Psychopathology class 3

2 types of research method

general/group or individualistic

scientific method

collect and evaluate info through observation and test hypothesis

Case studies

detailed description of a persons life and psychopathology,

case studies limitations

biased observers, reliance on subjective evidence, little basis for generalization

correlation and experimental methods

Help provide general, or nomothetic, knowledge

correlational and experimental methods

researchers observe many individuals, apply procedures uniformly so it can’t be replicated, use statistics to measure data

correlation

degree to which events or characteristics vary with each other

correctional method

procedure used to determine multiple variables

positive correlation

variables change the same way

negative correlation

one variable up other down

unrelated correlation

no consistent relationship

Correlation

What can be based on a statistical analysis of probability

statistical significance

the finding is unlikely to have occurred by chance

pros of correlation method

provide general info, can repeat studies with other samples

cons of correlation studies

describe but not explain relationship or causation

other word for thomanipulated variable

independent variable

confound

variables other than independent variable may also affect the dependent variable

response variable

dependent variable

statistical significance

indicate whether improvement occurred because of treatment

clinical significance

indicates whether the amount of improvement is meaningful in the individuals life

experimental group vs control group

participants who are exposed to independent variable vs those who are not

random assignment

every participant is equally as likely to be placed in one group as in the other

masked design

individuals kept unaware of their assigned group like placebo therapy and Rosenthal effect

double masked design

participants and researcher are both kept unaware of their assigned group

matched designs

make use of groups that already exist

natural experiments

nature manipulates independent variable, participants selected by fate, generalizations can’t be drawn from single study

Analogue experiments

Independent variables are manipulated while ethical and practical limitations are avoided, subjects are induced to behave in ways that resemble real life

single subject/case experiments

a single participant is observed before and after manipulation of the IV

longitudinal studies

same individuals are observed on many occasions over long period, IV manipulation or random participants not possible, provide clues about events more likely to cause vs consequences

epidemiological studies

reveals how a problem occurs in a particular population

incidence

number of new cases emerge after an event

prevalence

total number of cases in a given period

qualitative studies

gather info in participants own words,

Mixed method designs

combines both quantitative and qualitative approaches

Community based participatory research

members of community work with scientist on all stages of research, responsibility is equally shared

Researchers primary obligation

avoid harm

Institutional review board

committee of five or more members who monitor every study at their intuition I

IRB rights

participants enlist voluntary, informed about study, can end it anytime, benefits outweigh risk, protected from physical or psych harm, have access to info about study, privacy protected