Chapter 9

Question 1

In assessing an older adult who is exhibiting symptoms of dementia, a clinical neuropsychologist ought to

a. obtain data from multiple informants to assess daily impact of cognitive decline.
b. rely upon the client’s description of the changes in his/her cognitive functioning.
c. observe the client in a naturalistic setting.
d. ask caregivers to complete rating scales.

Answer 1

a. obtain data from multiple informants to assess daily impact of cognitive decline.

Question 2

When interpreting results from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2), psychologists typically begin by examining scores on the

a) main MMPI-2 code types.
b) clinical scales.
c) various reliability scales.
d) validity scales.

Answer 2

d) validity scales.

Question 2

De Los Reyes et al. (2009) compared maternal and teacher reports of child disruptive behaviours and found that in reporting disruptive behaviours:

a) mothers were consistently more accurate than were teachers.
b) teachers were consistently more accurate than were mothers.
c) depending on the context of the behaviour, both mothers and teachers were equally accurate.
d) neither mothers nor teachers were consistently accurate.

Answer 2

c) depending on the context of the behaviour, both mothers and teachers were equally accurate.

Question 2

Judgments that are systematically different from what a person should conclude based on logic or probability are known as _______, whereas mental shortcuts that make decision- making easier and faster but often lead to less accurate decisions are known as ________.

a) heuristics; biases
b) cognitive vulnerabilities; biases
c) biases; heuristics
d) biases; cognitive vulnerabilities

Answer 2

c) biases; heuristics

Question 2

A graduate student in clinical psychology hypothesizes that his/her client suffers from panic disorder. The graduate student asks in-depth questions about this diagnosis, but less detailed questions about other possibilities. By failing to gather information that could refute or temper the strength of this hypothesis, the graduate student is engaging in a(n):

a) availability heuristic.
b) hindsight bias.
c) confirmatory bias.
d) affect heuristic.

Answer 2

c) confirmatory bias.

Question 2

Case formulation is required when:

a. there are complex issues of differential diagnosis.
b. the psychologist works within a psychodynamic framework.
c. there are no evidence based treatments to meet the person’s symptom profile.
d. the psychologist has been asked to make recommendations about treatment.

Answer 2

d. the psychologist has been asked to make recommendations about treatment.

Question 2

Clinical case formulation is especially helpful in that it:

a) provides a way of understanding the connections between a patient’s various problems.
b) predicts the patient’s future functioning if treatment is not sought and how this functioning will be different if treatment is successful.
c) provides alternative treatment options to consider if the initial treatment is unsuccessful.
d) all of the above.

Answer 2

d) all of the above.

Question 2

Research has found that when asked to recall recent events, people tend to

a) under-report the frequency of socially desirable acts.
b) over-report the frequency of socially desirable acts.
c) over-report the frequency of socially undesirable acts.
d) none of the above.

Answer 2

b) over-report the frequency of socially desirable acts.

Question 2

The MMPI-2 “code type” refers to the

a) highest score on the clinical scales.
b) highest two scores on the clinical scales.
c) highest four scores on the clinical scales.
d) score from the validity scales.

Answer 2

b) highest two scores on the clinical scales.

Question 2

A case formulation generally consists of identifying (1) symptoms and problems, (2) pre- existing vulnerabilities, (3) stressors or events that contributes to symptoms, and (4):

a) alternative treatment options should the initial treatment be unsuccessful.
b) a mechanism that links all components and maintains the problem.
c) options to consider if difficulties are encountered in implementing and following through on treatment.
d) pre-disposing life events or triggers.

Answer 2

b) a mechanism that links all components and maintains the problem.

Question 2

A major challenge in case formulation is

a) detecting patterns in a wealth of data gathered during an assessment.
b) obtaining enough self-report data from clients.
c) obtaining consent to conduct assessment interviews.
d) considering discrepancies between conflicting reports.

Answer 2

a) detecting patterns in a wealth of data gathered during an assessment.

Question 2

Interpersonally oriented psychodynamic case formulations are likely to focus on __________________ process-experiential formulations are likely to focus on ______________.

a) dysfunctional relationship styles; environmental factors
b) dysfunctional relationship styles; emotional processing and insight
c) emotional processing and insight; dysfunctional relationship styles
d) emotional processing and insight; environmental factors

Answer 2

b) dysfunctional relationship styles; emotional processing and insight

Question 2

10. The Cognitive-Behavioural Case Formulation approach, developed by Jacqueline Persons, emphasizes the importance in identifying a patient’s ___________ in the conceptualization of a case.

a. overt problems and long-standing beliefs or schemas
b. overt problems much more so than long-standing beliefs
c. overt problems much less so than long-standing beliefs
d. long-standing beliefs or schemas exclusively

Answer 2

a. overt problems and long-standing beliefs or schemas

Question 3

Research conducted by Halford et al. (2002), which compared the daily records of a couple’s life with a recalled description about that same week provided at a later date, revealed that couples with low relationship satisfaction reported the week’s relationship events in overly negative terms. This suggests that:

a) the accuracy of retrospective recall is relatively realistic.
b) the accuracy of retrospective recall can be influenced by external factors.
c) couples low in relationship satisfaction are better attuned to the issues in their relationship than couple higher in satisfaction.
d) couples low in relationship satisfaction are less attuned to the issues in their relationship than couple higher in satisfaction.

