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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

ASPPB EPPP Exam Questions

Page 2 of 53

21.

Stephanie is a pharmacy manager and believes that employees should listen to her, carry out her directives, and observe procedures in every way. She believes that the opportunity for bonuses and the threat of poor evaluations will motivate her workers enough. 

Which type of leader would Stephanie be considered? 

  • Transactional

  • Transformational 

  • Y-oriented

  • Type Z 

Correct answer: Transactional

Stephanie matches the profile of a transactional leader. She expects her employees to do exactly as they are told via firm, one-way directives. External controls, such as punishments or rewards, are the way employees are motivated with this type of leadership. Procedures are followed to the letter, and standards and rules are strictly interpreted.

A transformational leader has an agenda of positive change (i.e., the transformation of the workplace for the better). They involve employees in decision-making, see them as individuals, and are concerned for their well-being.

The Y-orientation comes from theories of management, which are similar to, but still distinct from, theories of leadership. Y-oriented managers believe that people are usually hard workers who can positively contribute to the workplace, so they encourage autonomy among employees. Type Z managers value consensual decision-making, basing their beliefs on Japanese collectivist ideals.

22.

In a randomized experiment studying treatment for anxiety disorders, half of the participants are treated with medication only. The other half are treated with both medication and cognitive behavioral therapy. 

What is the hypothetical counterfactual condition in this experiment?

  • The results of the participants in the group treated with medication only

  • The results of the participants in the group treated with both medication and therapy

  • People with anxiety disorders who did not participate in the study

  • All of the participants in the study

Correct answer: The results of the participants in the group treated with medication only

The hypothetical counterfactual refers to what would have happened to participants if they had not been exposed to a certain type of treatment (i.e., what would have happened to participants if they had not been exposed to both the therapy and medications). This is important because researchers can compare these results to the results of participants who received both treatments to make conclusions about their effectiveness.

The hypothetical counterfactual is not the results of the participants in the group treated with both medication and therapy, people who did not participate in the study, or all of the participants in the study.

23.

Three-year-old Derek wants attention from his mother, but she is busy with a younger child. Derek grabs his crayons and starts coloring on the wall in the next room. When his mother finds him coloring on the wall, she yells at him for several minutes. Over the next few days, when Derek wants his mother's attention, he colors on the walls until his mother yells at him. 

This is an example of which of the following?

  • Operant conditioning

  • Classical conditioning

  • Effective parenting

  • Lack of reinforcement

Correct answer: Operant conditioning

This is a clear example of operant conditioning, which is the idea that a stimulus that precedes a behavior that is desired will tend to be repeated. Derek wants his mother's attention, so he colors on the walls. She is inadvertently reinforcing his behavior by giving him her undivided attention (albeit negative) for several minutes.

This is not an example of classical conditioning because it does not involve a conditioned stimulus. "Effective parenting" is a subjective term that would not apply to this situation since Derek's mother's intervention did not offer connection or redirect the behavior. 

24.

At what age do most children reach the separation-individuation phase?

  • Four months

  • One month

  • Two months

  • Three months

Correct answer: Four months

According to the object relations theory, objects are conceptualized as internalized images and then assist the unconscious in making sense of the people and environment. At around four months old, most children begin expending energy by exploring the world away from their caretakers through sensory experiences. This is known as the separation-individuation phase.

From birth to one month, a child is starting to take in the external world. At around two to three months, an infant views objects as separate rather than part of the same whole object.

25.

Which of the following models of treatment views healthy living as the way one connects to others?

  • Adlerian

  • Psychoanalytical

  • Gestalt

  • Analytical

Correct answer: Adlerian

Adlerian psychotherapy views healthy living as the way one connects to others, such as their family, community, and society. Adler also believed a child's perception of their role in the family to be extremely important.

The psychoanalytical model views healthy living as moving smoothly through the stages of development rather than becoming stuck in a stage. The Gestalt model views healthy living as learning from experience rather than engaging in repetitive patterns of behavior. The analytical model views healthy living as finding a balance between different aspects of people's lives.

26.

Doug is a 60-year-old man who has a history of noncompliance with health care treatment plans. His provider wants to study various factors (e.g., social, psychological, character, and environment) to find a better way of helping him adhere to good health practices. 

Which of the following tests will likely be administered to Doug? 

