3.1.1 Issues when studying addiction

Question 1

studies of addiction require individuals to report how often they engage in the behaviour and their feelings when doing it, why is this an issue?

Answer 1

many addicts are reluctant/embarrassed to admit their addiction
recall may not be accurate (drug or alcohol addictions)

Question 2

studying addiction in a lab often lacks ecological validity, why is this an issue?

Answer 2

when participants are given a substance they are often given it in a different form
outside the usual environment - measured effects may not be accurate

Question 3

it can be difficult to obtain a representative sample for addiction research, why?

Answer 3

addicts by their nature are secretive about their addiction

Question 4

what problem do matched control groups have?

Answer 4

there are many non addicts who engage in addictive behaviours e.g. drinking alcohol

Question 5

as in matched pairs there are many non addicts who engage in addictive behaviour what can it be difficult to do?

Answer 5

accurately match variables

Question 6

from an ethical and practical view what can researchers not ask participants to do?

Answer 6

engage in addictive behaviours

Question 7

as researchers cant ask participants to engage in addictive behaviours what is there a lack of?

Answer 7

control over extraneous variables

can reduce the validity of the research

Question 8

what does the use of non human animals allow us to do?

Answer 8

study the effects of drugs in ways not possible with humans

Question 9

why might non human animal studies not give insight into how humans become addicted?

Answer 9

humans are subject to complex social and cognitive pressures that will not be experienced in the same way by an animal