EPPP Study Guide: All-In-One Guide + 3 Exam Practice Test (600 Questions), Latest for Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP),ASPPB

When integrating non-psychological medical information during differential diagnosis of suspected conversion disorder (functional neurological symptom disorder), which action is essential prior to confirming the psychological diagnosis?

A school psychologist aims to implement a systems-level intervention promoting positive behavioral outcomes for all students, emphasizing prevention within the broader school community context. Which approach most effectively aligns with ecological systems theory by addressing interactions across multiple environmental levels?

A research psychologist is preparing a manuscript on a complex longitudinal study examining interactions between socioeconomic status (SES), parenting style, and child anxiety. They include a three-way interaction effect (SES x Parenting Style x Time) that is statistically significant (p = .01) but difficult to interpret visually. A co-author suggests replacing the detailed interaction plot with a simpler bar graph showing only the main effect of parenting style, arguing it’s clearer for the target journal’s broad audience. What should the psychologist do to ensure accurate dissemination?

A psychologist needs to assess the cognitive abilities of a 10-year-old client who recently immigrated, speaks Spanish as their primary language with limited English proficiency, and comes from a cultural background underrepresented in most standardized test norms. The psychologist is under pressure to complete the evaluation quickly due to school placement deadlines. The clinic has limited Spanish-language cognitive assessments readily available. Which action is MOST appropriate according to testing standards?

A psychologist is evaluating eyewitness testimony reliability for a car accident case. The witness initially reported uncertainty about the car’s color but, after discussing the event with another witness who confidently stated it was “definitely blue,” now firmly recalls it as blue. The psychologist knows the other witness has poor visual acuity. Based on cognitive processes of memory reconstruction, which phenomenon MOST likely explains the first witness’s changed recollection?

A 42-year-old client with generalized anxiety disorder, previously stabilized on lorazepam 2mg twice daily for 18 months, presents to the emergency department 72 hours after abruptly discontinuing the medication per their primary care physician’s advice. The client exhibits marked psychomotor agitation, tachycardia (HR 112 bpm), hypertension (BP 150/95 mmHg), diaphoresis, and reports severe anxiety, insomnia, and perceptual disturbances. Which agent is the MOST appropriate acute pharmacological intervention given this presentation?

A school psychologist consults regarding Maya, a 10-year-old Black girl from a low-income neighborhood, exhibiting withdrawn behavior and declining academic performance. Teachers report she often eats lunch alone and seems reluctant to participate. Her parents, working multiple jobs, have limited school engagement. While Maya expresses sadness about peers excluding her from games, she denies overt bullying. Considering identity diversity and intersectionality, what is the MOST critical factor for the psychologist to prioritize in the initial assessment?

A health psychologist runs a smoking cessation program. A participant, despite acknowledging the severe health risks emphasized in the session, immediately afterward justifies their continued smoking by stating, “My grandpa smoked daily and lived to 95, so the risks are exaggerated.” Which cognitive process *best* explains this participant’s reaction?

According to the James-Lange theory of emotion, which sequence most accurately describes the process leading to the subjective experience of an emotion?

A psychologist is contracted by a suburban school district experiencing declining student well-being indicators and increased teacher burnout reports. The superintendent provides existing academic performance data and a recent climate survey showing low student engagement and high staff stress. With limited time and resources before the next budget cycle, the psychologist must identify the most critical areas for intervention to prioritize funding. Which needs assessment approach is *most* appropriate initially?

When discrepancies arise between parent and teacher reports on a broadband behavior rating scale for a child assessment, which approach best utilizes multi-informant data to enhance diagnostic clarity regarding potential externalizing disorders?

When implementing computerized adaptive testing (CAT) for a high-stakes clinical assessment, a psychologist is concerned about potential systematic differences in how accurately the test measures the intended construct across diverse demographic groups. Which type of validity evidence is *most critical* to investigate to address this specific concern?

A community mental health clinic relies heavily on volunteers for its outreach program. Volunteers initially report high satisfaction from helping vulnerable populations. However, after several months, many express feeling emotionally drained and overwhelmed by clients’ complex needs, leading to a high dropout rate. The program coordinator, a psychologist, notes the clinic expanded services rapidly without increasing volunteer support structures. Which psychological principle *best* explains the primary reason for the volunteer attrition?

When evaluating the contribution of a new psychological test within a multivariate predictive model, which concept specifically refers to the test’s ability to improve prediction accuracy beyond what is achieved by established predictors alone?

A school psychologist assesses a 10-year-old student referred for suspected reading difficulties. Testing reveals a significant deficit in repeating novel nonwords aloud and poor recall of auditorily presented word lists, especially when words sound similar (e.g., “cat, cap, can”). The psychologist identifies an impairment specifically affecting the temporary storage and rehearsal of auditory-verbal information. Which component of the prevailing multi-component memory model is most directly implicated by this specific pattern of deficits?

