Exam #1: Abnormal
Psychology: Chapters 1-4
Practice Questions &
Answers
Comprehensive Explanations
& Rationales
Key Concepts • Review
Questions • Exam Preparation
,ABAB Design An experimental design, often involving a single subject, wherein a baseline period
(A) is followed by a treatment (B). To confirm that the treatment resulted in a change
in behavior, the treatment is then withdrawn (A) and reinstated (B).
Abnormal Psychology Field of psychology concerned with the study, assessment, treatment, and
prevention of abnormal behavior.
Acute Term used to describe a disorder of sudden onset, usually with intense symptoms
(short in duration).
Analogue Studies Studies in which a researcher attempts to emulate the conditions hypothesized as
leading to abnormality.
Bias Observer bias occurs when the researcher has preconceived ideas and
expectations that influence the observations he or she makes in the research study.
Case Study Method An in-depth examination of an individual or family that draws from a number of data
sources, including interviews and psychological testing.
Chronic Term used to describe a long-standing or frequently recurring disorder, often with
progressing seriousness (long in duration).
Comorbidity Occurrence of two or more identified disorders in the same psychologically
disordered individual.
Comparison or Control Group Group of subjects who do not exhibit the disorder being studied but who are
comparable in all other respects to the criterion group. Also, a comparison group of
subjects who do not receive a condition or treatment the effects of which are being
studied.
Correlation The tendency of two variables to change together. With positive correlation, as one
variable goes up, so does the other; with negative correlation, one variable goes up
as the other goes down.
Correlational Method/Correlational Research A research strategy that examines whether and how variables go together (covary)
without manipulating (changing) any variables.
Correlation Coefficient A statistic that ranges from +1.0 to -1.0 and reflects the degree of association
between two variables. The magnitude of the correlation indicates the strength of
the association, and the sign indicates whether the correlation is positive or
negative.
Criterion Group Group of subjects who exhibit the disorder under study.
Dependent Variable In an experiment, the factor that is observed to change with changes in the
manipulated (independent) variables.
Direct Observation Method of collecting research data that involves directly observing behavior in a
given situation.
, Direction of Effect Problem Refers to the fact that, in correlational research, it cannot be concluded whether
variable A causes variable B or whether variable B causes variable A.
Double-Blind Study Often used in studies examining drug treatment effects, a condition where neither
the subject nor the experimenter has knowledge about what specific experimental
condition (or drug) the subject is receiving.
Effect Size A statistical term referring to the strength of the relationship between two variables
in a statistical population.
Epidemiology Study of the distribution of diseases, disorders, or health-related behaviors in a
given population. Mental health epidemiology is the study of the distribution of
mental disorders.
Etiology Factors that are related to the development (or cause) of a particular disease.
Experimental Research Research that involves the manipulation of a given factor or variable with everything
else held constant.
External Validity The extent to which the findings from a single study are relevant to other
populations, contexts, or times.
Family Aggregation The clustering of certain traits, behaviors, or disorders within a given family. Family
aggregation may arise because of genetic or environmental similarities.
Generalizability The extent to which the findings from a single study can be used to draw
conclusions about other samples.
Hypothesis Statement or proposition, usually based on observation, that is tested in an
experiment; may be refuted or supported by experimental results but can never be
conclusively proved.
Incidence Occurrence (onset) rate of a given disorder in a given population.
Independent Variable Factors whose effects are being examined and which is manipulated in some way,
while other variables are held constant.
Internal Validity The extent to which a study is free of confounds, is methodologically sound, and
allows the researcher to have confidence in the findings.
Labeling Assigning a person to a particular diagnostic category, such as schizophrenia.
Lifetime Prevalence The proportion of living persons in a population who have ever had a disorder up to
the time of the epidemiological assessment.
Psychology: Chapters 1-4
Practice Questions &
Answers
Comprehensive Explanations
& Rationales
Key Concepts • Review
Questions • Exam Preparation
,ABAB Design An experimental design, often involving a single subject, wherein a baseline period
(A) is followed by a treatment (B). To confirm that the treatment resulted in a change
in behavior, the treatment is then withdrawn (A) and reinstated (B).
Abnormal Psychology Field of psychology concerned with the study, assessment, treatment, and
prevention of abnormal behavior.
Acute Term used to describe a disorder of sudden onset, usually with intense symptoms
(short in duration).
Analogue Studies Studies in which a researcher attempts to emulate the conditions hypothesized as
leading to abnormality.
Bias Observer bias occurs when the researcher has preconceived ideas and
expectations that influence the observations he or she makes in the research study.
Case Study Method An in-depth examination of an individual or family that draws from a number of data
sources, including interviews and psychological testing.
Chronic Term used to describe a long-standing or frequently recurring disorder, often with
progressing seriousness (long in duration).
Comorbidity Occurrence of two or more identified disorders in the same psychologically
disordered individual.
Comparison or Control Group Group of subjects who do not exhibit the disorder being studied but who are
comparable in all other respects to the criterion group. Also, a comparison group of
subjects who do not receive a condition or treatment the effects of which are being
studied.
Correlation The tendency of two variables to change together. With positive correlation, as one
variable goes up, so does the other; with negative correlation, one variable goes up
as the other goes down.
Correlational Method/Correlational Research A research strategy that examines whether and how variables go together (covary)
without manipulating (changing) any variables.
Correlation Coefficient A statistic that ranges from +1.0 to -1.0 and reflects the degree of association
between two variables. The magnitude of the correlation indicates the strength of
the association, and the sign indicates whether the correlation is positive or
negative.
Criterion Group Group of subjects who exhibit the disorder under study.
Dependent Variable In an experiment, the factor that is observed to change with changes in the
manipulated (independent) variables.
Direct Observation Method of collecting research data that involves directly observing behavior in a
given situation.
, Direction of Effect Problem Refers to the fact that, in correlational research, it cannot be concluded whether
variable A causes variable B or whether variable B causes variable A.
Double-Blind Study Often used in studies examining drug treatment effects, a condition where neither
the subject nor the experimenter has knowledge about what specific experimental
condition (or drug) the subject is receiving.
Effect Size A statistical term referring to the strength of the relationship between two variables
in a statistical population.
Epidemiology Study of the distribution of diseases, disorders, or health-related behaviors in a
given population. Mental health epidemiology is the study of the distribution of
mental disorders.
Etiology Factors that are related to the development (or cause) of a particular disease.
Experimental Research Research that involves the manipulation of a given factor or variable with everything
else held constant.
External Validity The extent to which the findings from a single study are relevant to other
populations, contexts, or times.
Family Aggregation The clustering of certain traits, behaviors, or disorders within a given family. Family
aggregation may arise because of genetic or environmental similarities.
Generalizability The extent to which the findings from a single study can be used to draw
conclusions about other samples.
Hypothesis Statement or proposition, usually based on observation, that is tested in an
experiment; may be refuted or supported by experimental results but can never be
conclusively proved.
Incidence Occurrence (onset) rate of a given disorder in a given population.
Independent Variable Factors whose effects are being examined and which is manipulated in some way,
while other variables are held constant.
Internal Validity The extent to which a study is free of confounds, is methodologically sound, and
allows the researcher to have confidence in the findings.
Labeling Assigning a person to a particular diagnostic category, such as schizophrenia.
Lifetime Prevalence The proportion of living persons in a population who have ever had a disorder up to
the time of the epidemiological assessment.
