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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

ASPPB EPPP Exam Questions

Page 6 of 53

101.

Which theory focuses on the examination of individual items in test development?

  • Item Response Theory

  • Item Review Theory

  • Item Rater Theory

  • Item Reliability Theory

Correct answer: Item Response Theory

Item Response Theory (IRT) focuses on individual items in test development. In IRT, relationships between the construct being measured and individual test responses are examined across multiple levels. Test developers rely on item difficulty, item discrimination, and the probability that an item is answered correctly by guessing. 

The remaining options are all fabricated terms.

102.

An assessment of general cognitive capability is based on the psychological theories of which two factors?

  • Skill and capacity

  • Biology and environment

  • Attention and ability

  • Mood and attention

Correct answer: Skill and capacity

Any assessment of general cognitive capability is based on psychological theories of skill and capacity. These measures involve testing across multiple domains of cognitive functioning such as general intellectual ability, attention, verbal/language skills, and other skill sets.

Intelligence test batteries, such as the Wechsler scales, are not based on biology, the environment, attention, ability, or mood. Their focus is to collect information about an individual's skills and capacity.

103.

In terms of psychological assessment, what is the difference between sensitivity and specificity?

  • Sensitivity is the proportion of people identified as having a specific trait, and specificity is the proportion of people identified as not having the trait

  • Sensitivity is the extent to which a measurement is able to collect the information it is meant to collect, and specificity is the range of severity of individual characteristics

  • Sensitivity is the ability of a measurement to elicit certain information from test-takers, and specificity is the ability of raters to accurately interpret the results

  • Sensitivity assesses psychological problems, and specificity assesses problems in the environment

Correct answer: Sensitivity is the proportion of people identified as having a specific trait, and specificity is the proportion of people identified as not having the trait

Sensitivity is the proportion of people identified as having a specific trait, and specificity is the proportion of people identified as not having the trait. These are important concepts to consider when a measure is used to diagnose people with a certain condition.

Validity, not sensitivity, is the extent to which a measurement is able to collect the information it is meant to collect. Sensitivity is not related to eliciting certain information from test-takers, and specificity does not refer to the ability of raters to accurately interpret results. Both sensitivity and specificity refer to psychological exams; sensitivity does not assess psychological problems, however, and specificity does not assess environmental problems.

104.

What is one of the main critiques of the basic emotion model?

  • It is too rigid and does not explain the entire human experience

  • It is too broad in its categories of emotion

  • It is an outdated theory

  • It cannot be replicated in animals

Correct answer: It is too rigid and does not explain the entire human experience

The basic emotion model asserts that individuals are born with the capacity to feel six basic emotions: happiness, sadness, surprise, disgust, anger, and fear. One of the critiques of the basic emotion model is that, due to its specifically defined categories, it is too rigid and does not explain the entire human experience. Supporters of the basic emotion model claim that any additional emotions are simply variations on the six basic emotions.

Critics of the basic emotion model do not claim that it is too broad in its categories of emotions. While some might believe this theory to be outdated or that it cannot be replicated accurately in animals, these are not the main criticisms of the model.

105.

You are being supervised by a more experienced psychologist at your agency. You both meet for one hour of formal supervision per week, but soon you are going to lunch together and talking on the phone on the weekends. One night after work, you become sexually involved. 

How should this action be regarded? 

  • Unethical, because psychologists are not supposed to have sexual relationships with supervisees

  • Ethical, because sexual contact between psychologists and supervisees is not prohibited

  • Ethical, as long as it doesn't interfere with the supervisory relationship 

  • Ethical, because you have mutual feelings and there was no exploitation 

Correct answer: Unethical, because psychologists are not supposed to have sexual relationships with supervisees

Standard 7.07 clearly states that psychologists are not ethically permitted to engage in sexual relationships with supervisees or students in their department or agency. Even if you and your supervisor are attracted to each other and sexual contact is consensual, your actions (and your supervisor's actions) are unethical.

There is no stipulation for sexual contact being permitted, even if it doesn't interfere with the relationship. Psychologists are prohibited, via the Code of Conduct, from having a sexual relationship with anyone over whom they have evaluative authority. Whether there was exploitation involved is irrelevant.

106.

