Test Questions 2 Flashcards
A teacher finds out that if she yells at a disruptive boy in class, he will calm down for a few minutes. Over
time, her yelling becomes louder and more frequent. Which of the following statements best describes, in
behavioral terms, what is happening in this situation?
A
The teacher’s yelling is serving as positive reinforcement for the boy, which is why he is becoming more and
more disruptive over time.
B
The teacher’s yelling is serving as positive punishment, but the boy is becoming habituated over time.
C
The teacher’s yelling is probably serving as negative punishment for her, because she likely finds the situation to
be aversive; however, it is serving as positive punishment for the boy, because he seems to enjoy being yelled at.
D
The teacher’s yelling is serving as positive reinforcement for herself, as she seems to enjoy yelling.
The Correct Answer is “B”
In behavioral terms, the term “positive” means that a stimulus is applied (not, as implied by choice C, that the
stimulus is pleasurable or enjoyable). In this case, the stimulus being applied is the teacher’s yelling. And
punishment means that the stimulus has the effect of reducing a behavior. In this case, the yelling has the effect
of temporarily reducing the boy’s disruptiveness, so it is punishment. The question illustrates a disadvantage of
punishment – the recipient becomes habituated (which just means he or she gets used to it) and it is necessary to
keep increasing the intensity of the punishment for it to be effective.
According to the research findings of Patterson and his colleagues, parents of aggressive children typically
use discipline which is:
A
consistent, but accompanied by humiliating verbal messages
B
consistent, but often followed by affection which sends mixed messages to the child
C
inconsistent, and often not associated with the child’s behavior
D
inconsistent, but which particularly ignores the child’s aggressive behaviors
The Correct Answer is “C”
Patterson found that parents of aggressive children often use harsh physical punishment which is applied
inconsistently and often not connected to the child’s behavior. Contrary to choice D, these parents tend to
reinforce aggressive behavior in their children with attention or approval.
3. Delirium may occur due to intoxication with all of the following substances except A cocaine. B cannabis. C caffeine. D LSD.
c
An advantage of using a MANOVA over multiple one-way ANOVAs is that
A
the use of a MANOVA reduces the experiment-wise error rate.
B
a MANOVA can be used when the study involves more than one dependent variable.
C
a MANOVA is the more appropriate test when the researcher has an a priori hypotheses about the nature of the
relationship between the independent and dependent variables.
D
a MANOVA involves simpler mathematical calculations.
The Correct Answer is “A”
When a study involves two or more dependent variables, data can be analyzed with either multiple (one for each
dependent variable) statistical tests (e.g., multiple one-way ANOVAs) or one MANOVA. An advantage of the
latter technique is that it reduces the probability that at least one Type I error (incorrect rejection of the null
hypothesis) will be made. This is because the fewer statistical tests one conducts, the less likely it is that a Type I
error will occur. In an experiment that involves more than one comparison, the probability of at least one Type I
error is referred to as the experiment-wise error rate.
Children diagnosed with a Learning Disorder are most likely to receive a co-diagnosis of: A Major Depressive Disorder B Tourette's Syndrome C Mental Retardation D Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
The Correct Answer is “D”
ADHD is the most frequent comorbid disorder, with about 20 to 25% of children with a Learning Disorder also
having ADHD.
Compared to decentralized networks, centralized networks
A
are less effective but more accepted by employees.
B
are more effective when the task is complex.
C
are more effective when the task is easy.
Dare more effective and more accepted by employees.
The Correct Answer is “C”
In a centralized communication network, all communication goes through one person (usually the person in
charge). This type of network is most effective when the problem or task is easy; i.e., it does not require a lot of
communication among workers to be resolved or accomplished. We can rule out A and D not only because these
networks are not automatically more or less effective than decentralized networks (again, it depends on the
nature of the task), but also because it is usually the leader, not the employees, who prefers a centralized
network.
Linehan's dialectical behavior therapy shows promise in the treatment of borderline patients. It involves a combination of treatment modalities that include A inpatient therapy. B social skills training. C family therapy. D psychotropic medication.
The Correct Answer is “B”
Dialectical behavior therapy or DBT consists of outpatient individual therapy, social skills training and follow-up telephone consultations. It also discourages the expression of overt inappropriate affect. Its combination of social skills training (usually done in group therapy settings) and outpatient individual psychotherapy has been found to decrease hospitalization and suicide attempt rates (M. Linehan and C.A. Kehrer, Borderline Personality Disorder, in D.H. Barlow, Clinical Handbook of Psychological Disorders: A Step-by-Step Treatment Manual, New York, Guilford, 1993).
If you administer a measure of global job satisfaction to employees at the Acme Corporation, you would expect to find the highest levels of satisfaction among workers aged: A 20 to 25. B 30 to 35. C 40 to 45. D 50 to 55.
The Correct Answer is “D”
The relationship between age and satisfaction actually depends on what aspect of satisfaction you’re measuring. However, the question refers to global satisfaction, and the research has found that higher levels of global job satisfaction are associated with older age and vice versa.
