research method that involves an in-depth examination of a single person, group, or event. This method is often used in psychology and medicine to investigate rare or unusual phenomena, and involves collecting detailed information through interviews, observation, and document analysis.

Question 10

_____ refers to a method of analyzing data that provides researchers with methods of analyzing complex relationships that do not easily lend themselves to conventional statistical methods.

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research is a method of analyzing data that provides researchers with methods of analyzing complex relationships that do not easily lend themselves to conventional statistical methods. This type of research focuses on understanding human behavior and experiences by collecting and analyzing non-numerical data such as words, images, and observations. It allows for a deeper exploration of complex phenomena and subjective experiences that cannot be easily quantified.

Question 11

The agreement ratio between people diagnosed as having a disorder and their relatives is defined as the _____ rate.

Accepted Answer

The agreement ratio between people diagnosed as having a disorder and their relatives is defined as the concordance rate. Concordance rate refers to the probability that both twins exhibit the same trait or disorder.

Question 12

The profession also refers to single case experimental designs as _____ designs.

Accepted Answer

Single case experimental designs are also referred to as ABAB designs, where A represents the baseline phase, and B represents the intervention phase. In this design, the intervention is introduced and then withdrawn to measure its effectiveness. This process is repeated multiple times to enhance the reliability of the results.

Question 13

Which of the following is true with regard to case studies?

Accepted Answer

The case study method is ideal for researchers who intend to conduct an intensive investigation of an individual or a small group of individuals. Classic studies in early abnormal psychology did use the case study as a reliable research method. An in-depth case study does not necessarily involve high experimental control, and investigators using case studies should strive to maintain objectivity, not subjectivity.

Question 14

The attempt by biological researchers to identify the structure of a gene and the characteristics it controls is referred to as

Accepted Answer

The attempt by biological researchers to identify the structure of a gene and the characteristics it controls is referred to as gene mapping. Gene pooling refers to the mixing of genes in a population, cognitive mapping refers to the mental representation of one's environment, and sensory gating refers to the neurological process of filtering out irrelevant or unnecessary sensory information.

Question 15

The study of how genes translate hereditary information is referred to as

Accepted Answer

The study of how genes translate hereditary information is specifically focused on the molecular level of genetics, and is therefore referred to as molecular genetics. None of the other options accurately reflect this area of study.

Question 16

In an experimental study involving psychological disorders, a researcher observed that 7 out of a sample of 10 participants have the same diagnosed condition. This would mean that, among this sample, there is a concordance rate of _____.

Accepted Answer

Concordance rate is the proportion of individuals with a particular characteristic or disorder compared to the total number of individuals in the sample. In this case, the concordance rate would be the number of individuals with the diagnosed condition (7) divided by the total number of participants in the sample (10), which equals 0.70 or 70%. Therefore, the best choice is B, which represents the proportion as a decimal.

Question 17

The most significant threat to the usefulness of twin studies is the fact that the majority of monozygotic twins

Accepted Answer

Monozygotic twins sharing the same amniotic sac is not a significant threat to the usefulness of twin studies. The significant threat is the assumption that environmental factors are the same for both twins, which might not always be the case. However, the options provided do not directly address this issue. Among the given options, A is the closest to a potential threat because sharing the same amniotic sac (or not) could imply different prenatal environments for the twins, which could affect the assumption of equal environmental conditions for both twins in studies. However, this explanation is provided with the understanding that the question and options might not fully capture the complexities involved in the threats to the usefulness of twin studies.

Question 18

To decide on whether a given individual fits the criteria for abnormality, the mental health community maintains that the behavior need not be linked to some underlying disturbance within the individual, whether psychological or biological.

Accepted Answer

The mental health community generally considers that for a behavior or mental state to be classified as abnormal, it often must be linked to some underlying disturbance within the individual, whether psychological, biological, or both. This helps differentiate between behaviors that are simply unconventional or non-normative and those that signify a mental health issue.

Question 19

People with psychological disorders may inherit a predisposition to developing behavioral disturbances.

Accepted Answer

It is widely accepted that psychological disorders have a genetic component, meaning that an individual may inherit a predisposition to developing these conditions. However, environmental factors also play a role in the manifestation of these disorders.

Question 20

Dysfunctional relationships have the potential of lowering an individual's vulnerability to psychological disorders.

Accepted Answer

Dysfunctional relationships can actually increase an individual's vulnerability to psychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety. They can also lead to high levels of stress and distress, which are risk factors for these disorders. It is important to strive for healthy and positive relationships in order to maintain good mental health.

Quiz 1: Overview to Understanding Abnormal Behavior