Donna is a psychotherapist who is helping her client Rhoda with her drug problem. Donna instructs Rhoda to avoid parties that bring on her drug binges and to minimize contact with friends who also use drugs. 

Which of the following techniques is this, and what is it for? 

  • Stimulus control, to change the stimulus-response relationships

  • Behavioral activation, to provide positive reinforcement 

  • Motivational Interviewing, to discover motivation

  • Cognitive processing, to correct cognitive distortions 

Correct answer: Stimulus control, to change the stimulus-response relationship 

Stimulus control is a variable technique but generally seeks to disrupt the dysfunctional relationship between stimulus and response (in this case, by controlling exposure to stimuli that seem to trigger drug use), Donna is helping Rhoda break a stimulus-response cycle.

Behavioral activation is a technique designed to help a person be more responsive to and create more positively reinforcing cues in the environment, and it does not apply in this situation. Motivational interviewing is a technique that is used to discover the client's motivation. Cognitive processing therapy emphasizes cognition in the treatment of trauma. It helps clients to overcome cognitive distortions called "stuck points." 

107.

In which of the following scenarios would it be most appropriate to violate a client's confidential rights in therapy, without the permission of the client?

  • When a client discloses suicidal ideation and a plan with intent to act

  • When a client discloses being a victim of domestic violence

  • When a teenager reports substance abuse during an individual session without parents present

  • When you're providing couples therapy and a husband discloses an affair during an individual session

Correct answer: When a client discloses suicidal ideation and a plan with intent to act 

Psychologists are ethically obligated to take reasonable steps to protect confidential client information. While it is in many cases not acceptable to violate confidentiality without written consent from the client, a psychologist also must try to take action to benefit clients, while doing no harm. In the case of a client who presents with suicidal ideation and a plan with intent to act, violating confidentiality to secure immediate treatment and safety for the client would reduce the risk of harm to the client. Confidentiality may need to be violated in this case, only to the extent necessary to protect the client. 

A client who discloses being a victim of domestic violence has a right to have this information kept confidential. You cannot violate confidentiality to report this information unless some law or statute, such as laws related to reporting child abuse, requires you to report it. In this scenario, we have no information that the client involved is a minor or that child abuse has occurred. 

When working with teens, it is important to establish a procedure regarding confidentiality and what is reported to parents from the onset of therapy. Immediately violating the teen's confidentiality rights to report to parents likely isn't the best option. Instead, you should talk with the teen about sitting down and telling the teen's parents together about the teen's substance abuse. Hopefully, this is a process that was agreed upon at the start of therapy. 

Finally, when providing couples therapy, you must establish from the onset who the client is, and when confidentiality may be violated. You may have an agreement that information disclosed during individual sessions is kept confidential. This is not the most appropriate scenario for violating confidentiality without client permission.

108.

Gerald does not consider himself prejudiced against any group and would most likely be offended if he were accused of prejudice. However, his actions as an employer show that he tends to favor some groups over others and make business decisions based on stereotypical attitudes and beliefs. When confronted with this information, he is surprised. 

What phenomenon is at work here? 

  • Implicit bias

  • Symbolic racism 

  • Microaggression

  • Fundamental attribution error 

Correct answer: Implicit bias

Implicit bias refers to the phenomenon of acting out prejudicial or stereotypical attitudes in a way that is unconscious and so internalized as to be unquestioned by the psyche. Implicit bias often occurs in opposition to the stated values of an individual. This is the best answer here, given the fact that Gerald is surprised when he is confronted with the fact that he demonstrates signs of prejudice. 

Symbolic racism is a more modern form of racism in which a person denies being racist but engages in less blatant forms of prejudice and discrimination. For instance, someone showing symbolic racism may oppose policies that assist an oppressed or minoritized group. Microaggressions are considered to be a broad set of unconscious or conscious actions that communicate negativity toward a group. They differ from implicit bias. The fundamental attribution error occurs when someone is attempting to explain the behavior of others. It involves overvaluing the role of a person's inherent disposition or character when explaining their behavior, and undervaluing the contribution of situational factors.

109.

Which of the following psychologists developed field theory, which posits that behavior is affected both by a person and their environment?

