Nursing Elites

1. Like longitudinal research, cross-sectional studies can be threatened by __________.

• A. practice effects
• B. participant dropout
• C. sequential timing
• D. cohort effects

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Cross-sectional studies can be threatened by cohort effects because different age groups may have experienced different historical or social contexts, influencing the results. This disparity can lead to invalid comparisons between age groups, confounding the study's findings. Option A, practice effects, refer to changes in participants' behavior due to repeated testing, not a specific threat to cross-sectional studies. Participant dropout (Option B) is a threat related to attrition in longitudinal studies, not cross-sectional studies. Sequential timing (Option C) does not pose a threat to cross-sectional studies; instead, it refers to the order of tasks in a study design.

2. Theorists who emphasize plasticity believe that __________.

• A. change in response to influential experiences is possible
• B. heredity, rather than the environment, influences behavior
• C. individuals who are high in anxiety as children will remain so at later ages
• D. early experiences establish a lifelong pattern of behavior

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Theorists who emphasize plasticity believe that change in response to influential experiences is possible. They argue that individuals have the capacity to adapt and change their behavior based on their experiences, rather than being limited by genetic predispositions or early childhood experiences. This perspective highlights the importance of environmental influences in shaping behavior and development. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not align with the concept of plasticity, which emphasizes the flexibility and adaptability of individuals in response to their experiences, rather than being fixed by heredity, childhood traits, or early experiences.

3. Today, Albert Bandura's theory stresses the importance of __________.

• A. behavior modification
• B. punishment
• C. cognition
• D. reinforcement

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Albert Bandura's theory stresses the importance of cognition. Bandura's Social Learning Theory emphasizes the role of cognitive processes in learning and behavior, including the influence of observation, modeling, and mental representations. This theory highlights how individuals learn through observation and imitation of others, as well as their own thought processes and beliefs. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because while behavior modification, punishment, and reinforcement are aspects related to learning theories, they are not the primary focus of Bandura's theory, which revolves around cognition and social learning.

4. In field experiments, researchers __________.

• A. selectively assign participants to treatment conditions in natural settings
• B. cannot use random assignment or manipulate treatment conditions
• C. randomly assign participants to treatment conditions in natural settings
• D. have stronger control over the treatment than in the laboratory

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In field experiments, researchers randomly assign participants to treatment conditions in natural settings. This method allows for a higher level of control over potential confounding variables compared to non-random assignment. Random assignment helps ensure that the groups being compared are comparable at the beginning of the study, which strengthens the internal validity of the research findings. Choice A is incorrect because selective assignment may introduce bias. Choice B is incorrect as researchers can use random assignment in field experiments. Choice D is incorrect because field experiments typically have less control over the treatment compared to laboratory experiments.

5. By using which method of assignment of participants to treatment conditions, investigators increase the chances that participants' characteristics will be equally distributed across treatment groups?

• A. sequential
• B. random
• C. systematic
• D. correlational

Correct answer: B

Rationale: By using random assignment of participants to treatment conditions, investigators increase the chances that participants' characteristics will be equally distributed across treatment groups. Random assignment helps reduce the likelihood of bias in the selection process and ensures that any differences between groups are due to the treatment and not pre-existing group differences. Sequential, systematic, and correlational assignment methods do not provide the same level of assurance in distributing participants' characteristics equally across treatment groups.

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