LPC Research and Program Evaluation 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of a confounding variable in counseling research?
- The type of therapy used as the independent variable
- Client depression scores as the dependent variable
- Client motivation for therapy that affects both group assignment and outcomes (Correct answer)
- The number of therapy sessions as a control variable
Correct answer: Client motivation for therapy that affects both group assignment and outcomes
A confounding variable is correlated with both the independent and dependent variables, providing an alternative explanation for observed results.
Question 2: A counselor reads a meta-analysis on CBT for PTSD. Which of the following BEST describes the key advantage of meta-analysis over a single study?
- It eliminates the need for ethical review
- It provides qualitative depth by exploring individual experiences
- It statistically integrates findings across multiple studies to increase statistical power (Correct answer)
- It allows causal conclusions without a control group
Correct answer: It statistically integrates findings across multiple studies to increase statistical power
Meta-analysis pools effect sizes across multiple studies to increase statistical power and produce more stable, generalizable estimates of treatment effects.
Question 3: In qualitative research, 'member checking' is used to enhance:
- Statistical reliability of the coding scheme
- Transferability of findings to other settings
- Credibility by having participants verify the accuracy of findings (Correct answer)
- Dependability by auditing the research trail
Correct answer: Credibility by having participants verify the accuracy of findings
Member checking enhances credibility (the qualitative analog to internal validity) by returning findings to participants for verification and correction.
Question 4: An LPC administering a standardized assessment notes that a client's raw score of 42 corresponds to a T-score of 65. This T-score indicates the client scores:
- At the mean of the normative sample
- 1.5 standard deviations above the mean (Correct answer)
- 2 standard deviations below the mean
- At the 50th percentile
Correct answer: 1.5 standard deviations above the mean
T-scores have a mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10, so a T-score of 65 is 1.5 standard deviations above the mean.
Question 5: A researcher wants to study whether childhood trauma predicts adult depression without manipulating any variables. The MOST appropriate design is:
- Experimental design with random assignment
- Ex post facto (causal-comparative) research design (Correct answer)
- Single-subject reversal design
- Action research design
Correct answer: Ex post facto (causal-comparative) research design
Ex post facto research examines the relationship between a pre-existing condition (childhood trauma) and an outcome (adult depression) without researcher manipulation.
Question 6: Which of the following is the PRIMARY purpose of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?
- Ensuring statistical validity of research designs
- Protecting the rights and welfare of human research participants (Correct answer)
- Reviewing the theoretical framework of proposed studies
- Verifying that funding sources are appropriate
Correct answer: Protecting the rights and welfare of human research participants
IRBs exist specifically to protect human subjects by reviewing research proposals for ethical risks, informed consent procedures, and participant welfare.
Question 7: A counselor implements a new substance abuse program and tracks weekly urine screening results across six months. This BEST exemplifies which type of program evaluation?
- Needs assessment
- Process evaluation
- Outcome evaluation (Correct answer)
- Economic evaluation
Correct answer: Outcome evaluation
Outcome evaluation measures whether a program achieved its intended goals—in this case, reduced substance use as indicated by urine screening results.
LPC Research and Program Evaluation 4
Which of the following is an example of a confounding variable in counseling research?