PSY2001 W1 Introduction and Methods -L Flashcards
What is a key aspect of a randomised controlled trial
Participants are randomly allocated to a condition
What type of study has the strongest weight when forming conclusions?
A meta-analysis
What types of methods do randomised controlled trials use?
Experimental
For a review, you decide which studies to include based on an inclusion/exclusion criteria. Studies are synthesised but there is no new analysis conducted. What type of review is this?
A systematic review
Experimental Social Psychology Methods
Manipulate an independent varaible (IV) and observe the effect on a dependent variable.
Types of experimental methods
Laboratory, field and randomised controlled trial
Non experimental Social psychology methods
Correlation between variables (no manipulation of an IV)
Types of Non-experimental methods
Archival, Case studies, Qualitative research, survey and field studies
What is the aim of an intervention based on social psychology theory
They aim to change thoughts, fellings or behaviours to improve societal outcomes
What is the best design for interventions
Experiemntal Design: compare effects to a control group, participant allocation to control vs intervention.
What is the best way to allocate participants to intervention or control?
Use a computer generator to randomly allocate particiapnts to intervention or contorl condition (to avoid reseacher bias, allocation bias)
How to report Randomized controlled trials
Using standardised guidelines (Consolidated standards of reporting trials) Allows replication and findings to be used in policy or practice.
What else is important to consider in social psychology intervention
User/patient/public acceptability
(e.g. banning smoking in pub garden has upset the pubs and smokers)
Reviews
Reviews collate adn synthesis the methods and findings of multiple research studies on the same topic. Usually also peer-reviewed.
Three types of Reviews
Narrative (or literature) reviews
Systematic reviews
Meta-analyses
Narrative/literature reviews
Provide an overview of the current knowldege on a general topic.
Introduction + seperate sub-headings discussing separate themes. No methods or results.
Systematic reviews
Well defined adn precise reseach question.
Includes an introduction, methods, results and discussion section.
Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria adn a clearly defined search for artciles that could be reproduced. Assess the quality of the research studies.
No new analysis
Meta-analyses
Same as a systematic review by quantifies the magnitude of the effect found across all studies. New analysis. Provides the strongest adn most reliable evidence.
What is the key difference between a literature review and a systematic review?
Systematic review: has method and analysis and Precis research question
What is the key difference between a systematic review and meta-analysis?
The meta-analysis has an additional analysis.
Issues relevant to social psychology during COVID
Risk and threat perception
Prejudice and discrimination
Promote altruism
Social norms
Stress, wellbeing and health behaviours
Buckland et al.’s (2021) survey
Online survey
Did people’s intake of high energy dense sweet snacks change during the COVID-19 lockdown?
Lower craving control and low cognitive restraint predicted increased snack intake. Targets for interventions
Buckland et al.’s (2021) survey - Limitations
Sample: mostly white, educated and not home schooling.
Self-reported changes to high energy dense sweet foods
Buckland et al.’s (2021) survey - Strengths
Online survey – collected more responses than face-to-face, cheap, relatively quick to collect
Collected data during the lockdown (rather than retrospectively)
Hierachy of Evidence
WORST
Editorials/Expert opinion
Mechanistic studies
HIGH RISK OF BIAS/LOWER QUAILTY OF EVIDANCE
Case reports, case studies
Cross-sectional studies, surverys
Case-control studies
Cohor studies
LOWER RISK OF BIAS/HIGHER QUAILTY OF EVIDANCE
Randomized controlled trials
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs.
BEST
What is the choice of methods dependent on?
the nature of the hypothesis, resources available and ethics
Buckland et al survery results
Lower craving control and low cognitive restraint predicted increased snack intake. Targets for interventions.
Why was the buckland study using a survey
Because of the resource available during confinement
What is the structure of a narrative review
Introduction + Separate subheadings discussing separate themes. No methods or results. No new analysis, similar to an essay.
What is the structure of a systematic review
Well defined and precise research question. Introduction + Methods + Results + Discussion
What is the choice of methods dependent on?
the nature of the hypothesis, resources available and ethics
What are the RCTs used for?
Used to evaluate interventions and reduce allocation bias
Why do the interventions need to be desgined using hgih quality rigorous methods?
to avoid negative consequences and wasting resources
Why are experiemntal designs the best way to evaluate interventions
Compare effects to a control group and participant allocation to control versus intervention.
What is an evidence based intervention?
Interventions based on Social Psychology theory, aim to CHANGE thoughts, feelings or behaviours to improve societal outcomes (e.g. health, wellbeing, environment).
What are three types of reviews used in social psy
Narrative (literature) reviews, systematic reivews and meta-analysis
