Stress Research Logic, Design, and Process

4 Ways of Thinking Formalistic: A or B Formalistic: A or B Mechanistic: A causes only B Mechanistic: A causes only B Contextual: Perception looms; relational, multi-causal Contextual: Perception looms; relational, multi-causal Organistic: systems, interrelated causalities and reactions. Organistic: systems, interrelated causalities and reactions.

Research Vocabulary Proximal causes: acute episodes. Proximal causes: acute episodes. Distal causes: remote disturbances appearing again. Distal causes: remote disturbances appearing again. Precipitating factors: immediate response provoking events. Precipitating factors: immediate response provoking events. Predisposing factors: biological-genetic factors. Predisposing factors: biological-genetic factors.

Research Variables Independent: treatment condition, cause, environmental stimulus. Independent: treatment condition, cause, environmental stimulus. Dependent: behavior, effect. Dependent: behavior, effect. *Goal is to try to establish a link between IV and DV to generalize to a larger population. *Goal is to try to establish a link between IV and DV to generalize to a larger population.

Assessment Issues 1: Use a standardized test. 1: Use a standardized test. –Problems? –Advantages? 2: Create your own test. 2: Create your own test. –Problems? –Advantages?

Accuracy Validity: measures what was set out to be measured. Validity: measures what was set out to be measured. Reliability: consistently measures the same aspect with the same results. Reliability: consistently measures the same aspect with the same results. –Test-retest: same test two different times. –Alternate-forms: two different tests. –Split-half: two scores from same test.

Credibility  Validity Content Validity: test content is correct for behavior to be measured. Not a statistical test, rather an expertise based decision. (Experts determine). Content Validity: test content is correct for behavior to be measured. Not a statistical test, rather an expertise based decision. (Experts determine). Face Validity: basic, laymen’s logic to determine if test seems right for behavior. Face Validity: basic, laymen’s logic to determine if test seems right for behavior. Criterion-related Validity: comparing test outcome to alternate source of data. Criterion-related Validity: comparing test outcome to alternate source of data. Construct Validity: we are measuring exactly what we say we are measuring. Construct Validity: we are measuring exactly what we say we are measuring.

Types of Studies Case Studies Case Studies –Great depth, low number, generally used for very small, specific, unique populations. Field Studies Field Studies –Survey: good vs. bad? –Ex-Post-Facto: used for events that are either unethical to produce or unpredictable. –Ecological Momentary Assessment: idea is to monitor events in their own environment.

Types of Studies Correlational Designs Correlational Designs –Looking for patterns to research further. –Correlation doesn’t imply causation. –Can’t be causation with correlation. Single-Subject, Baseline Reversal Single-Subject, Baseline Reversal –Baseline phase and then treatment phase.

Types of Studies Pre-Post Designs Pre-Post Designs –Control groups? –Placebo effect? –Attention-Placebo control: do something but not the same treatment as is given to the treatment group. Factorial Designs: utilizing more than 1 IV. Factorial Designs: utilizing more than 1 IV.

Types of Studies Groups of groups. Groups of groups. –Within-subjects: observations made on same group but at different times. –Between groups: two distinct groups with two distinct treatments. –Mixed Design is the combination of both.

Types of Studies Meta-analysis Meta-analysis –Examines previous research on a given topic. –A compilation or greatest hits of sorts. –Greatest limitation is the studies being reviewed. –Be mindful of how the author portrays qualitative and quantitative research.