Exam 2 - Ch. 3: Clinical Assessment, Diagnosis, & Research in Psychopathology Flashcards
Hypothesis
precise testable prediction
Case Studies
extensive research of one individual or group with common characteristics
Limitations on Case Studies - Biases
hypothesis that you have influences of what you look for and ignores other relevant information
Limitations on Case Studies - Validity
- low internal (cause-and-effect conclusion)
- low external (generalizability)
Correlational Research
- how variables are related
- IV is not manipulated
Positive correlation
variables move in the same direction
Negative Correlation
variables move in the opposite direction
Limitations to Correlation REsearch
- cannot imply causation
- problem of directionality (hard to say which comes first)
Epidemiological research
used to analyze large amounts of current data to identify prevalence and incidence in large populations
Example of Correlational Method
Epidemiological Research
Prevalence
existing cases
Incidence
number of new cases
Internal Validity
extent to which you can be confident that the IV is causing the DV to change
External validity
how well your findings describe similar individuals who were not among study participants
Experiments
attempt to establish casual relations through manipulations of IV
Independent Variable
variable manipulated
Dependent Variable
variable measured and influenced by IV
Random Assignment
all subjects have an equal chance to be in experimental or control group
What has high external validity and low confound
Random Assignment
Single-Blind
Participants don’t know whether they are experimental or control group
Double-Blind
neither participants or researchers know
Repeated Measurement studies
in which a behavior is measured several times instead of only once before you change the IV and once afterward
What does repeated measurement studies allow
allows researchers to identify trends in behaviors
What do repeated measurement studies help identify
how a person is doing before and after intervention and whether the treatment accounted for any changes
Statistical significance
small probability of obtaining the observed research findings by chance
What does statistical significance not imply
clinical meaningfulness
Clinical significance
are results clinically meaningful
Genetic research focuses on what?
endophenotypes
Endophenotypes
genetic mechanism that contributes to the underlying problems causing the symptoms and difficulties experienced by people with psychological disorders
Genetic Research strategies (3)
- Family Studies
- Adoption
- Twin studies
Family studies
behaviors/emotional traits in family
Adoption
separates environmental from genetic
Twin Studies
best way of determining genetic role in any particular disorder
Strategies for problem and behavior over time (3)
- Longitudinal
- Cross sectional
- Sequential designs
Longitudinal
same individual or group studies over time
Pros of longitudinal
measure direct changes
Cons of longitudinal
time, attrition, expensive
Cross-Sectional
compares individuals of different ages
Pros of Cross-Sectional
efficiency
Cons of Cross-Sectional
different ages and different experiences, cannot measure direct change
Sequential designs
combine both, repeated study of different cohorts over time
Cohort effect
People of different age groups differ in their values and experience
Principles of Ethics (5)
- Informed Consent
- Competence
- Voluntarism
- Full information
- Comprehension
Informed consent
does the subject agree to participate?
Competence
can the subject provide consent?
Voluntarism
lack of coercion
Full information
is there necessary information to make informed decision?
Comprehension
understanding about benefits and risks of participation