When adapting a standardized psychological assessment for use with a linguistically diverse population, which criterion is most critical to prioritize during the adaptation process to maintain assessment integrity?

When conducting a process evaluation of a newly implemented school-based mental health program, which component is *most essential* for assessing implementation fidelity and ensuring the intervention is delivered as designed?

According to a major research-based theory of motivation, optimal functioning and sustained behavioral engagement are primarily driven by the fulfillment of innate psychological needs. Which theory most directly proposes that motivation is highest when individuals satisfy their fundamental needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness?

Dr. Patel, a licensed psychologist providing clinical supervision, reviews a recording of a telehealth session conducted by their supervisee, Ms. Gomez. Dr. Patel observes Ms. Gomez using a personal, unencrypted email account to send session notes containing sensitive clinical information and diagnoses to a client at the client’s request. What is Dr. Patel’s *most* critical supervisory responsibility in this situation?

According to a foundational theory in social psychology, which mechanism most directly explains the emergence of aggression following the blocking of goal attainment?

A 32-year-old male client with opioid use disorder has been stable on naltrexone maintenance for 3 months, reporting significantly reduced cravings. He presents to his psychologist reporting sudden onset of severe anxiety, nausea, muscle aches, and sweating 30 minutes after taking a friend’s oxycodone tablet for a headache yesterday. The psychologist recognizes these symptoms are most directly explained by which pharmacological mechanism?

Dr. Chen, a psychologist at a community health center, is treating Carlos, an undocumented immigrant, for depression. Carlos discloses during a session that he recently discovered his child is being physically abused by their other parent. Carlos begs Dr. Chen not to report it, fearing family separation and deportation. State law mandates reporting suspected child abuse. What is the *most* ethically defensible action for Dr. Chen?

A psychologist in an urban clinic assesses a new client from a collectivist cultural background who reports significant work stress and conflict with a supervisor. The client describes feeling obligated to prioritize family needs over work deadlines, leading to negative performance reviews. The psychologist initially conceptualizes the client’s difficulties as primarily due to a lack of assertiveness and poor time management skills. Which social cognitive bias is the psychologist *most likely* demonstrating in this initial assessment?

A psychologist in an urban community health center is treating Maria, a 35-year-old Latina immigrant with Type 2 diabetes who consistently misses appointments and struggles with medication adherence. Maria expresses belief that her condition is “God’s will” and feels shame about burdening her family financially. She also mentions long work hours and unreliable transportation. When developing an adherence plan, which psychosocial factor is *most* critical for the psychologist to address first to positively influence Maria’s health beliefs and behaviors?

When reviewing a manuscript submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed psychology journal, a psychologist identifies that the authors reported statistically significant p-values and descriptive statistics for their main findings but omitted which of the following elements, representing a critical deficiency according to current APA reporting standards for quantitative research?

A school psychologist observes that 8-year-old Maya, previously showing no bias, now consistently rates children assigned to her “blue group” (based randomly by the teacher for a project) as smarter and friendlier than the “red group,” despite no interaction history or performance differences. Maya’s parents confirm no recent exposure to biased messages at home. Which theory BEST explains the development of Maya’s in-group favoritism?

A 15-year-old client presents with recent experimentation with cannabis. The adolescent reports moderate academic performance but a recent dip in grades, strong parental monitoring and warmth, involvement in one school club, and a peer group where some members use substances. The psychologist is assessing factors influencing the developmental trajectory of substance use. Which factor identified in the assessment represents the MOST significant *modifiable* protective factor against escalating use at this stage?

A school psychologist is reviewing data to determine if a 3rd-grade student exhibits ADHD. The general base rate of ADHD in children is approximately 5%. However, in this high-performing school district with robust early intervention, documented ADHD prevalence is only 2%. Teacher reports note inattention but no significant functional impairment. Which factor is *most critical* for the psychologist to prioritize when interpreting assessment results to avoid diagnostic error?

A clinical psychologist observes a team meeting where a senior therapist proposes an empirically unsupported intervention for a complex adolescent case. Junior staff members initially appear hesitant but ultimately all agree to implement the plan. The psychologist notes the juniors privately expressed doubts about the intervention’s efficacy prior to the meeting but publicly concurred. This shift in the junior staff’s public agreement, despite private reservations, is BEST explained by which conformity process?

A psychologist in a school setting works with a 15-year-old Latina student experiencing anxiety and academic decline. The student’s immigrant parents value academic achievement highly but disapprove of her desire for more social independence, typical of her U.S.-born peers. The student feels caught between family expectations and peer norms. The psychologist recognizes the need to balance cultural sensitivity with the student’s individual needs. What is the MOST appropriate initial approach for the psychologist?