Health Research Methods

Question 1

What are the strengths of laboratory experiments using humans in terms of reliability?

Answer 1

Lab experiments are well controlled, e.g. drug quantities.

They can be observed & measured objectively, making research easily replicable & more reliable.

As all other factors/variables are held constant laboratory experiments can systematically investigate the effects of a particular drug, giving cause & effect.

Question 2

What are the strengths of laboratory experiments using humans in terms of validity?

Answer 2

Gives much better indicator of the effects of a drug compared with animal studies, much higher in ecological validity.

Generate qualitative data (i.e., more valid data than quantitative data alone) by reporting how they feel in response to a specific drug.

Using drug addicts give greater insight how tolerance, withdrawal & dependence work than studies different species, or field studies where confounding/extraneous variables may affect results.

Question 3

What are the weaknesses of laboratory experiments using humans in terms of validity?

Answer 3

Laboratory experiments lack ecological validity: the social context/situation that drug taking occurs in is very different from that of the laboratory.

Question 3

What are the weaknesses of laboratory experiments using humans in terms of reliability?

Answer 3

Qualitative data about the psychological responses to a specific drug may vary between participants, so reducing reliability.

Question 4

What are the ethical issues laboratory experiments using humans?

Answer 4

Ethically only people who are already addicts can be used because of the danger of exposing non-addicts to drugs that could lead to addiction.

Non-habitual users may not provide typical responses & addicts’ behaviour may also not be typical of non-users; tolerance levels may well be different etc.

This means the responses of a non-addict different addicted participant.

Question 5

What are the strengths of surveys in terms of generalisability/reliability?

Answer 5

If questionnaires are used reliability can be high as a large sample size can be used, making it easier to generalise.

Question 6

What are the strengths of surveys in terms of validity?

Answer 6

Data high in ecological validity because relates to people real experiences discussing their real life experiences of drug use.

Can ask about long-term effects & experiences of drug use & so gain a range & depth of information.

Interviews generate qualitative data that provides a detailed source of information.

Question 7

What are the weaknesses of surveys in terms of generalisability?

Answer 7

Questionnaires often have low response rates & those who bother to reply/fill them in are abnormal so sample is unrepresentative.

Longitudinal studies tend to have high drop-out rates, reducing generalisability.

Question 8

What are the weaknesses of surveys in terms of validity?

Answer 8

People may give socially desirable answers, or be too embarrassed to disclose accurate information, so reducing the validity of the research (due to stigma of drug use).

Acquiescent response sets: where the responses given to previous answers are continued regardless, i.e., in a questionnaire to continue yes because you have done so to the previous questions.

Question 9

What are the weaknesses of surveys in terms of memory?

Answer 9

Responses about past experiences may be inaccurate (especially where drugs are involved) due to fallibility of memory.

Question 10

What are the practical advantages of animal experiments in terms of reliability?

Answer 10

Easier to control environment, conditions during experiment-ensuring prior experience has been controlled e.g., amount of exposure, drug experience, quantities, level of tolerance.

Question 11

What are the practical strengths of animal experiments in terms of validity?

Answer 11

Results can be produced that provide a model for addiction in humans & which can then be tested in humans in a more realistic way/setting.

Far fewer demand characteristics/experimenter bias.

Question 12

What are the practical strengths of animal experiments in terms of cost?

Answer 12

Animal research is cheaper & therefore more practical, e.g., less drugs needed, time scales shorter & welfare provision is cheaper.

Question 13

What are the practical strengths of animal experiments in terms of usefulness?

Answer 13

Life span effects can be more easily & quickly assessed.

Animals with similar genes can be brought up apart & in similar or different environments to test for the effects of nature/nurture.

Question 14

What are the practical disadvantages of animal experiments in terms of generalisability?

Answer 14

May be difficult to generalise to humans, humans have far more profound influences on their behavioural responses.

E.g. emotional, behavioural, cognitive experiences & genetic predisposition, which can interact w/ drug use in far more significant ways than with animals.

If the results cannot be generalised the financial benefits are meaningless.

Question 15

What are the practical disadvantages of animal experiments in terms of validity?

Answer 15

Cues experienced by humans in real world affect drug responses ways cannot replicated by animal research, lack ecological validity.

Respond different cues with differing levels intensity based on different associations.

People often mix drugs with alcohol.

Cannot get qualitative data from animals about the experiences of drug use.

Question 16

What are the ethical strength of animal experiments in terms of guidelines?

Answer 16

If the appropriate animal research ethical guidelines are followed then conducting animal research should be more straightforward than similar research conducted on humans.

Strictly monitored & regulated in the UK, so ethical & welfare considerations of animals should be strictly adhered to in this country, e.g. Scientific Procedures Act 1986.

Question 17

What are the ethical strengths of animal experiments as an alternative to human experiments?

Answer 17

Studies which could not ethically be conducted on humans can be carried out on animals as they are regarded as less ethically valuable & are seen as expendable.

If potential long-term negative consequences resulting from drug research most think better if an non-human animal is affected.

Question 18

What are the ethical issues of animal experiments in terms of generalisability?

Answer 18

Even if animal research is preferable, because of differences between species results may not be generalisable, so animals may have suffered for no scientific gain.

Question 19

What are the ethical issues of animal experiments in terms of speciesism?

Answer 19

According to Peter Singer, conducting research on animals as opposed to on humans is a form of speciesism. Ryder argues that if researchers are not prepared to conduct the research on humans it should not be done at all.

Question 20

What are the ethical issues of animal experiments in terms of guidelines?

Answer 20

Some people argue that animal research guidelines don’t go far enough in protecting animals.