  • Lewin

  • Pavlov

  • Zimbardo

  • Milgram

Correct answer: Lewin

Lewin (1936) developed field theory, which posits that behavior is affected both by a person and their environment. He was the first social psychologist to recognize the importance of the environment.

Pavlov is known for his classical conditioning experiments and research. Zimbardo and Milgram studied individuals' willingness to obey authority even amidst a conflicted personal conscience.

110.

Which of the following is the largest drawback of behavioral analysis?

  • You may experience the observer effect.

  • You may have to observe the behavior across environments.

  • You must measure a target behavior prior to intervention.

  • You must continually monitor behavior throughout the course of the intervention.

Correct answer: You may experience the observer effect.

When engaged in behavioral analysis, you may experience the observer effect. This occurs when participants know they're being observed, and they change their behavior. This can lead to invalid results.

Observing a behavior across environments is not a drawback of behavioral analysis. In fact, it is ideal to observe a target behavior across environments.

Measuring a target behavior prior to intervention is also not a drawback of behavioral analysis. It is simply part of the process of behavioral analysis.

Continually monitoring behavior throughout the course of an intervention is also part of the process and not a drawback.

111.

Leonard is a clinical psychologist serving in a disadvantaged part of his community. He decides to adopt a sliding scale cost formula for his services in order to make them more affordable for the people who need them. In many cases, he waives his fees altogether. 

Which of the following General Principles from the APA code of conduct is being demonstrated? 

  • Justice 

  • Integrity

  • Fidelity and responsibility 

Correct answer: Justice 

Within the context of the APA code of conduct, justice refers to exercising good judgment in ensuring the equal treatment of equals. In many cases within the field of psychology, this ethical principle means dealing with issues of inequity such as access to services. By altering his practice to ensure more equal access, Leonard is practicing this ethical principle.

Integrity has more to do with the issue of personal honesty and professionalism. Fidelity and responsibility deal with how well one works within ethical standards and promotes the overall perception of the profession in the community. 

112.

David has designed an experiment to test the efficacy of a new treatment for depression. The experiment involves a pretest, a post-test six months later, and an evaluation of the results. This experimental modality is administered by a variety of treatment professionals. 

If there is a confounding therapeutic attention effect on this experiment, what is the probable cause? 

  • The differences between treatment professionals

  • The pretest's influence on participants

  • The length of time between pretest and post-test 

Correct answer: The differences between treatment professionals

A therapeutic-attention effect results from some factor arising within the therapeutic environment itself, in cases where that environment is used for experimental purposes. In this case, there may be a variety of differences between the administering professionals, creating a possible influence on the experimental results. 

Influence from a pretest would be more characteristic of a testing threat to validity. In a maturation threat, natural processes might account for some part of the results. 

113.

Although Julio appears to comply with his group of friends, he secretly has major disagreements with them. In his belief, his friendships will end if he is honest about his views. 

According to Kelman (1958), which of the following behaviors is this?

  • Compliance 

  • Identification

  • Internalization 

Correct answer: Compliance 

Kelman (1958) suggested three effects on social behavior: compliance is done mainly to avoid punishment but involves no interior change of views. Identification occurs when an individual changes their behavior in order to affiliate or because they want to be like someone else. Internalization is the acceptance of a new belief both publicly and privately.

114.

Bernard has created an experimental design that involves treating prisoners on a voluntary basis with an experimental drug that seems to reduce anxiety and depression dramatically. He plans to obtain informed consent from the prisoners prior to beginning the experiment.   

Is there an ethical concern with this research? 

  • Yes, as the prisoners are a vulnerable population

  • No, as the prisoners will give informed consent

  • No, as the experiment is designed to help

  • Yes, because the drugs could come with side effects

Correct answer: Yes, as the prisoners are a vulnerable population 

Ethical considerations are central in research with human populations. In particular, the idea of a vulnerable population is one to keep in mind. In this case, even though the prisoners have given consent and the drug is meant to help them, it must still be a part of the overall ethical consideration that the prisoners do not have total autonomy and choice. Prisoners are considered a protected population under law. 

While Bernard is planning to collect informed consent, which is certainly a requirement, the fact still remains that the prisoners are a vulnerable protected population. Even if the experiment is designed to help, the IRB must carefully weigh the risks and benefits of the research and ensure that prisoners are not being exploited because of the ease of accessing them. The primary ethical concern here is that prisoners are a vulnerable population, not that the drug could cause side effects.

