Chapter 2 Terms & Questions

Question 1

Placebo

Answer 1

— An inactive substance or condition
— Appears as an active treatment
— May cause improvements or changes because of belief in its efficacy

Question 2

Double-blind Design

Answer 2

— Experimental study where the participants receiving the treatment as well as the experimenters dispensing the treatment have NO KNOWLEDGE to the specific treatment and placebo conditions.

Question 3

Single-blind Design

Answer 3

— Study in which ONLY THE EXPERIMENTERS KNOW who is receiving exactly which treatment.

Question 4

Nocebo Effect

Answer 4

— Adverse effects produced by placebos

Question 5

What is the percentage of placebo effectiveness?

Answer 5

— 35%

— It’s effects on reducing pain may be higher

Question 6

In a placebo study, who receives the placebo? The experimental group or the control group?

Answer 6

— Control group

— Experimental group receives the active treatment

Question 7

Drug studies are usually single-blind or double-blind designs?

Answer 7

— Double-blind
— NO ONE in study has knowledge of conditions

Question 8

Psychological treatment studies are usually double-blind or single-blind designs?

Answer 8

— Single-blind designs

— ONLY researchers are fully informed on who is receiving which treatment.

Question 9

Correlational Studies

Answer 9

— Measures the degree of relationship between two variables.

— A type of descriptive research because they DESCRIBE the relationship.

— Does not imply causation

Question 10

Correlation Coefficient

Answer 10

— Used to measure the strength of a correlation (r)

— Measurement ranges between -1.00 and +1.00

— When (r) = +1.00 or -1.00, then it’s a perfect correlation

— When (r) = 0, there is NO RELATIONSHIP

Question 11

Positive Correlations

Answer 11

— Two variables increase OR decrease TOGETHER.

Question 12

Negative Correlations

Answer 12

— One variable increases as the other decreases.

Question 13

How are relationship strengths indicated in correlational studies?

Answer 13

— Correlations closer to 1.00 (either positive or negative) indicate stronger relationships
— Correlations closer to 0.00 indicate weaker relationships

Question 14

Statistically Significant Correlations

Answer 14

— Correlations less than 0.10
— Gathered from a large group of participants

Question 15

Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Studies

Answer 15

— Used when health researchers want to see development over time.

Question 16

Cross-sectional Studies

Answer 16

— One point in time

— Studies at least two different age groups to see possible differences

— Fast, & no causality

Question 17

Longitudinal Studies

Answer 17

— Assess one group over time

— Costly & no causality

Question 18

Can correlational studies, cross-sectional designs, and longitudinal studies determine causality?

Answer 18

— No. Experimental designs can shed light on causality.

Question 19

Experimental Method

Answer 19

— Comparing at least 2 groups
1. Experimental Group: treatment
2. Control Group: manipulated treatment

— Both receive treatment; level of independent variable varies

Question 20

Independent Variable

Answer 20

— The manipulated variable in an experiment

Question 21

Dependent Variable

Answer 21

— The behavior or response observed from manipulating the independent variable.

Question 22

Ex Post Facto Design

Answer 22

— Quasi-experimental study: Not random.

— Looks at how a subject (or participant) variable affects an already present independent variable.

— Usually used when random assignment is a challenge or impossible: ie.; can’t change one’s eye color

Question 23

Goal of Epidemiological Research

Answer 23

— Identify risk factors for diseases in a specific population

Question 24

Define Risk Factor

Answer 24

— Anything that occurs more in people with a disease than those without that disease

Question 25

Prevalence

Answer 25

— Epidemiological concept

— The amount within a population that has a particular disease or condition at a certain time

Question 26

Incidence

Answer 26

— Epidemiological concept

— Measures the occurrence of new cases during a set time period (usually 1 year)

Question 27

Observational Studies

Answer 27

— Epidemiological research method

— Estimates how often a specific disease occurs

— Similar to correlational studies

Question 28

Retrospective Studies

Answer 28

— Type of observational method

— Looks at past history of diseased to note qualities that sets them apart from those without the disease

Question 29

Case-Control Studies

Answer 29

— A type of retrospective study

— Cases (people with condition), are compared to controls (people without the condition)

Question 30

Flaw in Retrospective Studies

Answer 30

— The inaccuracy of our recollection of the past

Question 31

Prospective Studies

Answer 31

— Type of observation study

— Watches diseased people over time to look for influences connected to the disease down the line

— Equivalent to longitudinal studies