2.5 Study Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering descriptive, archival, longitudinal, cross-sectional, and epidemiological research methods in abnormal psychology.

Adoption studies

Studies that compare the trait and behavior similarity between an adoptee and his or her biological versus adoptive relatives.

Archival research

Method of research using past records or data sets to answer various research questions or to search for interesting patterns or relationships.

Attrition

Reduction in number of research participants as some drop out of the study over time.

Cohort

A group of people who share a defining characteristic, typically who experienced a common event in a selected period, such as birth or graduation.

Cohortstudies

One type of longitudinal study which sample a cohort and perform cross-section observations at intervals through time.

Cross-sectional research

Compares multiple segments of a population at a single time.

Incidence

The number of new cases occurring during a specific period of time.

Longitudinal research

Studies in which the same group of individuals is surveyed or measured repeatedly over an extended period of time.

Phenotypes

An individual's observable or expressed traits.

Prevalence

The overall number of cases of a disorder existing in the population during a given period of time.

Twin study

Study in which researchers identify individuals with a specific disorder who are members of an MZ or a DZ twin pair and then study the other twin in the pairs.

Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI)

A multisite study that aims to improve clinical trials for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease by tracking disease progression with neuroimaging, biochemical, and genetic biological markers.

Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research (MCTFR)

A series of behavioral genetic longitudinal studies of families with twin or adoptive offspring conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota to identify and characterize genetic and environmental influences on psychological traits.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

An agency of the U.S. government charged with improving the quality and availability of treatment and rehabilitative services in order to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost resulting from substance abuse and mental illnesses.

World Health Survey

A survey implemented by WHO in 2002–2004 in partnership with 70 countries to generate information on the health of adult populations, including psychological disorders and health systems.

Epidemiological method

A research method that examines rates of occurrence of abnormal behavior in the population as a whole and in various subgroups classified according to factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, or social class.

Pedigree chart

A diagram showing an inheritance pattern across generations, used by behavioral geneticists to investigate the genetic and environmental basis of behavior.