Chat with AIExam 4: The Scientific Method in Abnormal Psychology
Suppose you are interested in the relationship between stress and overeating.Describe two research studies on the topic, one a laboratory experiment and the other a correlational study.Provide operational definitions of stress and overeating.Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each form of research.
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VerifiedIn an experiment, the researcher manipulates the independent variable and randomly assigns subjects to at least two groups: one where the independent variable is present and one (the control group)where it is not.The independent variable in the proposed study is stress.This could be operationally defined as requiring participants to solve an insolvable problem in a specific amount of time.In a hypothetical experiment, one-half of the participants would be given a problem that has no solution (the experimental group), and the other half (control group)would receive a problem that can be easily solved.Both groups would have the same amount of time to "solve" their problems.Participants would be allowed to eat as much of some snack foods that were made available as they wished, so the dependent variable of overeating would be defined in terms of caloric intake of the snack foods provided.Average differences in the amounts eaten by experimental and control subjects would then be calculated.
In a correlational study, subjects might be asked to list all of the stressful events that had occurred in their lives over the past thirty days.Each person would also be asked how much he or she ate in the past 24 hours (another definition of eating).If reported eating increased as reported stress increased, we could assume a positive correlation between the two variables.
The experiment would allow inferences about cause and effect (stress caused eating), but the correlational study would not allow such inferences since eating might induce stress or both eating and stress might be influenced by a third variable.The experiment's weakness would be the artificiality of the situation, reducing our confidence in generalizing results to the "real world." The weakness of the correlation is not only the inability to make causal inferences but also inaccuracies that come from self-reports.
A researcher believes that the higher a person's creativity, the greater the person's likelihood of showing mood swings.Research to test this idea ____.
(41) VerifiedA
Which of the following is an example of an operational definition?
(36) VerifiedA
A portion of a research report says, "Gifted children-those under 14 and with an IQ over 130-are more likely to be popular than less-gifted children.Furthermore, their popularity is related to stronger social skills, and this ability is evident with adults as well as with children." What portion of the statement illustrates an operational definition?
(31) If the results of a study are due to factors other than those included in the research investigation, the study is said to have ____.
(31) In an attempt to determine the effectiveness of a training program for children with Asperger's syndrome, Bock (2007)used which idiographic approach?
(39) 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?
(34) Mrs.Yarnell was given large doses of antipsychotic medications that had side effects including twitches and dizziness.These side effects were misinterpreted as additional psychopathology.Such a mistaken diagnosis illustrates ____.
(38) 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?
(34) The best way to test cause-and-effect relationships is with a(n)____.
(41) Measurable heritable characteristics like brain abnormalities, attention processing deficits, or eye movements that give clues about specific genes involved in psychological disorders are called ____.
(41) Discuss the different research strategies employed by investigators to gather information about disorders and their treatment.
(47) Alicia suspects that her estranged husband is sexually abusing their daughter Kimberly during custodial visits.She told her friend Heather that she became suspicious when she noticed Kimberly touching her sexual parts in bed on three separate occasions in the past week.Upon hearing that, Heather remarked, "Isn't it common for 4-year-old girls to touch themselves in that way out of general curiosity?" Heather's comment concerns which of the following?
(34) In biological research, ____ are conducted to determine if a specific substance has an effect on an individual's behavior.
(36) Emily came to see her advisor about doing a research study for her Ph.D.dissertation. "What are you going to investigate?" he asked.
"I believe that drinking orange juice before an IQ test will raise a person's score," she said.Emily's answer constitutes a(n)____.
(33) 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 ____.
(27) When researchers feel that an analogue study is too contrived to represent what goes on in real life accurately, they are likely to resort to what type of study instead?
(38) The 2007 Parents Television Council Study reported that people who watch more than three hours of television a day during the family hours 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?
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