reliability and validity Flashcards
AO1: reliability
- the extent to which a finding is consistent
- diagnostic reliability: the diagnosis of sz must be repeatable. Measured in terms of whether two psychiatrists give the same diagnosis (inter-rater reliability)
- a Kapa score is used to assess this, +0.7 is considered good
a researcher gave 2 different forms of the RBSNS test to schizophrenics, found test retest reliability as the correlation coefficient was +0.84. Shows the classification system is reliable
AO3: strength of diagnosing sz- reliable - DSM-5
however, other research shows opposite findings
P: strength of diagnosing sz is it’s reliability
E: since using the DSM-5, reliability has improved
E: used the DSM-5 on 180 participants to diagnose sz. Pairs of interviewers achieved inter rater reliability of 0.92
L: shows the DSM-5 is reliable
HOWEVER, other researcher found that inter-rater reliability correlations as low as 0.11. Suggests their is a disagreement amongst researcher
AO3: limitation- research evidence shows diagnosing sz is unreliable (fake patients)
P: research evidence shows diagnosing sz is unreliable
E: 12 fake patients sent to psych hospital, told to keep saying they were hearing specific words. They were admitted despite having no other symptoms.
E: inside they acted normal but it took months for them to be released.
L: concluded it was hard to diagnose the sane from insane
AO1:validity
validity is the extent to which we are measuring what we intent to measure
AO1: validity- gender bias
tendency for diagnostic criteria to be applied differently to males and females. If women are under diagnosed then this suggests that the validity of the procedure is poor.
Researchers found that clinicians in the US equated mentally healthy ‘adult’ behaviour with mentally healthy ‘male’ behaviour. Resulting in women being perceived as less mentally healthy
AO3: gender bias: limitation- research support that there is gender bias when it comes to diagnosing sz
P: research support that there is gender bias when it comes to diagnosing sz
E: researcher reviewed studies on the commonness of sz.
E: concluded since 1980s men have been diagnosed with sz more often than women
L: shows the diagnostic criteria for sz applies more to men
HOWEVER, a benefit of those who did get diagnosed is that they will have access to treatment
AO1: validity: symptom overlap
certain symptoms such as speech poverty are symptoms of many conditions, making it hard to decide which conditions the person actually has e.g. bipolar disorder involves positive symptoms like delusions and negative symptoms like avolition.
AO3: symptom overlap: limitation- research support
however, people diagnosed will get support
P: research support for symptom overlap
E: researchers found that people with DID actually have more sz symptoms that people diagnosed as being sz.
E: also found that people diagnosed with sz have sufficient symptoms of other disorders, that they could also receive at least one other diagnosis
HOWEVER, one strength is that people diagnosed will have access to support groups e.g. talking with voices
AO1: validity- co morbidity
This is when two or more conditions occur together. This can question the validity of the diagnosis because they might only have one condition. Sz is commonly diagnosed alongside other conditions
Researcher found that many people with sz also have a diagnosis of depression, pr sufferer with substance abuse, or PTSD or OCD. If half of sz patients are also diagnosed with depression, suggests we could struggle to tell the difference between the two conditions
AO3: co morbidity: limitation- consequences of co morbidity
however, people correctly diagnosed will have reduced anxiety
P: consequences of co morbidity
E/E: looked at nearly 6 million hospital discharge
records, finding evidence of many co-morbid non-psychiatric diagnoses. Many patients with a primary diagnosis of Sz were also
diagnosed with medical problems including asthma, hypertension and type 2 diabetes.
HOWEVER, a strength of those who are able to be correctly diagnosed is that they will be able to understand what is happening to them which could reduce their anxiety and confusion and help them to deal with their symptoms
AO1: validity- cultural bias
the tools that are being used to diagnose patients with Sz are ethnocentric. Therefore when it comes to applying the criteria to non-whites, patients may be misdiagnosed.
AO3: cultural bias- limitation- evidence to suggest the tools used to diagnose patients could be culturally biased
however, de-stigmatises the condition
P: evidence to suggest the tools used to diagnose patients could be culturally biased
E: African-Americans are several times more likely to be diagnosed than white people. This could be because hearing voices are more acceptable in Africa, so people are more willing to come forward, perhaps due to cultural beliefs in the communication of ancestors. Also hearing voices, would be celebrated as a blessing, particularly if they are hearing the dead. This means that these people will likely not be diagnosed with schizophrenia as that would be describing it as an disorder which they don’t
believe it to be.
HOWEVER, strength of this could be that it de-stigmatises the condition. In some cultures, hearing voices is definitely frowned upon and people could me made to feel “crazy” or ill, whereas in these cultures they may feel like they have a lot more support from those around them and they may not feel negative emotions from those around them, which could negatively impact their mental health.
