ESSENTIALS OF ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION TEST
2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
◉labeling. Answer: Applying a name to a phenomenon or a pattern
of behavior. The label may acquire negative connotations or be
applied erroneously to the person rather than that person's
behaviors.
◉hypothesis. Answer: Educated guess or statement to be tested by
research.
◉research design. Answer: Plan of experimentation used to test a
hypothesis.
◉dependent variable. Answer: In an experimental study, the
phenomenon that is measured and expected to be influenced
(compare with independent variable).
, ◉independent variable. Answer: Phenomenon manipulated by the
experimenter in a study and expected to influence the dependent
variable.
◉internal validity. Answer: Extent to which the results of a study can
be attributed to the independent variable after confounding
alternative explanations have been ruled out.
◉external validity. Answer: Extent to which research findings
generalize, or apply, to people and settings not involved in the study.
◉testability. Answer: Ability of a hypothesis, for example, to be
subjected to scientific scrutiny and to be accepted or rejected, a
necessary condition for the hypothesis to be useful.
◉confound. Answer: Any factor occurring in a study that makes the
results uninterpretable because its effects cannot be separated from
those of the variables being studied.
◉confounding variable. Answer: Variable in a research study that
was not part of the intended design and that may contribute to
changes in the dependent variable.
◉control group. Answer: Group of individuals in a study who are
similar to the experimental subjects in every way but are not
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION TEST
2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
◉labeling. Answer: Applying a name to a phenomenon or a pattern
of behavior. The label may acquire negative connotations or be
applied erroneously to the person rather than that person's
behaviors.
◉hypothesis. Answer: Educated guess or statement to be tested by
research.
◉research design. Answer: Plan of experimentation used to test a
hypothesis.
◉dependent variable. Answer: In an experimental study, the
phenomenon that is measured and expected to be influenced
(compare with independent variable).
, ◉independent variable. Answer: Phenomenon manipulated by the
experimenter in a study and expected to influence the dependent
variable.
◉internal validity. Answer: Extent to which the results of a study can
be attributed to the independent variable after confounding
alternative explanations have been ruled out.
◉external validity. Answer: Extent to which research findings
generalize, or apply, to people and settings not involved in the study.
◉testability. Answer: Ability of a hypothesis, for example, to be
subjected to scientific scrutiny and to be accepted or rejected, a
necessary condition for the hypothesis to be useful.
◉confound. Answer: Any factor occurring in a study that makes the
results uninterpretable because its effects cannot be separated from
those of the variables being studied.
◉confounding variable. Answer: Variable in a research study that
was not part of the intended design and that may contribute to
changes in the dependent variable.
◉control group. Answer: Group of individuals in a study who are
similar to the experimental subjects in every way but are not
