Chapter 4 Flashcards
Research Methodology
ways of obtaining information about questions
Basic components of a research study
- hypothesis
- research design
- dependent variable
- independent variable
- internal validity
- external validity
Hypothesis
Educated guess or statement to be tested by research
Research Design
Plan of experiment used to test hypotheses
Dependent Variable
In an experimental research study, the phenomenon that is measured and expected to be influenced
Independent Variable
Phenomenon that is manipulated by the experimenter in a research
study and expected to influence the dependent variable
Internal Validity
Extent to which the results of a research study can be attributed to the independent variable after confounding alternative explanations have been ruled out
External Validity
Extent to which research study findings generalize, or apply, to people and settings not involved in the study
Confound
Any factor occurring in a research study that makes the results uninterpretable because its effects cannot be separated from those of the variables being studied
Control Group
Group of individuals in a research study who are similar to the experimental subjects in every way but are not exposed to the treatment received by the experimental group; their presence allows for a comparison of the differential effects of the treatment
Randomization
Method for placing individuals into research groups that assure each one of an equal chance of being assigned to any group, to eliminate any systematic differences
across groups
Analogue Model
Approaches to research that use subjects who are similar to clinical clients, allowing replication of a clinical problem under controlled conditions
Statistical Significance
Probability that obtaining the observed research findings merely by chance is small
Clinical Significance
Degree to which research findings have useful and meaningful
applications to real problems
Effect Size
Statistical measure that shows the amount of difference among the members of a group in a clinical study
Patient Uniformity Myth
Tendency to consider all members of a category as more similar than
they are, ignoring their individual differences (comparing groups by their mean scores)
Case Study Method
Research procedure in which a single person or small group is studied in detail. The method does not allow conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships, and
findings can be generalized only with great caution
(ie Freuds psychoanalytical theory)
Problems with the Case Study Method
-not scientific
-internal validity
-confounds
-coincidences
-rely to heavily on clinicians observation
Correlation
Degree to which two variables are associated, in a positive correlation, the two variables increase or decrease together; in a negative correlation, one variable
decreases as the other increases
Positive Correlation
Association between two variables in which one increases as the other
increases/ or they both decrease
Negative Correlation
Association between two variables in which one increases as the
other decreases
Correlation Coefficient
Computed statistic reflecting the strength and direction of any
association between two variables. It can range from +1 to -1, with the strength, and sign reflecting the direction
Epidemiology
Psychopathology research method examining the prevalence, Incidence, distribution, and consequences of disorders in populations
Incidence
The estimated number of new occurrences/cases during a specific time period
Prevalence
The number of people with a disorder at the same time
Experiment Design
Research method that can establish causation by manipulating the independant variable in question and controlling for other alternative explanations of any observed effect
Clinical Trial
Experiment used to determine the effectiveness and safety of a treatment
Placebo Effect
Behaviour change resulting from the person’s expectation of change rather than from the experimental manipulation itself
Placebo Control Group
In outcome experiments, control groups that do not receive the
experimental manipulation but are given a similar procedure with an identical expectation of change, allowing the researcher to assess any placebo effect
Double Blind Control
Procedure in outcome studies that prevents bias by ensuring that
neither the subjects nor the providers of the experimental treatment know who is receiving the treatment and who is receiving the placebo
Process Research
Focuses on the mechanisms responsible for behaviour change, or “Why does it work?”
Outcome Research
Focuses on the positive and negative effects (results) of the treatment, or “Does it work?”
Single-case Experimental Designs
-Research tactic in which an independent variable is manipulated for a single individual, allowing cause-and-effect conclusions, but with limited generalizability (contrast with case study method)
-can help explain why people engage in abnormal behaviour
Repeated Measures
When responses are measured on more than two occasions (not just
before and after intervention) to assess trends
Trend
-cause of change
-Direction of change of a behavior or behaviors
level
degree of behaviour of change
factors of repeated measures
- variablitiy (behvaior change from day to day)
-level
-trend
Withdraw Designs
Removing a treatment to note whether it has been effective. In
single-case-experimental designs, a behavior is measured (baseline), and an an independent variable is introduced (intervention), and then the intervention is withdrawn. Because the behavior continues to be measured throughout (repeated
measurement), any effects of the intervention can be noted. Also called reversal design.
Baseline
Measured rate of a behavior before introduction of an intervention that allows comparison and assessment of the effects of the intervention
Drug Holiday
periods when the medication is withdrawn so that clinicians can determine whether it is responsible for the treatments effects
Multiple Baselines
Single-case experimental design in which measures are taken on two or more behaviors, or on a single behavior in two or more situations. A particular intervention is introduced for each at different times. If behavior change is coincident with each introduction, this is strong evidence the intervention caused the change.
Benefits to Multiple Baselines
- improves internal validity
-does not require treatment withdraws
-resembles natural treatment implementation
-stepped care approach
Stepped care approach
(different treatments at different steps)
Can see what each step does so you can give the best treatment possible & see the impact from multiple treatments
ie) 1st step trauma (if that doesn’t fix everything)
2nd step addiction (if that doesn’t fix everything)
3rd step meds etc…
Phenotype
observable characteristics or behaviour of the individual
Genotype
Specific genetic makeup of individuals
Human Genome Project
Ongoing scientific attempt to develop comprehensive map of hall
human genes
4 Main Research Strategies for Studying Genetics
family studies, adoption studies, twin studies, and genetic linkage analysis.
Family Studies
Genetic studies that examine patterns of traits and behaviors among relatives
Adoption Studies
In genetics research, the study of first-degree relatives reared in different families and environments. If they share common characteristics, such as a disorder, this finding suggests that those characteristics have a genetic component.
Twin Studies
In genetics research, the comparison of twins with unrelated or less closely related individuals. If twins, particularly monozygotic twins who share identical
genotypes, share common characteristics such as a disorder, even if they were reared in
different environments, this is strong evidence of genetic involvement in those
characteristics
Genetic Linkage Analysis
Studies that seek to match the inheritance pattern of a disorder to
that of a genetic marker; this helps researchers establish the location of the gene responsible for the disorder
Cross-Sectional Design
Methodology to examine a characteristic by comparing different individuals of different ages. (contrasts with longitudinal design)
Cohorts
Participants in each age group of a cross-sectional research study
Cohort Effect
Observation that people of different age groups also differ in their values and experiences
Longitudinal Design
Systematic study of changes in the same individual or group examined
over time
Cross-generational Effect
Limit to the generalizability of longitudinal research because the
group under study may differ from others in culture and experience
Sequential Design
Combination of the cross-sectional and longitudinal research methods
involving repeated study of different cohorts over time
WEIRD experiments
Westernized, Educated, Industrialized, rich, democratic
Informed Consent
Ethical requirement whereby research subjects agree to participate in a research study only after they receive full disclosure about the nature of the study and
their own role in it
REB
Research Ethics Board
Assent
if they are 7 years or older they have to consent to being there
