A Therapist Has a Goal to Reduce the Mean Number

question 26

Multiple Choice

A therapist has a goal to reduce the mean number of patient symptoms expressed for a particular disorder to two symptoms per day.Following therapy,she determines that the z score for 2 symptoms per day is 0.Assuming the data are normally distributed,did she reach her goal?

• A) No, because the z score indicates 0 improvement.
• B) No, because the z score is not negative (indicating a reduction in symptoms).
• C) Yes; in fact, she actually reduced the mean number of symptoms to 0.
• D) Yes, because a z score of 0 is the average, or mean.

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Definitions:

External Motivation

The drive to perform a task or participate in an activity because of external rewards or pressures, as opposed to internal desire or satisfaction.

Positivism

a philosophical theory stating that certain ("positive") knowledge is based on natural phenomena and their properties and relations as verified by empirical sciences.

Exotic Species

are species that are introduced into a new habitat where they are not naturally found, often causing ecological disruption.