paper 2

Question 1

alloy et al

Answer 1

aim: to see if one’s thinking patterns could be used to predict the onset depression (etiology of disorder)

procedure:
- Alloy et al used a sample of non-depressed college freshmen with no other diagnosed disorders. Half of the sample had a history of clinical depression; the other half did not. The students with a history of clinical depression demonstrated no symptoms at the beginning of the study.
- the students were given a test to measure their cognitive style. The students were identified as either High Risk (HR) or Low Risk (LR) for depression based on their thinking patterns. The researchers carried out follow-up assessments every 6 weeks for 2.5 years and then every 4 months for an additional three years. The study was based on a combination of questionnaires and structured interviews to identify stressful life events, cognitive style and symptoms of depression.

findings: The results show that the participants in the high risk group were more likely to show symptoms of depression.

evaluation:
- There is no clear cause and effect so we can’t determine correlation
Does not take genetics into consideration for development of depression.
No control over any other influences that could have affected the study.

+ The theory of cognitive vulnerability has been applied in therapy (CBT) and is effective.
The tests used to measure cognitive style are highly standardized and have a high level of reliability.

Question 2

brown and harris

Answer 2

aim: to investigate how depression could be linked to social factors and stressful life events in a sample of women.

procedures:

findings:

evaluation:

Question 3

ditzen

Answer 3

aim:

procedures:

findings:

evaluation:
- total control = impossible
low ecological validity
Only heterosexual couples
ethics (protection from harm, could have ruined relationships)
+ cause and effect relationship
increased control and accuracy –> lab experiment
double-blind technique
internal validity

Question 4

markey and markey

Answer 4

aim:

procedures:

findings:

evaluation: here was informed consent, no deception, their identities remained confidential, they could withdraw, they were debriefed, and they were protected from mental and physical harm

Question 5

moreland and beach

Answer 5

aim:

procedures:

findings:

evaluation:
- Slight deception since confederates were used.
- High ecological validity, the situation was very natural
- The sample may not be representative of the population because the participants are all university students in the US

Question 6

bradbury and fincham

Answer 6

aim:

procedures:

findings:

evaluation:
- As the results are only correlational, there is the problem of bidirectional ambiguity. We cannot know if distress-maintaining communication is the cause or the result of marital dissatisfaction.
- The researchers used researcher triangulation in the coding of the observation, increasing the reliability of the data.
- Sampling bias as all couples was from the Western culture

Question 7

felmlee

Answer 7

aim:

procedures:

findings:

evaluation: It is not clear whether the participants themselves agreed with fatal attractions in terms of their partners or if it was only from the eyes of the researcher