115.

Broadly speaking, which of the following statements is most congruent with object relations theory?

  • Our mental representations of ourselves and others can cause problems 

  • Our adult experiences inform our experience more than childhood experiences 

  • Our unconscious system of desire for "objects" (people) is the root of psychopathology

Correct answer: Our mental representations of ourselves and others can cause problems 

Although individual theorists who believe in object relations theory differ on specifics, the general idea is that our mental representations of ourselves and others can cause us problems relationally. Particularly in childhood, human beings are apt to take on relational patterns that they externalize to adult contexts. 

This theory would not state that our adult experiences inform our experience more than childhood experiences, nor that our unconscious system of desire for objects is the root of all psychopathology. Objects in this theoretical framework can be people or things that represent a person or part of a person. 

116.

Which of the following is most accurate about treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

  • Psychotherapy is the first line of treatment for PTSD

  • Medications should not be used in the treatment of PTSD symptoms

  • Combined medication and psychotherapy is the best treatment choice

  • Patients with PTSD should receive inpatient care

Correct answer: Psychotherapy is the first line of treatment for PTSD

According to Preston and Johnson (2014), psychotherapy is the first-line treatment for PTSD. Medication can be used to deal with some symptoms such as panic and depression. 

Medications may sometimes be used to treat PTSD, but they are not the first line of treatment. There is no evidence that medications should never be used. There is also no evidence that the combination of medication and therapy is the best option. Finally, inpatient treatment is only necessary in the case of safety concerns, such as if a patient with PTSD experiences suicidal intent.

117.

Which of the following theories conceptualizes careers by an internal locus of control and the subjective experience of the client?

  • Constructivist

  • Action

  • Narrative

  • Systems

Correct answer: Constructivist

Constructivist theory conceptualizes careers by an internal locus of control and the subjective experience of the client. This approach allows people to take an active role in creating their personal career goals. Clinicians using the constructivist model are able to work with individuals' perceptions of issues in their work lives, adaptation to changes within their environments, and interpretation of career success to enhance career development.

Action theory connects individual, social, and other goal-oriented activities with an individual's career. Narrative career counseling engages the client as a personal agent in their career development but also provides opportunities that place the client in real-life scenarios to help them understand their worldview. Systems theory views career development as the result of the interaction between an individual and contextual systems.

118.

A token economy, in which individuals earn tokens for performing desired behaviors, is an example of which principle?

  • Operant conditioning

  • Classical conditioning

  • Negative reinforcement

  • Social learning

Correct answer: Operant conditioning

Operant conditioning maintains that a response is more likely to be repeated when it leads to a pleasurable result. Unlike classical conditioning, the individual consciously makes a choice to engage in the response. A token economy is an example of operant conditioning, as the individual consciously chooses whether to engage in the desired behavior. If the individual chooses to engage in the desired behavior, this behavior has a tangible reward.

119.

Since the 1990s, benzodiazepines have been replaced by what type of psychotropic medication?

  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

  • Antipsychotics

  • Tricyclic antidepressants

  • Psychostimulants

Correct answer: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Since the 1990s, benzodiazepines have been replaced with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Overall, SSRIs are safer than benzodiazepines, have fewer side effects, and have a lower risk of dependence.

Benzodiazepines have not been replaced with antipsychotics, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), or psychostimulants because all these medications target symptoms that are different from those targeted by benzodiazepines. In the case of TCAs, certain symptoms (e.g., orthostatic hypertension) make them less attractive than more recently developed medications.

120.

Michael, a clinical psychologist, is concerned about the integrity and reliability of the instrument he has designed to address anxiety in homeless veterans. He is interested in the status of the test as a whole in this regard rather than in specific questions. Which of the following would be the best route for him to address his concerns?

  • G Study

  • Item characteristic curve

  • Face validity

Correct answer: G study

A G study is a generalizability study, which is meant to quantify individual sources of measurement error but not necessarily issues related to individual test items. As Michael's concern is more general, he would be better advised to engage in a G study.

An item characteristic curve measures the response characteristic for a given item. Face validity is a measure of how valid a participant thinks the instrument is. Neither would be appropriate in the more general case illustrated here. 

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