Answer 3

b) the accuracy of retrospective recall can be influenced by external factors.

Question 3

Research has found that adolescents’ retrospective recall poorest for:

a) personal variables, such as the number of housing moves.
b) physical variables, such as height prior to puberty.
c) psychosocial variables, such as extent of familial conflict.
d) all of the above.

Answer 3

c) psychosocial variables, such as extent of familial conflict.

Question 3

The tendency to take more personal credit for successes than for failures, by attributing success but not failure to internal, stable, and global causes is referred to as

a) self-serving attributional bias.
b) internally-focused heuristic.
c) fundamental attribution.
d) confirmatory bias.

Answer 3

a) self-serving attributional bias.

Question 3

Using data that rely on people to remember events that happened to them at some point in the past is known as:

a) retrospective recall.
b) recovered recall.
c) historical recall.
d) recovered memory.

Answer 3

a) retrospective recall.

Question 3

When interpreting self-report checklists, psychologists ought to know that

a) desirability might reduce the accuracy of responses.
b) desirability might improve the accuracy of responses.
c) people tend to be more accurate when reporting events some time after the fact.
d) people tend to provide comparable reports, regardless of whether the information is provided right after the event, or later recalled.

Answer 3

a) desirability might reduce the accuracy of responses.

Question 3

Research on retrospective recall indicates that

a) only minor daily events are recalled poorly.
b) both minor daily events and major life events are recalled poorly.
c) only major life events are recalled poorly.
d) neither minor daily events nor major life events are recalled poorly.

Answer 3

b) both minor daily events and major life events are recalled poorly.

Question 3

Maria is driving in traffic, when suddenly another car cuts her off. She mutters to herself “That driver is a nasty person, why can’t s/he learn to drive?” This overestimation of the influence of personality traits and underestimation of the influence of situational effects on another person’s behaviour is known as

a) inferring causation from correlation.
b) a fundamental attribution error.
c) a hindsight bias.
d) an affect heuristic.

Answer 3

b) a fundamental attribution error.

Question 3

Jonathan usually assumes that positive events have happened to him because of his hard- work and that negative events have happened because of bad luck. Jonathan’s thinking reflects:

a) deluded thinking.
b) a self-serving attributional bias.
c) egocentricity.
d) a fundamental self-serving bias.

Answer 3

b) a self-serving attributional bias.

Question 3

Belief in the law of small numbers is a common decision-making bias that occurs when a psychologist trusts

a) the results of a large research sample over a small sample.
b) information obtained from a small sample of patients over larger research samples.
c) information from colleagues over research results.
d) the results of a small research sample as long as several studies have been conducted.

Answer 3

b) information obtained from a small sample of patients over larger research samples.

Question 3

A psychologist notices that many of his/her clients who are experiencing infertility report high levels of stress. S/he concludes that stress levels are interfering with their ability to conceive a child and recommends a program of relaxation. This is an example of decision-making that is affected by:

a) inferring causation from correlation.
b) a biopsychosocial model.
c) a diathesis stress model.
d) a self-serving bias.

Answer 3

a) inferring causation from correlation.

Question 5

Almost everyone believes that he/she is less likely to have their decisions affected by errors and biases. This could potentially be explained by the

a) hindsight bias.
b) fundamental attribution error.
c) bias blind spot.
d) regression to the mean.

Answer 5

c) bias blind spot.

Question 5

The process whereby a psychologist develops a clinical hunch and then gathers information to support his/her predictions is referred to as a(n)

a) fundamental attribution error.
b) case formulation.
c) confirmatory bias.
d) hindsight bias.

Answer 5

c) confirmatory bias.

Question 6

A psychologist who assumes that a particular pattern of responses on a test is indicative of a specific diagnosis, but does not take into account the probability of both the pattern of test responses and of the diagnosis, s/he is engaging in a(n) I

a) anchoring and adjustment heuristic.
b) hindsight bias.
c) inattention to base rates.
d) confirmatory bias.

Answer 6

c) inattention to base rates.

Question 6

Camille obtains an extremely high score on the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) and then obtains a less extreme score when she takes the test two weeks later. This could potentially be explained by the

a) hindsight bias.
b) fundamental attribution error.
c) anchoring and adjustment heuristic.
d) regression to the mean.

