Rosenhan

Question 1

aim of rosenhan

Answer 1

to test the validity of psychiatric diagnoses as well as determine the negative consequences of institutionalization

Question 2

rosenhan method

Answer 2

• 8 pseudo patient visited 12 diff hospitals
• made appointments themselves and reported hearing voices that said ‘empty’ ‘hollow’ and ‘thud’
• other Qs answered honestly
• all admited, 7 diagnosed with schizophrenia and 1 with bipolar disorder
• when asked again, no voices heard
• length of hospitalisation was between 7-52 days (avg 19)
• when released they were said to have ‘schizophrenia in remission’ so they were still insane

Question 3

conclusion of rosenhan

Answer 3

• invalid diagnoses
• psychiatrist also cannot reliabily tell the diff between sane and insane people
• showed when ppl come to hospital there is sick role bias
• confirmation bias in health professional (once diagnosed, they believe behaviour are in line with diagnosis)

Question 4

strengths of rosenhan

Answer 4

• field experiment - high ecological validity
• process of admitting and discharge was true to life
• applicable to real life
• use range of diff hospitals including old/new, private/public, can be generalised

Question 5

limitations of rosenhan

Answer 5

• unethical (no consent, deception, no debrief or withdrawal due to being unaware), can argue findings justify
• only a single disorder was study (schizophrenia) -> not possible to say from a single study that diagnostic systems are therefore invalid