  • Battery for Health Improvement - Second Edition

  • Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

  • MacArthur Health and Behavior Questionnaire 

Correct answer: Battery for Health Improvement - Second Edition

The Battery for Health Improvement - Second Edition is designed to assess various factors in a client's life that may impact their health functioning, such as the social, psychological, character, and environmental factors that either support or do not support good healthcare practices. Since the concern is behavior in adherence to treatment planning, this seems the proper test for Doug to take.

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is designed more to assess patterns of risk in activity or risky behavior. The MacArthur Health and Behavior Questionnaire is for children and adolescents and assesses healthcare functioning and behavior.  

27.

Which of the following would be the best way to approach the therapeutic alliance when working with clients from culturally and racially diverse backgrounds?

  • Consider matching clients to therapists who are of the same race/ethnicity, while recognizing this may not always be required.

  • Always match clients with therapists who are different from them racially and culturally, to help them understand that they can build working relationships with those who are different from them.

  • Only match clients with therapists who are of the same race/culture, and refer them elsewhere if you cannot find a match within your organization.

  • Ignore race and culture altogether, as they are not part of the therapeutic alliance.

Correct answer: Consider matching clients to therapists who are of the same race/ethnicity, while recognizing this may not always be required.

The working or therapeutic alliance refers to the quality of relationship between therapist and client. Having a strong therapeutic alliance is important, regardless of the specific therapy modality a psychologist uses. Matching clients with therapists who are similar to them racially and culturally can be beneficial for building a strong therapeutic alliance, but research has not consistently shown that therapist-client match is necessary for psychotherapy to be effective. So, you should consider matching clients, but also recognize it's not always necessary.

Always matching clients with someone different racially and culturally doesn't make sense and may be harmful if you apply this approach across the board.

Similarly, it is not necessary to only match clients with someone of the same race and culture, since research doesn't consistently show this is necessary.

Finally, it would not be appropriate to ignore culture and race altogether, as they could play a role in the therapeutic alliance.

The most balanced approach is to consider matching clients while recognizing it's not always necessary for therapy to be effective.

28.

What did the ruling in Dusky v. United States (1960) determine?

  • That a person accused of a crime must have the ability to consult with a lawyer and understand legal proceedings

  • That a person can be determined to be "not guilty by reason of insanity"

  • That a person can plead "guilty but mentally ill" in criminal proceedings 

  • That a psychologist can testify that a defendant had diminished capacity when committing a crime 

Correct answer: That a person accused of a crime must have the ability to consult with a lawyer and understand legal proceedings

Competency to stand trial refers to a defendant's ability to understand and complete legal proceedings. The requirement for a person accused of a crime to have competency to stand trial comes from the US Supreme Court ruling in Dusky v. United States (1960). The psychologist's role is to conduct a competency evaluation and then describe any aspects of the individual that might impact their capacity to understand the proceedings against them. 

Not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) is a defense used in a specific trial involving a person claiming mental illness as a reason for the crime. This is a separate issue from competency to stand trial. The American Law Institute (ALI) Test is usually the standard for determining criminal responsibility. The concepts of "guilty but mentally ill" and diminished capacity are separate from competency to stand trial.

29.

A minor patient is in your clinic, and she doesn't want to be there. She is with her parents, who are insisting on psychological treatment and using their authority to override their child's wishes. 

In terms of consent and assent, what scenario is at work here?

  • Consent has been secured, but assent has not

  • Assent has been secured, but consent has not

  • Neither assent nor consent has been secured

  • Both assent and consent are secured since the parent is the legal guardian

Correct answer: Consent has been secured, but assent has not

Two principles in treatment deal with how people agree to be treated. In most cases, these items go together. Consent is usually considered to be the more legal, technical aspect of an agreement. It is an essential piece of any treatment model, although there are circumstances under which consent is assumed by a process (e.g., involuntary commitment) or an appointed surrogate (e.g., a parent or guardian). 

The second piece is assent, which is usually discussed when the person giving the consent is not the person being treated. In this case, legal consent is likely covered by the law. Assent is the willingness of the person to be treated and should always be obtained when possible. 

In the case of a parent-child dynamic, the parent can legally consent to treatment, but the child cannot. The child can give affirmative assent to participate.

30.

