Which of these research methods would a behavioral geneticist be likely to employ to study the influence of genetics on personality?
A) examining heritability in twins and adopted individuals
B) interviewing people who have known others who were particularly odd or unique
C) administering paper and pencil or computerized questionnaires to hundreds of people
D) documenting the patterns of development and difficulties of psychiatric patients
Answer: A
Rationale: Behavioral genetic methods applied to humans typically involving comparing people of different levels of relatedness, such as parents and their offspring, siblings, and unrelated individuals, and measuring resemblances for a specific trait of interest. Twins and adopted children present particularly important ways of studying heredity.
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If a trait has very high heritability, two people with identical genes are likely to show
identical scores on the trait a. regardless of environmental variations they may encounter. b. only if their parents also scored high on the trait. c. only if the trait is physical rather than psychological. d. only if there is no environmental variance. e. once they are adults.
Compared to an older child, a younger child is likely to use problem-solving strategies that are
a. faster. c. more accurate. b. less efficient. d. easier.