Health Psychology 122
Terms
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- What are the 2 main research methods?
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1) experimental
2) Descriptive or observational - Bias
- Variation associated with subject & experimenter expectancies.
- What can Placebos counteract?
- Subject expectancies (bias)
- What can double-blinding an experiment control?
- Subject and experimenter expectancies (bias)
- Control group
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Similar to experimental group
not give the treatment (or given placebo) - What are 2 disadvantages of experimental methods?
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1)Random allocation may be impossible and unethical
2) Controlling variable can reduce validity in real life - Natural experiment
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Experiments where subjects are not randomly assigned to the situation. Behaivour occurs naturally.
eg. Infants left in Romanian orphanages - Experiment
- Asking whether SYSTEMATIC variation on one variable produces a change in another variable
- What are examples of Descriptive/correlational studies?
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Cross-sectional
Longitudinal
Naturalistic observations
Laboratory observations
Surveys - Confounding variables
- A stimulus other than the variable the experimenter explicitly introduces that affects the participants behavior.
- Populations
- Set of individuals to which generalisations will be made based on an experimental sample.
- Correlational methods
- Research methodologies that determine to what extent two variables, traits or attributes are related.
- Correlation coefficient
- A statistic that indicates the degree of the relationship between two variables.
- Naturalistic Observation Advantage
- Good way to collect normative data
- Naturalistic Observation Disadvantage
- Must wait for behavior to occur naturally
- Laboratory Observation Advantage
- Better control of outside factors = PRECISE measurement and equipment
- Laboratory Observation Disadvantage
- Surroundings affect validity of results
- Case Studies Advantage
- The only method appropriate for unusual cases
- Case studies Disadvantage
- Problems with GENERALISING results
- Surveys Advantage
- Can collect info on beliefs and attitudes
- Surveys Disadvantage
- Subjects may lie or mislead
- What is important in a survey sample?
- The sample must be representative otherwise the data is void.
- Laboratory Observation
- Observe behavior in a laboratory where extraneous variables can be controlled
- Case Studies
- Observe one or few subjects in great depth over a long period of time.
- Surveys
- Collect data from groups using questionnares or interviews
- Cross-sectional Advantaged
- Quicker to carry out
- Cross-sectional Disadvantage
- Compare differences in groups than changes in individuals
- Experiment advantages
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Can predict that something causes something else (Manipulation removes directionality)
By Randomly assigning, the possibility of a third variable effect is removed - Cross cultural research
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Determining whether reasearch findings apply to other cultures
-Naturalistic observation
-Replication ofexperiments for other cultures
-Back translation of questionares - What are 4 flaws in research?
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-Sampling Bias
-Placebo effects
-Distortions in self report data
-Experimenter Bias - Sampling Bias
- Representative sample
- Placebo effects
- Especially in psychological studies, where there is a change in behavior in the absence of an experimental manipulation.
- Randomised control trials advantages
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-Random allocation reduces confounding
- Randomised control trials disadvantages
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-Ethical limitations
-Logistically difficult
-Long term follow up difficult and costly
-Large studies expensive - Cohort study (Longitudinal & follow up) Advantages
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-Multiple outcomes can be assessed
-avoids recall bias
-clear time sequence between exposure and disease outcomes - Cohort study (Longitudinal & follow up) Disadvantages
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-Confounding is common
- Cross-sectional studies advantages
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-Generally cheap
-Can be quick
-Best design for assessing prevalence (burden) of disease in a population - Cross-sectional studies disadvantages
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-Limits interpretation of cause of effect
-Confounding common
-Uncertain time sequence - Main ethical issue discussed
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-Informed consent
-Deception
-Foreseeable risks
-Children as subjects