3 - Research in Clinical Psychology - fin (1)

Introduction

What is Clinical Psychology?

• Focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders, including emotional and behavioral issues.

Importance of Research in Clinical Psychology

• Understanding Mental Disorders: Helps to identify causes and characteristics of mental disorders.

• Development of Treatments: Aids in the creation and evaluation of effective interventions.

• Informs Prevention Strategies: Contributes to strategies aimed at improving mental health outcomes.

Importance of Clinical Research

On a Smaller Scale

• Psychologists must determine client progress and effectiveness of treatments.

• Identify clients at risk and the severity of their disorders.

On a Larger Scale

• Essential for making a case to healthcare administrators and policymakers regarding the cost-effectiveness of psychological services.Source: Pomerantz (2011)

Scientist-Practitioner Model

Model of Training and Education

• Emphasizes scientific methods and research in clinical practice.

• Clinicians are expected to:

  • Use scientific methodology for decision-making.

  • Employ scientifically valid methods and techniques with clients.

  • Educate clients on scientifically-based findings.

  • Engage in practice-based research.Source: O’Connor et al (2014)

Common Research Areas in Clinical Psychology

• Treatment Outcomes

• Assessment Methods

• Diagnostic Issues

• Professional Issues

• Teaching and Training Issues

• Service Evaluation

Research on Treatment Outcomes

• Aims to measure:

  • Efficacy: Success in controlled studies with specific client criteria.

  • Effectiveness: Success in real clinical settings where clients may not fit specific criteria.

  • Considerations of internal versus external validity. Source: Pomerantz (2011)

Research on Assessment Methods

• Evaluates and seeks to improve the tools clinical psychologists use:

  • Development and validation of new assessment instruments.

  • Establishing normative data for the baseline of specific populations.

  • Comparing various assessment tools.Source: Pomerantz (2011)

Research on Diagnostic Issues

• Explores validity and reliability of diagnostic constructs, relationships between disorders, and prevalence/course of disorders. Source: Pomerantz (2011)

Research on Professional Issues

• Examines clinical psychologists' beliefs, activities, and practices:

  • Example: Survey assessing how psychologists discuss ethnic and racial differences with clients, revealing varying degrees of consistency in these conversations. Source: Pomerantz (2011)

Research on Teaching & Training Issues

• Focuses on educating future professionals, including training philosophies and outcomes. Source: Pomerantz (2011)

Research on Service Evaluation

• Investigates the usefulness and necessity of psychological services and their impacts.Source: Castle (2007)

Research on Client Perspectives and Experience

• In-depth exploration of clients' experiences regarding assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and broader life experiences related to their disorders, including stigma.

• Emphasizes patient and public involvement in research.

Research Designs Used in Clinical Psychology

Experimental Research

• Researchers manipulate one variable to observe effects on another.

  • Independent Variable: Manipulated variable.

  • Dependent Variable: Variable expected to change.

  • Types:

    1. quasi-experimental:

       Similar to an experiment but does not randomly assign people to groups. Used when random assignment isn’t possible (e.g., studying the effects of a program in different schools).

    2. between-group:

       Compares different groups of people. For example, one group gets a new teaching method, another group gets the old method, and their results are compared.

    3. within-group:

       Tests the same group of people at different times. For example, measuring students’ performance before and after using a new study technique.

    4. mixed-group designs:

       Combines both approaches. It compares different groups while also tracking changes within each group over time.

Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

• Participants are randomly assigned to experimental or control groups.

• The only expected difference is the outcome variable.

  • Double Blind RCT: Considered the "Gold Standard".

  • Challenges include accounting for individual differences and the complexity of mental disorders.Source: Shean, 2014

Correlational Study

• Examines relationships between variables without manipulation.

  • Advantages: Feasibility.

  • Disadvantages: Cannot establish causality.Source: Sockol (2021)

Case Study

• A detailed examination of a specific individual, group, or situation.

• Valued for the idiographic approach, highlighting unique characteristics.

  • Advantages: Offers depth of information and insights on rare cases.

  • Disadvantages: Potential for bias, confounding variables, and poor external validity.Source: Sockol (2021)

Meta-Analysis

• Combines results from separate studies to create an overall effect size. Source: Pomerantz (2011)

Highlights

• Various research methods can enhance clinical practice, stressing awareness of study design strengths and limitations.

• The scientist-practitioner model aims to bridge the gap between research and practice, though further efforts are needed for realization.

  • Incorporates best available evidence, patient preferences, and clinical experience to inform evidence-based practice.