You are completing a court-ordered evaluation in order to determine the person’s competency to stand trial and during the administration of the MMPI-2 your client jumps out of his seat and shouts “OK, OK, I killed her!” Now you are
A
obligated to include this information in your report; it is a court-ordered report.
B
obligated to include this information; privilege is waived because the mental status is part of the defense.
C
obligated to include this information; privilege is waived because you know have a Tarasoff situation.
D
not obligated to include the confessional information.
The Correct Answer is “D”
Since the question does not indicate that the client has waived consent, the law protects the defendant at this juncture. He is protected by laws that prohibit the use of evaluation data to determine the defendant’s guilt. The best course of action is to not include any incriminating evidence in the competency report, but instead only information relevant to the defendant’s competence (G.B. Melton, Psychological Evaluations for the Court, New York, Guilford, 1987).
Which of the following is least likely to cause secondary impotence? A medication use B alcohol use C diabetes mellitus D old age
The Correct Answer is “D”
Secondary impotence is diagnosed when a man persistently or recurrently fails to attain or maintain an erection even though in the past he has successfully achieved an erection. The erectile reflex is usually unimpaired in older men; therefore, aging alone is not likely to be a cause of impotence. The other responses are common physical causes of secondary impotence
An interpersonal therapist who is working with a client suffering from a prolonged grief reaction would attempt to
A
connect the person’s current grief reaction to losses of significant others in early childhood.
B
help the client understanding how the loss is impacting the current therapeutic relationship.
C
build up a positive relationship with the client and avoid discussing the loss until the termination phase of therapy.
D
modify the client’s maladaptive behaviors under the assumption that psychological change follows behavioral change.
The Correct Answer is “B”
Though “B” is an imprecise description of what an interpersonal therapist would do, it is the best answer available. Interpersonal therapists believe that depression is caused and maintained by disturbances in early life, especially attachment disturbances. Rather than focusing on the past, however, they focus on the connection between the presenting problem and client’s current relationships – including the current relationship with the therapist. Grief reactions are a common focus of interpersonal therapy.
Herbert Simon’s decision-making model suggests that decision makers
A
consider all alternatives and then pick the best one.
B
consider alternatives only until they find one that seems acceptable.
C
consider only those alternatives that have a 50% or better chance of success.
D
rely more on their affective than cognitive reactions when choosing an alternative.
The Correct Answer is “B”
To answer this question, you have to have the name Herbert Simon linked with the bounded rationality (administrative) model of decision making, which proposes that decision makers are not always completely rational in making choices. Instead, time and resources limit their consideration of alternatives, so they tend to consider alternatives only until a satisfactory one is identified.
Which of the following structures develops last? A cerebellum B frontal lobe C occipital lobe D temporal lobe
The Correct Answer is “B”
The brain develops in a predictable sequence from the least complex functions to the most complex. Although many areas of the brain are nearly fully developed at birth, the frontal lobe, which is responsible for higher-level thinking, motor behavior, and expressive language does not fully develop until young adulthood. The prefrontal cortex, located at the most anterior part of the frontal lobe, is responsible for most executive functions, and is the very last area of the brain to develop.
Release of the sex hormones by the gonads depends on signals from the A medulla B amygdala. C thalamus. D hypothalamus.
The Correct Answer is “D”
Once again, the hypothalamus is a “good guess” (and the correct response). One of the functions of the hypothalamus is to control the gonads through its influence on the pituitary gland.
Wernicke’s, Broca’s and conduction aphasia share which of the following difficulties? A repeating what is said B word prosody C reception D expression
The Correct Answer is “A”
A. Difficulty repeating words just spoken and recalling the name of familiar objects are characteristic of all three disorders. Conduction aphasia is due to damage to the nerve fibers that connect Broca’s to Wernicke’s area and the most typical result is difficulty repeating what one has heard. Wernicke’s, or receptive aphasia, primarily affects comprehension which results in impairment in spoken and written language, and anomia or problems recalling words. Broca’s aphasia is characterized by difficulty expressing language, including difficulty repeating what is said.
Which of the following contradicts the predictions of Herzberg’s two-factor theory?
A
Workers say the same work-related factors cause satisfaction and dissatisfaction with work.
B
Workers say they prefer leaders who show a high level of both instrumentality and consideration.
C
Job satisfaction and job performance have a reciprocal relationship.
D
Job enrichment increases satisfaction for both blue- and white-collar workers.
The Correct Answer is “A”
As long as you remembered that Herzberg views satisfaction and dissatisfaction as separate phenomena, you should have been able to pick the right answer to this question. According to Herzberg, the factors that cause dissatisfaction (hygiene factors) are different from those that contribute to satisfaction (motivator factors), which means that a person can be satisfied and dissatisfied at the same time.
