Nursing Elites

1. Today, research that combines an experimental strategy with __________ approach is becoming increasingly common.

• A. both a correlational and a sequential
• B. either a correlational or a sequential
• C. either a longitudinal or a cross-sectional
• D. both a correlational and a longitudinal

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The blank in the statement refers to an approach that can be used in combination with an experimental strategy. Longitudinal and cross-sectional approaches are two common research methods in developmental psychology. Longitudinal studies involve following the same group of individuals over an extended period, while cross-sectional studies compare different groups of individuals of different ages at the same time. By combining an experimental strategy with either a longitudinal or a cross-sectional approach, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of developmental processes and changes over time. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because correlational and sequential are not the most relevant approaches when studying developmental changes over time in research.

2. 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.

3. An experimental design __________.

• A. allows researchers to gather information in natural life circumstances without altering the participants' experiences
• B. looks at relationships between participants' characteristics and their behavior or development
• C. permits inferences about cause and effect because researchers evenhandedly assign people to treatment conditions
• D. has one major limitation: researchers cannot infer cause and effect

Correct answer: C

Rationale: An experimental design permits inferences about cause and effect because researchers evenhandedly assign people to treatment conditions. This means that researchers can manipulate certain variables and observe the effects on participants, allowing them to determine causation between variables. This is a key strength of experimental research designs. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the primary purpose or strength of experimental designs. Experimental designs do not focus on gathering information in natural life circumstances (A), looking at relationships between characteristics and behavior (B), or have the limitation of not being able to infer cause and effect (D).

4. The information-processing approach views the human mind as a __________.

• A. socially mediated process
• B. collection of stimuli and responses
• C. system of genetically programmed behaviors
• D. symbol-manipulating system through which information flows

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The information-processing approach views the human mind as a symbol-manipulating system through which information flows. This perspective emphasizes how information is received, processed, stored, and retrieved in the mind, similar to how a computer processes data through symbols and operations. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not align with the fundamental principles of the information-processing approach, which focuses on the mind's symbolic manipulation of information rather than being a socially mediated process, a collection of stimuli and responses, or a system of genetically programmed behaviors.

5. Jade spent two years in a Mexican-American community studying communication between parents and children. Jade was using __________.

• A. naturalistic observation
• B. ethnography
• C. self-reports
• D. structured observation

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Jade was using ethnography. Ethnography involves the systematic study of people and cultures through participant observation and interviews. In this case, Jade spent two years in a Mexican-American community studying communication between parents and children, which aligns with the methodology of ethnography. Ethnography allows researchers to gain an in-depth understanding of a particular cultural group's behaviors, practices, and beliefs. Choice A, naturalistic observation, involves observing subjects in their natural environment without interference or manipulation. While similar to ethnography in some aspects, naturalistic observation does not typically involve the same level of cultural immersion and participant interaction as ethnography. Choice C, self-reports, refers to data collected directly from participants about their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. This method relies on participants' subjective responses and may not provide the same depth of cultural insights as ethnography. Choice D, structured observation, involves observing behavior in a structured and controlled environment. Unlike ethnography, structured observation does not focus on the cultural nuances and immersive study of a specific community.

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