Chapter 2 - Health Psychology Research

Question 0

List the forms of descriptive studies.

Answer 0

• case studies
• surveys
• observational studies
• correlational studies

Question 1

What’s the difference between descriptive studies and experimental studies?

Answer 1

Descriptive studies observe and record participants behavior in the natural setting in order to form hypotheses that can be tested later. Experimental studies test hypotheses by systematically manipulating independent variables while looking for changes

Question 2

Describe the factors involved in an experiement.

Answer 2

Independent variable - manipulator (causation)
Dependent variable - the controlled (effect)
Random assignment - assigning participants to groups by chance to minimize existing differences

Question 3

What is correlational research?

Answer 3

When statistical measures determine the extent of a relationship between two variables using the correlation coefficient.

Question 4

What is a double blind procedure?

Answer 4

An experiment where neither the researcher or participant knows much information regarding the details of the experiment.

Question 5

What treatment is currently being used for Ebola and is it ethical?

Answer 5

ZMAPP. It it somewhat unethical because the drug has skipped through phases of drug testing that are set in place for the safety of patients from side effects.

Question 6

Describe two forms of developmental studies.

Answer 6

Cross-sectional - researcher compares groups of people of various ages to determine the possible effects of age on a particular dependent variable.
Longitudinal - a single group of individuals is observed over a long span of time
- prospective studies –> forward in time
- retrospective studies –> subjects back in time

Question 7

What is heritability? How can it be studied?

Answer 7

The amount of variability in a trait that can be attributed to genes. Family studies, twin studies, adoption studies.

Question 8

What is epidemiology?

Answer 8

The study of frequency, distribution, and causes of diseases in a population. It examines the physical and social environment.

Question 9

What are morbidity and mortality?

Answer 9

Morbidity - the number of cases of a disease at a given point.
- incidence –> number of new cases
- prevalence –> total number of existing cases
Mortality - the number of deaths due to a specific cause.

Question 10

What is meta-analysis?

Answer 10

It combines results from multiple research studies that involve similar phenomenon used to assist in summarizing related evidence.