Chapter 2 – Research Methods in Abnormal Psychology

 

I.  Why Research?

        A.  Science vs pseudoscience, or the importance of critical thinking

        B.  Hallmarks of science

                1.  Falsifiability

                2.  Operationalization

                3.  Seeking disconfirming evidence, avoiding biases

                4.  Consider alternative explanations

                5.  “The plural of anecdote is not data”

        C.  Basic/Applied/Translational Research

 

II.  The Scientific Method

        A.  Generate hypotheses

        B.  Test hypotheses (design and conduct study)

        C.  Interpret results

        D.  Replicate results

 

III.  Types of Scientific Studies

        A.  Case studies

        B.  Single-subject designs

                1.  subject acts as own control

                2.  ex:  reversal design (ABAB design)

C.  Correlational studies

                1.  what IS correlation?

                        a.  positive vs negative vs zero correlation (see figure 2.9 on pg 59)

                2.  correlation ≠ causation

                        a.  directionality problem

                        b.  third-variable problem

                3.  test:  is correlation coefficient (‘r’) statistically significant?

                4.  examples of correlational research

                        a.  epidemiological research

                                i.  Determines prevalence and incidence rates

                                ii.  Provides info on risk factors, predictors, etc

                        b.  behavior genetics:  looking indirectly at impact of genetics

                                i.  Family studies:  compare rates in gen’l pop vs. families of probands

                                ii.  Twin studies:  concordance rates in DZ vs. MZ twins

                                iii. Adoption studies:  concordance rates in kids and biol. vs. adoptive parents

                        c.  molecular genetics:  looking directly at genes involved

                                i.  Linkage analyses

                                ii.  Other forms also

 

        C.  Experiments (controlled studies)

                1.  IV (independent variable)

                2.  DV (dependent variable)

                3.  Controlling for other variables

a.  wait-list group or other control group

b.  random assignment

c.  blindness to conditions (participants, doctors, and/or evaluators)

d.  many other possibilities

                4.  internal vs external validity

                5.  test:  is difference between groups statistically significant?

                        a.  are any differences also clinically significant??

 

IV.  Integration of findings

        A.  meta-analysis

        B.  “weight of the evidence”

                1.  consider methodological rigor of studies

                2.  consider source of studies