Answer 6

d) regression to the mean.

Question 7

A psychologist who relies on psychological tests that are directly relevant to the assessment task that have strong psychometric qualities and uses normative data and base rate information whenever available, s/he is

a) employing strategies to improve the accuracy of clinical judgment.
b) contributing to the development of local norms.
c) increasing her understanding of personal biases and preconceptions.
d) using the anchoring and adjustment heuristic.

Answer 7

a) employing strategies to improve the accuracy of clinical judgment.

Question 7

Research on the use of biases and heuristics has shown that clinicians tend to over-predict the violence of

a) black psychiatric inpatients and male patients.
b) black prison inmates and female patients.
c) white prison inmates and female patients.
d) white prison inmates and male patients.

Answer 7

a) black psychiatric inpatients and male patients.

Question 8

In their meta-analysis of 36 studies, Miller, Spengler, and Spengler (2015) found a small, but statistically significant link between ________________and accuracy of decisions about mental health.

a) clinician confidence
b) patient preconceptions.
c) patient behavior.
d) heuristics.

Answer 8

a) clinician confidence

Question 9

The advantage(s) of the written report following an assessment is that it

a) provides integrated information to the agency, professional, or client that was the focus of the assessment.
b) serves as a record of the assessment that can be referred to subsequently, potentially as a document used for legal purposes.
c) provides a record of the client’s functioning prior to an intervention, which is crucial in accurately determining the impact of any intervention.
d) all of the above.

Answer 9

d) all of the above.

Question 10

When completing the written report following an assessment, the psychologist ought to be mindful of

a) the audience who will have access to reading the report.
b) minimizing stigmatizing terms or descriptions.
c) avoiding ambiguous and technical terms.
d) all of the above.

Answer 10

d) all of the above.

Question 13

Computer-based interpretations are

a) minimally helpful as they are based on group data, and no part should be used in a report.
b) possibly helpful, but no part should ever be used in a report.
c) possibly helpful, but psychologists need to select narrative statements that accurately describe their client.
d) usually very helpful to aid psychologists’ understanding of their clients, and can be appended to a psychological report.

Answer 13

c) possibly helpful, but psychologists need to select narrative statements that accurately describe their client.

Question 13

When utilizing computer-based interpretations (CBIs) for scoring and interpreting assessments, a psychologist ought to

a) rely on the computer’s interpretation for areas outside of their expertise.
b) use it as a tool, but use judgment in interpreting the results.
c) employ the interpretations of scores in full, but only cautiously use diagnostic impressions and case formulation, instead relying upon his/her clinical judgment.
d) only use CBIs if the regulatory body in his/her jurisdiction has developed clear guidelines for their use.

Answer 13

b) use it as a tool, but use judgment in interpreting the results.

Question 14

In preparing a treatment plan, a psychologist must consider the

a) reason for referral and problem identification.
b) aims and goals of treatment.
c) strategies for the planned treatment.
d) all of the above.

Answer 14

d) all of the above.

Question 14

37. Clinical psychologists typically provide_________________ to the client as the final stage in the assessment report.

a. verification of treatment
b. referrals
c. detailed feedback
d. a variety of assessment exams

Answer 14

c. detailed feedback

Question 14

Changes in ethical codes and legislation since the 1970s have ______________ for clients to receive feedback regarding their assessment.

a) made it more difficult.
b) made it easier.
c) not influenced how difficult it is.
d) none of the above.

Answer 14

b) made it easier.

Question 14

In preparing an assessment report focused on treatment planning the psychologist should take into account:

a. potential barriers to treatment.
b. criteria for treatment termination or transfer to other service provider.
c. the service provider responsible for treatment implementation and evaluation.
d. all of the above.

Answer 14

d. all of the above.

Question 15

Providing assessment feedback to a client:

a) helps the client identify situations that might exacerbate difficulties.
b) allows verification of the general accuracy of the assessment results.
c) promotes collaboration with the client in establishing therapeutic goals.
d) all of the above.

Answer 15

d) all of the above.

Question 16

Smith and colleagues’ (2007) survey of opinions regarding providing assessment feedback found that most psychologists, regardless of type of assessment, believed that feedback promoted clients’

a) improved understanding of their problems.
b) enhanced motivation to follow recommendations that resulted from the assessment.
c) feeling better.
d) all of the above.

Answer 16

d) all of the above.

Question 17

The approach to psychological assessment in which clients are actively encouraged to participate in discussions about the reasons for the assessment, the results of the testing, and how the assessment data should be integrated and interpreted is known as the:

a) therapeutic model of assessment.
b) collaborative model of evaluation.
c) client-focused model of assessment.
d) client-driven model of evaluation.

Answer 17

a) therapeutic model of assessment.