NCMHCE Research and Program Evaluation 4

Question 1

A counselor wants to evaluate whether a new group therapy program reduced clients' depression scores over 12 weeks. Which design best controls for threats to internal validity?

Accepted Answer

Randomized controlled trial with a waitlist control group

Answer

A randomized controlled trial with a control group controls for history, maturation, and regression threats that plague single-group designs.

Question 2

In a program evaluation, the evaluator finds a statistically significant result (p = .03) but a Cohen's d of 0.10. What is the most accurate interpretation?

Accepted Answer

The result is statistically significant but the effect size is negligible

Answer

Statistical significance reflects sample size, while Cohen's d < 0.20 indicates a negligible practical effect regardless of the p-value.

Question 3

Which sampling method would be most appropriate when a researcher needs to ensure representation from each of five distinct cultural communities in a city?

Accepted Answer

Stratified random sampling

Answer

Stratified random sampling divides the population into subgroups and randomly samples from each, ensuring proportional or equal representation.

Question 4

A counselor reviewing a needs assessment report notices that data were collected only from clients who completed treatment. This is an example of which bias?

Accepted Answer

Attrition bias (survivor bias)

Answer

Attrition (survivor) bias occurs when only treatment completers are assessed, systematically excluding dropouts who may have worse outcomes.

Question 5

Which statistical test is most appropriate to compare pre-treatment and post-treatment anxiety scores from the same group of 30 clients?

Accepted Answer

Paired samples t-test

Answer

The paired samples t-test is designed for comparing two measurements from the same participants, controlling for individual differences.

NCMHCE - National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination Practice Test

NCMHCE - National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination Practice Test

NCMHCE Research and Program Evaluation 4