All the following are accurate statements regarding intelligence tests except:

  • Women tend to outperform men on spatial cognition tasks

  • They have applications in the identification of individuals with autism

  • They typically take about 1 to 2 hours to administer, depending on compliance

  • They include the WISC-V and the Stanford-Binet

Correct answer: Women tend to outperform men on spatial cognition tasks

According to developmental research on models of intelligence, women tend to outperform men in verbal abilities. Men tend to outperform women on spatial cognition tasks, indicating that most intelligence measures contain some sort of gender bias.

Intelligence tests have applications in the identification of individuals with many types of disorders, including autism; they typically take about 1 to 2 hours to administer, and examples of intelligence tests include the WISC-V and the Stanford-Binet.

31.

A child psychologist is concerned about an eight-year-old child she recently saw for an intake session. The child found it difficult to transition from one task to another, rarely made eye contact with the psychologist, played with blocks the entire time, and frequently stopped playing to wave his fingers in the air. 

Which assessment is most appropriate for this psychologist to use for this child?

  • Gilliam Autism Rating Scale

  • The Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment 

  • Behavior Assessment for Children - Second Edition

  • Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fifth Edition

Correct answer: Gilliam Autism Rating Scale

The Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS) is used for the assessment of autism spectrum disorder, which is marked by impaired social interaction, repetitive and restricted areas of interest, and limited verbal and nonverbal communication. This child is showing symptoms that are common for individuals with autism, so it would make sense for the psychologist to administer the GARS, which requires input from parents and caregivers.

The other answer choices here are not correct. The Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment evaluates total problems, internalizing problems, and externalizing problems. The Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC) measures adaptive behavior, internalizing problems, externalizing problems, behavioral symptoms, and school problems. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children measures cognitive abilities. 

The GARS is the best answer choice because it specifically assesses for autism. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale might be a suitable complement to the GARS to assess for cognitive delays, but the GARS is the most appropriate for evaluating autism.

32.

Which of the following accurately states the progression of counselor development in the Ronnestad and Skovholt Model? 

  • From casual emotional support to seasoned professional

  • From early student to expert practitioner

  • From junior counselor to specialist 

Correct answer: From casual emotional support to seasoned professional

The Ronnestad and Skovholt model of counselor development addresses the phenomenon of professional development across the lifespan, rather than simply the period of professional interest or scholastic involvement. 

This model meets practitioners where they are and assesses their starting point and end point anywhere along a continuum from a person who can offer casual emotional support to a seasoned professional. It goes outside the simple schema of counselor development to embrace one's whole interest and ability with counseling from before the person is trained at all.

33.

Which of the following models proposes two types of intelligence: fluid and crystallized?

  • Cattell-Horn Model

  • Carroll's Three Stratum Model

  • Stanford-Binet Model

  • Wechsler Model

Correct answer: Cattell-Horn Model

The Cattell-Horn Model is one of the most prominent models of intelligence. It posits that there are two types of intelligence-fluid and crystallized. The Cattell-Horn Model is part of the CHC (Cattell-Horn-Carroll) theory of intelligence.

Carroll's Three Stratum Model proposes categories that explain individual differences in intelligence: narrow cognitive abilities, a general intelligence factor, and a set of eight broad factors. The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales-Fifth Edition and the Wechsler scales are two specific intellectual batteries used to assess cognitive functioning. There is no specific "Stanford-Binet Model" or "Wechsler Model."

34.

Intelligence tests have always been controversial, particularly because their structure has often favored dominant cultural groups over stigmatized groups. 

What factors are responsible for differences in cognitive ability as measured by these tests? 

  • Quality and extent of education and acculturation

  • Deliberate structural design favoring majority culture

  • Differences in nutrition and trauma history 

Correct answer: Quality and extent of education and acculturation

One of the reasons that intelligence tests have been so controversial is that there is some doubt about how well they assess what they intend to test. The whole phenomenon of intelligence testing is subject to major validity concerns. Research (Manly et al., 2004) has indicated that the differences in cognitive ability as measured by these tests may be reflections of one's education and acculturation rather than a true index of cognitive ability. 

These failures in design and conception in intelligence tests may or may not be deliberate. The differences were not described as attributable to nutrition and trauma history. 

35.

Ethically, what is the first thing a psychologist should do when they are unable to perform their job effectively?