Low LPC leaders would be most likely to say:
A
More beautiful paint colors in this office make us all feel better
B
Flexitime was a brillant invention
C
It’s time for a change around here
D
The first one to hand in this budget report wins the office lottery pool
The Correct Answer is “D”
According to Fiedler’s 1971 contingency theory, a leader’s effectiveness is determined by a combination of the leader’s style and the characteristics of the situation. Low LPC leaders are task and achievement oriented. Answers A and B could describe High LPC leaders who are primarily relationship oriented. Answer C could describe a transformational leader which Bass (1990) (see I/O section) described as change focused.
What effect do neurotransmitters have on postsynaptic cells?
A
an excitatory effect
B
an inhibitory effect
C
either an excitatory or inhibitory effect
D
the ability to decrease the action potential
The Correct Answer is “C”
Neurotransmitters can have an excitatory or inhibitory effect on postsynaptic cells, either increasing or decreasing the likelihood that an action potential will occur. Some neurotransmitters act as “neuromodulators” that increase or decrease the sensitivity of neurons to the effects of other neurotransmitters.
If data points are widely scattered around a regression line, it would indicate A high heteroscedasticity. B low heteroscedasticity. C low homoscedasticity. D a low correlation coefficient
The Correct Answer is “D”
Simply put, a lot of variance around the regression line indicates that the correlation isn’t too high. Be careful not to confuse this with the idea of heteroscedasticity. This term means that the scatter is uneven at different points of the continuum. For instance, there might be high variability around the regression line at low x (predictor) values, and low variability around the line at high x values. In other words, heteroscedasticity refers to a differential level of scatter, not high scatter.
Recent literature comparing leadership and management has identified several similarities and differences. Which of the following set of characteristics is more critical for today’s leaders than for managers?
A
rational, persistent, and tough-minded
B
problem-solving, persistent, and independent
C
visionary, authoritative, and tough-minded
D
independent, innovative, and flexible
The Correct Answer is “D”
A topic of recent interest in the I/O literature is the difference between leaders and managers. Characteristics that are considered particularly important for leaders include: visionary, creative, flexible, inspiring, courageous, and independent. See G. Capowski, Anatomy of a leader: Where are the leaders of tomorrow?, Management Review, 1994, p. 2.
A primary tenet of rational-emotive therapy is that: A a belief determines behavior. B self-attributions determine behavior. C conditioning determines behavior. D internalized role constructs determine behavior.
The Correct Answer is “A”
RET is basically a cognitively-based theory even though in practice therapists use many modalities. The idea is that beliefs – irrational beliefs – determine our maladaptive behaviors. The belief that you mustn’t make anyone mad at you is an example.
A child diagnosed with Attention -Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is most likely to also be diagnosed with: A Tourette's Disorder B Conduct Disorder C Enuresis D Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
The Correct Answer is “B”
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is highly comorbid with Conduct Disorder. Between 30% and 50% of children with ADHD also meet the criteria for Conduct Disorder, with the highest comorbidity rates among the two subtypes marked by hyperactivity-impulsivity (Hyperactive-Impulsive and Combined Types). The percentage of patients with Conduct Disorder who also have ADHD is nearly 70%. (T. P. Beauchaine, E. S. Katkin, Z. Strassberg, & J. Snarr. Disinhibitory psychopathology in male adolescents: Discriminating Conduct Disorder from Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder through concurrent assessment of multiple autonomic states. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 2001, 110(4), 610-624). If you incorrectly selected Tourette’s Disorder (A), you may have been thinking of the reverse relationship. That is, among those with Tourette’s Disorder the comorbidity of ADHD is at least 50%; however, most patients with ADHD do not have Tourette’s Disorder.
Communication-interaction therapy espouses that communication has both a "report" function and a A Principle of equifinality B Command function C Circular model of causality D Paradoxical strategy
The Correct Answer is “B”
Family therapists from the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto such as Gregory Bateson, Virginia Satir, and Jay Haley described communication as having a “report function” that contains the content or informational aspect of the communication, and the “command function”, that is often conveyed nonverbally and exemplifies the relationship between the communicators. The other choices are other concepts from the Mental Research Institute. “Principles of equifinality” refers to the idea that no matter where the system change occurs, the end result is the same. “Circular model of causality” is a concept in their approach that describes a symptom as both a cause and an effect of dysfunctional communication patterns. “Paradoxical strategies” include prescribing the symptom and relabeling, or changing the label a family attaches to a problem in order to change the meaning.
Depth perception in infants develops in which of the following sequences? A kinetic, pictorial, binocular B pictorial, binocular, kinetic C kinetic, binocular, pictorial D binocular, kinetic, pictorial
The Correct Answer is “C”
Research has indicated that infants develop depth perception in a predictable sequence: kinetic, binocular, and pictorial. Kinetic depth cues are based on movements of objects in the environment or the body. Babies as young as 3 weeks begin perceiving kinetic cues. For example, they will blink their eyes defensively when an object approaches their face and looks as if its going to hit them. Binocular depth perception begins between 2 and 3 months. And pictorial depth cues, which are used by artists to make paintings look three-dimensional, begins to develop at about 7 months of age.