5.3.1 Classic Study

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To see whether psychiatrists could distinguish between normal/abnormal behaviour.
To test validity and reliability of diagnosis in a natural setting.

Question 2

Sample Strength

Answer 2

One strength of the sample use is that there were 5 men and 3 women from a range of jobs such as 3 psychologists, 1 student, 1 psychiatrist, 1 housewife,1 painter, 1 paediatrician. This is a strength because of the range of backgrounds used and both genders. This means that the study has high generalisability and can be applied to wider populations.

Question 3

Sample Weakness

Answer 3

One weakness of the sample is that they were all from the same ethnic background, they were all American. Therefore it’s ethnocentric and doesn’t factor any different cultures and the impact they might have on diagnosis. Therefore this lowers generalisability to the wider world which consists of people of all cultures.

Question 4

Sample Weakness (2)

Answer 4

One weakness of the sample is that its small only 8 pseudo patients were involved. Therefore any anomalies found may significantly change the data found. Therefore can be said to have low validity.

Question 5

Sample Weakness (3)

Answer 5

One weakness of the sample is that it consisted of people who worked with, knew or were Rosenhan. This means that they may act in a way that’s biased towards what Rosenhan aimed to prove. Therefore reducing validity.

Question 6

Setting Strength

Answer 6

One strength of setting chosen for the experiments is that there was a range of hospitals. 12 hospitals across 5 US states were chosen including old ones new ones privately funded and state/university funded ones. This can be said be representative of the healthcare system at the time in 1973. Therefore we can apply findings to many US hospitals giving the study high generalisability.

Question 7

Procedure Strength

Answer 7

One strength of the experiment is that it used standardised procedures. Every participant phoned up the hospital and then presented themselves the same day claiming to hear voiced ‘empty, hollow, thud’. This means that if another experimenter wanted to check reliability they could easily use the documented procedure and find consistency. Therefore the study can be said to have high reliability.

Question 8

Procedure Weakness

Answer 8

One weakness of Rosenhan however is that some participants deviated from the procedure. For example the psychology student asked his wife to bring in his homework and one attempted a romantic relationship with a nurse. Therefore some inconsistencies are likely to be found if repeated with a different set of people lowering validity.

Question 9

Procedure Weakness (2)

Answer 9

One weakness is that the study used 8 pseudo patients who weren’t actually mentally ill