  • Seek consultation

  • Limit the number of clients

  • Discharge all patients, because the psychologist is impaired

  • Refer existing clients to another psychologist

Correct answer: Seek consultation 

When a psychologist is unable to perform their job effectively, the psychologist should seek professional consultation. The psychologist should then evaluate whether they are fit to continue with work-related activities. The psychologist has an ethical responsibility to ensure their capacity to provide adequate services to clients, and they may need to limit or suspend work duties if unable to perform them.

Until a psychologist is fully capable of serving clients well, they should not see them. After seeking consultation, the psychologist may determine that they will be able to function competently if they limit work activities. The psychologist might not need to discharge all patients or transfer them to someone else, but this could be a decision that is made after seeking consultation and determining the next steps.

36.

Individuals with anxiety disorder have volunteered to participate in a research study to test the use of medication for anxiety. Which term describes the threat to validity that takes place when these participants also engage in other activities, such as meditation, to alleviate anxiety while participating in the study?

  • History

  • Selection

  • Instrumentation

  • Attrition

Correct answer: History

History is a threat to validity that takes place when some event occurs during the study that impacts the results in a way that might be mistaken for the intervention. In this example, it may actually be the meditation that alleviates participants' anxiety rather than the medication therapy. 

Selection can be a threat to validity when differences between groups are mistaken for an intervention effect. Instrumentation refers to the impact that changes in measurement tools can have on results. Attrition refers to the rate of participant drop-outs and its impact on results.

37.

Which of the following theories would maintain that a newly walking child has experienced more than just a physical change?

  • Dynamic systems theory

  • Cognitive development theory

  • Bioecological systems theory

  • Sociocultural theory

Correct answer: Dynamic systems theory

Dynamic systems theory explains development as a result of all domains shifting and changing due to a change in another domain. When a child learns to walk, they are going through a step in physical development, but this change affects their cognitive and perceptual input as well as the experiences of others.

Piaget's cognitive development theory focuses on the mental and cognitive worlds of children rather than their physical changes. Bronfenbrenner's bioecological systems theory (1979) emphasized the influence of environmental factors and systems on individual development and did not address the physical or cognitive changes experienced by children. Vygotsky's sociocultural theory (1978) focuses on the importance of social interaction, not physical development, in shaping children's thinking.

38.

According to the DSM-5-TR, which of the following is the strongest risk factor, among these four options, for major or mild neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer's disease? 

  • Genetics

  • Ethnicity and race

  • Gender

  • Traumatic brain injury 

Correct answer: Genetics

According to the DSM-5-TR, age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), but because age is not listed here, genetics is the strongest risk factor for the condition among these four choices. In fact, there is a strong genetic component to the disease, with genetics contributing 60 to 80% to the risk of Alzheimer's. 

Ethnicity/race and national origin are linked to the genetic risk for Alzheimer's, as certain genetic markers are more likely in specific ethnoracial groups. This contributes less to the risk of Alzheimer's than genetics themselves. Some research suggests that women are more likely than men to develop Alzheimer's disease, but genetics is still a stronger contributor. Traumatic brain injury can increase the risk of Alzheimer's, particularly in men, but the relationship between traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer's is controversial. 

39.

All the following are reasons that children are being raised by their grandparents in the United States, except:

  • Decreased rate of adolescent pregnancy

  • Increased parental drug use

  • Longer life expectancy

  • Increased rates of divorce

Correct answer: Decreased rate of adolescent pregnancy

In the United States, one reason the number of children being raised by grandparents has increased over recent years is the increased rate of adolescent pregnancy. The US has the highest teen pregnancy and birth rates of any industrialized nation despite declines since the 1990s.

Additional reasons that grandparents are raising grandchildren in the United States include the increased rates of divorce and more parental drug use. Life expectancy has also been increasing, leading to older Americans being able to care for grandchildren later in life.

40.

What term describes the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs on the body?

  • Pharmacodynamics

  • Biogenetics

  • Pharmacokinetics

  • Neurology

Correct answer: Pharmacodynamics

Pharmacodynamics describes the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs on the body. It is important for psychologists to be familiar with pharmacodynamics for many reasons, including recognizing possible side effects of medications on clients.

Biogenetics is the processing of studying and manipulating genes to produce desired effects. Pharmacokinetics describes how the body handles drugs through various processes. Neurology is the study of the brain and nervous system.

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