Methods: Longitudinal Design Flashcards
What is longitudinal design?
Looking at the same person over a long period of time and collecting data from them
Why is longitudinal design used in clinical psychology?
Used to study developmental changes
e.g. symptoms of Sz
How is data collected in longitudinal design?
Longitudinal design are multi-modal
Use different methods to collect data
How is data collected in clinical psychology using longitudinal design?
Interview a patient every 6 weeks to review their symptoms of Sz
Why are longitudinal design used in clinical psychology?
Symptoms of Sz don’t appear immediately
DSM - to be diagnoses with Sz the patient has to display symptoms for at least a month
What are examples where longitudinal design has been used in clinical psychology?
Heston - genetic explanation for Sz
Tsang - risperidone as treatment for Sz
Meltzer - haloperidol and a placebo
Rosenhan - pseudo-patients into hospitals, up to 52 days
What are the strengths of using longitudinal design in clinical psychology?
Individual differences
Developmental changes
Data
What are the weaknesses of using longitudinal design in clinical psychology?
High attrition rate
Research outdated
Time-consuming
Why is individual differences a strength of using a longitudinal design in clinical psychology?
Studying one person and comparing them to themselves e.g. genes
Why is developmental changes a strength of using a longitudinal design in clinical psychology?
Allows us to look at whether (e.g.) medication has an effect
Why is data a strength of using a longitudinal design in clinical psychology?
Collection of both qualitative and quantitative data increases validity of findings
Concurrent validity - different data from different sources backing each other up
Why is high attrition rate a weakness of using a longitudinal design in clinical psychology?
Participants may leave the study, move area etc.
Sample may not then be generalisable
Why is research being outdated a weakness of using a longitudinal design in clinical psychology?
Collecting data over a long period of time
If research on treatments it may not useful - out of date
Why is time consuming a weakness of using a longitudinal design in clinical psychology?
Going to be researching for a long period of time
May not be able to research a lot of people - lowers generalisability
