This is a comprehensive and detailed note on PSY 254 - Chapter 2 and 3: Research in Abnormal Psychology; Models of Abnormality.
Essential Study Material!!
CHAPTER 2
Research in Abnormal Psychology
- Research is the systematic search for facts through the use of careful of observations and
investigations
o Inaccuracy in the field of abnormal psychology can cause great suffering
- Clinical researchers face certain challenges that make their work very difficult
o Measuring unconscious motives
o Assessing private thoughts
o Monitoring mood changes
o Calculating human potential
- Clinical researchers must consider different cultural backgrounds, races, and genders of the
people they study
- They must always ensure that the rights of their research participants, both human and animal,
are not violated
What Do Clinical Researchers Do?
- Clinical researchers (clinical scientists)
o Discover universal laws and principles
o Search for nomothetic understanding
o Do not typically assess, diagnose, or treat individual clients
o Rely on the scientific method
o Key goals: increase accuracy, minimize error
- Clinical researchers depend on three methods of investigation
o Case study
o Correlational method
o Experimental method
Psychwatch: Animals Have Rights
- Animal subjects
o Between 11 and 25 million animals used in U.S. studies each year
o Research methods: animals are shocked, starved, separated from parents, surgically
altered, killed
- Outcomes
o Helped increase human life expectancy by 24 years
o Contributed to development of medications and patient savings
o The question: Are these actions ethically acceptable?
The Case Study
- How are case studies helpful?
o Detailed, interpretative description of a person’s life and psychological problems
o Source of new ideas about behavior and discoveries
o Tentative support for a theory; challenge for a theory’s assumptions
o Introduction of new therapeutic techniques
o Opportunities to study unusual problems
- What are the limitations of case studies?
o Biased observers
o Subjective evidence (low internal validity)
, o Little basis for generalization (low external validity)
The Correlational Method and the Experimental Method
- General characteristics of correlational and experimental research methods
o Typically involve observing many individuals
o Researchers apply procedures uniformly
o Studies can be replicated
o Researchers use statistical tests to analyze results
The Correlational Method
- Correlation
o Degree to which events or characteristics vary with each other
- Correlational method
o Research procedure used to determine how much events or characteristics vary along
with each other
- Subjects or participants
o People chosen for study are collectively called a sample
o Sample must be representative of the larger population
Describing a Correlation
- Correlational data can be graphed and a line of best fit can be drawn
o Positive correlation (slope is upward and to the right):
Variables change in the same direction
o Negative correlation (downward slope):
Variables change in the opposite direction
o Unrelated (no slope):
No consistent relationship
- The magnitude (strength) of a correlation is important
o High or strong magnitude:
Variables vary closely together; fall close to the line of best fit
o Weaker magnitude:
Variables do not vary as closely together; loosely scattered around the line of
best fit
- Direction and magnitude of a correlation are often calculated numerically
o The correlation coefficient, symbolized by the letter r
o Can vary from +1.00 (perfect positive correlation) to -1.00 (perfect negative correlation)
Sign (+ or -) indicates direction
Number indicates magnitude
0.00: No consistent relationship
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller anyiamgeorge19. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $11.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.