A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

Which group was NOT part of the study sample in Barkley-Levenson and Galvan’s research?

1. Healthy adolescents

2. Psychiatric patients

3. Right-handed adults

4. Healthy adults

The correct answer is: Psychiatric patients

In Barkley-Levenson and Galvan’s research, the study sample primarily focused on understanding developmental differences in risk-taking, particularly in adolescents and adults. The inclusion of healthy adolescents and adults allowed researchers to analyze typical developmental trajectories without the confounding effects of psychiatric conditions that can influence behavior and decision-making processes. Healthy individuals, including both adolescents and adults, provide a clear view of normative behavior, which is essential for comparing different developmental stages and understanding the underlying mechanisms of risk-taking. Therefore, the correct answer reflects that psychiatric patients were not included in the sample, as their specific mental health conditions could significantly alter their behavior compared to the healthy participants, making it difficult to draw generalized conclusions about the broader population's risk-taking behavior. Right-handed adults also would not typically exclude researchers from representing a variety of perspectives in brain function related to risk, although their specific inclusion might not be a focus of the study’s aims. Thus, focusing on individuals without psychiatric backgrounds helps ensure that the findings are geared toward understanding the typical adolescent and adult populations rather than those who might exhibit atypical behaviors due to mental health issues.