Chapter 1 Overview and Research

Question 1

ABAB Design

Answer 1

An experimental design, often involving a single subject, wherein a baseline period (A) is followed by a treatment (B). To confirm that the treatment resulted in a change in behavior, the treatment is then withdrawn (A) and reinstated (B).

Question 2

abnormal psychology

Answer 2

a type of psychology that is concerned with understanding the nature, causes, and treatment of mental disorders.

Question 3

acute

Answer 3

(symptoms) short in duration

Question 4

analogue studies

Answer 4

Studies in which a researcher attempts to emulate the conditions hypothesized as leading to abnormality.

Question 5

bias

Answer 5

Observer bias occurs when the researcher has preconceived ideas and expectations that influence the observations he or she makes in the research study.

Question 6

case study

Answer 6

an in depth examination of an individual or family that draws from a number of data sources, including interviews and psychological testing

Question 7

chronic

Answer 7

(symptoms) long in duration

Question 8

comorbidity

Answer 8

prevalence of 2 or more disorders in the same person

Question 9

what types of folks are you most likely to see comorbidity in

Answer 9

those with more serious forms of a disorder

Question 10

comparison/control group

Answer 10

group of subjects who do not have the disorder being studied

Question 11

correlation

Answer 11

The tendency of two variables to change together. With positive correlation, as one variable goes up, so does the other; with negative correlation, one variable goes up as the other goes down

Question 12

correlation coefficient

Answer 12

A statistic that ranges from +1.0 to –1.0 and reflects the degree of association between two variables. The magnitude of the correlation indicates the strength of the association, and the sign indicates whether the correlation is positive or negative.

Question 13

correlational research

Answer 13

A research strategy that examines whether and how variables go together (co-vary) without manipulating (changing) any variables.

Question 14

what are the indicators of abnormality

Answer 14

subjective distress, maladaptiveness, statistical deviancy, violation of the standards of society, social discomfort, irrationality and unpredictability, dangerousness

Question 15

what is the definition of mental disroder in the DSM-5

Answer 15

a syndrome that is present in an individual and that involves clinically significant disturbance in behavior, emotional regulation, or cognitive functioning

Question 16

nomenclature

Answer 16

a naming system

Question 17

stereotyping

Answer 17

automatic beliefs concerning other people that we unavoidable learn as a result of growing up in a particular culture

Question 18

epidemiology

Answer 18

he study of the distribution of diseases, disorders, or health-related behaviors in a given population

Question 19

Prevalence

Answer 19

refers to the number of active cases in a population during any given period of time

Question 20

point prevalence

Answer 20

refers to the estimated proportion of actual, active cases of a disorder in a given population at a given point in time

Question 22

1 year prevalence

Answer 22

count everyone who experienced a disorder at any point throughout the entire year

Question 23

lifetime prevalence

Answer 23

an estimate of the number of people who have had a particular disorder at any given time in their lives (even if they are now recovered)

Question 24

incidence

Answer 24

number of new cases that occur over a given period of time (typically a year)

Question 25

DALYS

Answer 25

disability adjusted life years ( 1 DALY = 1 year lost of healthy life)

Question 26

outpatient (with examples)

Answer 26

rovide mental health treatment in a non-hospital setting, allowing individuals to receive therapy, counseling, or other support without requiring overnight stays (i.e. community mental health centers, private therapists, outpatient hospital departments)

Question 27

inpatient

Answer 27

hospitalization: severe cases requiring intensive care but has declined significantly

Question 28

what mental health professionals are typically on an inpatient care team

Answer 28

psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, psych nurses

Question 29

what mental health professionals are typically associated with outpatient

Answer 29

Generally 1 or 2 professionals (such as a psychiatrist for medications and clinical counsellor for psychotherapy)

Question 30

etiology

Answer 30

causes of disorders

Question 31

confirmation bias

Answer 31

tendency to notice evidence supporting ones beliefs

Question 32

what are the three approaches to gather info in research

Answer 32

case studies, self report data, observational approaches

Question 33

generalizability

Answer 33

the extent to which the findings from a single study can be used to draw conclusions about other samples

Question 34

observational approaches

Answer 34

Collecting info by not asking people directly

Question 35

self report data

Answer 35

Data collected directly from participants, typically by means of interviews of questionnaires

Question 36

Direction observation

Answer 36

method of collecting research data that involves directly observing behaviour in a given situation

Question 37

random sampling

Answer 37

Sample drawn in such a way that each member of a population has an equal chance of being selected; it is hoped that such a sample will be fully representative of the population from which it is drawn

Question 38

samples of convenience

Answer 38

readily available participants

Question 39

external validity

Answer 39

The extent to which the findings from a single study are relevant to other populations, contexts, or times.

Question 40

internal validity

Answer 40

the extent to which a study is free of confounds, is methodologically sound, and allows the researcher to have confidence in the findings

Question 41

positive correlation

Answer 41

A relationship between two variables such that a high score on one variable is associated with a high score on another variable

Question 42

negative correlation

Answer 42

A relationship between two variables such that a high score on one variable is associated with a low score on another variable.

Question 43

statistical significance

Answer 43

A measure of the probability that a research finding could have occurred by chance alone. Shown as p<.05 = ○ the probability that the correlation would occur purely by chance is less than 5 out of 100.

Question 44

effect size

Answer 44

A statistical term referring to the strength of the relationship between two variables in a statistical population.

Question 45

meta analysis

Answer 45

A statistical method used to combine the results of a number of similar research studies.

Question 46

third variable problem

Answer 46

Refers to the problem of making causal inferences in correlational research, where the correlation between two variables could be due to their shared correlation with an unmeasured third variable.

Question 47

retrospective research strategy

Answer 47

○ Looks back in time to study early life behaviors and their association with later disorders.

Question 48

prospective research strategy

Answer 48

Looks ahead in time to identify individuals at high risk for psychological disorders before they develop

Question 49

experimental research

Answer 49

Research that involves the manipulation of a given factor or variable with everything else held constant.

Question 50

independent variable

Answer 50

factor whose effects are being examined and which is manipulated in some way, while other factors are held constant

Question 51

dependent variable

Answer 51

the factor that is observed to change with changes in the manipulated variables (IV)

Question 52

double blind

Answer 52

method used (neither participants nor experimenters knew who received treatment)

Question 53

placebo effect

Answer 53

An inert pill or otherwise neutral intervention that produces desirable therapeutic effects because of the subject’s expectations that it will be beneficial)

Question 54

single case research design

Answer 54

An experimental research design (e.g., an ABAB design) that involves only one subject.