Two example questions from Q&A

Question 1

During the Analysis phase, you can use different types of strategies when exploring the literature on your problem. If the problem at hand entails ‘smoking behaviour in adolescents’, and you are reviewing literature about smoking behaviour in young people, which of the strategies are you using?

a) A general theory strategy
b) A topical strategy
c) A psychological strategy
d) A conceptual strategy

Answer 1

Correct answer: b)

The literature that you are reviewing is directly related to your topic.

It would have been a conceptual strategy if you were reviewing literature on smoking behaviour in general or in an adult sample, or health behaviour in adolescents.

• It is not exactly about your topic but it is related conceptually

It would have been a general theory if it was about the theory of planned behaviour for example, it doesn’t give you any specific information about smoking or young people but it is about human behaviour.

Question 2

Once a psychologist decides which variables to target in the intervention it’s time to develop the intervention. Three tasks or aspects can be distinguished of an intervention, describe these 3 tasks and provide with an example for each of them. Also explain in what manner in the development these tasks take place (linear of dynamic).

Answer 2

Correct answer:

• Description channel: the way in which one may reach the target group (2 point)
• Channel: example (1 point)
  o E.g., posters
• Description method: the theoretical way in which changes in the target variable will be brought about (2 points)
• Method: example (1 point)
  o E.g., modelling, social influence
• Description application/strategy: the translation of methods into concrete aspects of the intervention (2 points)
• Application/strategy: example (1 point)
  o E.g., Offering arguments (method) to motivate quitting smoking (variable to be changed) in a self-help book (channel) for smokers of all ages (target group).
• This is a dynamic/combined process (1 point)