Capafons contemporary study (pack 2 C.C)

Question 1

aim

Answer 1

investigate the effects of systematic desensitisation as a treatment programme to treat fear of flying

Question 2

sample

Answer 2

41 ppt, recruited via media campaign
informed them of a personal intervention programme aimed at treating fear of flying

treatment group- 20 ppt (8 males and 12 females) aged 29 mean

waiting list- 21 ppt (9 males, 12 females) aged 34 mean

Question 3

what 4 following materials were used?

Answer 3

a) general diagnostic info on fear of flying (psychometrics)

b) fear of flying
-EMV (degrees of anxiety)
- scales of expectations of danger and anxiety (frequency of catastrophic thoughts)

c) videotape of a plane trip

d) psychophysical recording instruments
-muscular tension
- palm temperature

Question 4

step 1 procedure

Answer 4

all ppt interviewed individually
completed diagnostic tests and rest of measures taken using self-report method

Question 5

step 2 procedure

Answer 5

called back to watch videotape of plane while undergoing psychophysical measurements

temp of room maintained at 22.5 degrees

sat in arm chair positioned 1.8m from TV

before there was a habituation session

responses measured in 3 min period in the absence of phobic stimulus

Question 5

step 3 procedure

Answer 5

end of video, another appointment made for presenting treatment or for next assessment group

interval between first and second was 8 weeks

Question 6

step 4 procedure

Answer 6

ppt receiving treatment had 2 one hour sessions per week
as part of programme a minimum of 12 and max 15 sessions

trained in techniques of breathing, progressive relaxation and imagination

treatment combines imagination and in vivo elements

Question 7

step 5 procedure

Answer 7

after 8 weeks, treatment and controls retake questionnaire and simulated video test to see if fear had declined

Question 8

results of intragroup

Answer 8

intra group analysis

fear during flight-
before- 25.6
after- 13.25

heart rate-
before- 1.04
after- 0.99

Question 9

results of intergroup (control)
before therapy

Answer 9

fear during flight
before- 25.6
after-26.05

heart rate
before- 1.04
after- 1.07

Question 10

conclusion

Answer 10

no significant decrease in the controls fear of flying whereas there was a significant decrease in the experimental group who had treatment. Therefore, S.D is an effective treatment for reducing or eradicating fear of flying

Question 11

generalisability

Answer 11

W- limited as sample only 41 ppt and only 20 used…small sample

self-selected sample which may be biased
people who volunteered may have wanted to cure phobia makes them different
not representative

questions whether it shows us any effectiveness of S.D outside fear of flying

Question 12

reliability

Answer 12

high as Capafons used many standardised procedures such as 1.8m from TV and room temp was 22.5

consistency of findings and can be easily replicated and tested

Question 13

application

Answer 13

SD is an effective therapy in helping those with fear of flying

individual differences are important this therapy does not work on everyone
10% of treatment showed little improvement

Question 14

validity

Answer 14

high as they used the scientific method, it was carried out using strict controls in the lab

the control of people with fear of flying are a baseline measure

objective quantitative measures such as heart rate and muscle tension allowed for precise and accurate physiological measures

Question 15

ecological validity

Answer 15

lowered by using controls
P’s were told to feel as involved as possible in the video it was still artificial phobic stimulus

a real plane may have resulted in different measures (cost and ethics constrained)

Question 16

ethics

Answer 16

S-
all ppt gave consent to take part in experiment and were supported throughout the study by teams of researchers

W-
Did make the control group wait some time for treatment (8 weeks)