Lecture 21

Question 1

What are some of the challenges of clinical researchers?

Answer 1

Measuring unconscious motives
Assessing private thoughts
Monitoring mood changes
Calculating human potential

Question 2

Explain internal vs external validity

Answer 2

Internal validity - Confidence that effects are due to the independent variable

External validity - Extent to which the findings are generalizable

Question 3

What are the two types of correlational studies?

Answer 3

Epidemiological studies - Reveal the incidence and prevalence of a disorder in a particular population

Longitudinal studies - observe the same individuals on many occasions over a long period

Question 4

What are confounds? How do you guard against them in research?

Answer 4

Variables other than the independent variable that may be affecting the dependent

A control group
Random assignment
Blind design

Question 5

What is another way to get around randomly assigning groups?

Answer 5

Taking advantage of groups that already exist

Question 6

What is an active placebo?

Answer 6

It mimics the side effects of an actual medication, but does not affect the symptoms

Question 7

What are the common features shared by virtually all types of psychotherapy?

Answer 7

Opportunity to express problems
Some explanation and understanding problems
Opportunity to obtain support
Encouragement to take appropriate risks 
Hope and a positive relationship

Question 8

What are the ethical and pragmatic issues?

Answer 8

Informed consent and assent are needed - participants need to be fully informed of the risks and possible outcomes

Voluntary participation

Question 9

What are response bias and social desirability?

Answer 9

Response bias - tendency to respond a particular way, regardless of what is being asked

Social desirability - Answering questions in a way that responder think makes them look good even if the responses are not true