Rosenhan

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

to test the hypothesis that psychiatrists cannot reliably tell the difference between sane and insane people

Question 2

Sample

Answer 2

8 pseudo patients - 5 male and 3 female - no history of MHI

Question 3

Procedure

Answer 3

• rang 12 hospitals across 5 states in America and said they were hearing voices: “empty, hollow, thud”
• all admitted to hospital based off of one symptom alone
• stopped displaying symptom when they were there
• observed environment and treatment of real patients

Question 4

How long on average were they in the hospital for?

Answer 4

7-52 days

Question 5

Results

Answer 5

• all but 1 ppt diagnosed with sz
• 1 had manic depression diagnosis
• no ppts detected as fake
• patients deprived of human rights such as privacy - medical records open and no doors on toilets

Question 6

Second study procedure

Answer 6

• staff of research and teaching hospital informed pseudo patients would try to be admitted into hospital (all real patients)
• staff rated each ppt on how likely they were to be a pseudo patient

Question 7

Results second study

Answer 7

83/193 confidently considered pseudo patient

Question 8

Conclusion

Answer 8

cannot reliably tell difference between sane and insane patients

Question 9

Strengths

Answer 9

• gen - range of hosps used across different states - some new some old, some poor staffed some well staffed
• rel - pseudo patient given same instructions of how to behave - standardised procedure in place
• eco val - field experiment - real patient natural environment - covert observations - less likely to have demand characteristics

Question 10

Weaknesses

Answer 10

• ethics - hosp staff were deceived - breaking BPS ethical guideline
• val - pp may have had pre existing biases about treatment of mentally ill people - e.g ward orderlies were considered to behave “brutally” towards patients - may have been heightened my emotions