1. Clinical Psychology Spring 2015 Kyle Stephenson

2. Overview – Day 3 Why is research important? Types of Research ▫Observational ▫Epidemiology ▫Correlational ▫Experimental

3. Why is research important in clinical psychology? There is a correct answer Allows for combination of many people’s work – accumulation of knowledge Bi-directional relationship with theory ▫Theory allows for explanation and intervention

4. Why is research important in clinical psychology? Understand psychological disorders ▫What causes them? ▫What maintains them? ▫How common they are? ▫How to treat them? Understand human behavior more generally ▫Basic components of emotion, distress, and well- being

5. Overview – Day 3 Why is research important? Types of Research ▫Observational ▫Epidemiology ▫Correlational ▫Experimental

6. Observational research How is it different from just some person’s opinion? Why do we use it? ▫When there’s no organized theory ▫When we have limited resources ▫When it’s impossible or unethical to control variables

7. Research Methods Types of Observation ▫Unsystematic Observation: basic and casual ▫Naturalistic Observation: carried out in real-life, observer is not in control of situation ▫Controlled Observation: may be in real life, but observer has control over situation ▫Case studies: intensive study of a patient in treatment

8. Example of controlled observation Strange Situation

9. Example of controlled observation Conflict conversation

10. Overview – Day 3 Why is research important? Types of Research ▫Observational ▫Epidemiology ▫Correlational ▫Experimental

11. Epidemiological Methods Incidence ▫The rate of new cases of a disease or disorder that develop within a given period of time Prevalence ▫The overall rate of cases (new or old) within a given period of time Risk Factors ▫A variable that increases a person’s risk of experiencing a particular disease or disorder over his or her lifetime

12. Epidemiological Methods

13. Overview – Day 3 Why is research important? Types of Research ▫Observational ▫Epidemiology ▫Correlational ▫Experimental

14. Correlational Methods

15. Examples of correlational methods Dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia – in your text Who develops PTSD? When are sexual difficulties distressing?

16. Cross-Sectional vs. Longitudinal Designs

17. Overview – Day 3 Why is research important? Types of Research ▫Observational ▫Epidemiology ▫Correlational ▫Experimental

18. Independent (manipulated) vs. dependent (measured) variables ▫Experiment determines how the independent variable affects the dependent variable Cause-effect Random assignment: participants are placed randomly into experimental and control groups Experimental control: group or variable that is not manipulated The Experimental Method

19. Internal, external validities Analog research: ▫A study conducted in the laboratory under conditions that are supposedly analogous to real life Expectations ▫Placebo Effect The Experimental Method

20. Extraneous vs. Confound Variables Both hurt experiment, but in different ways ▫Extraneous: Something that affects your DV, but is not measured or controlled for (is not your IV). Does NOT vary systematically with your IV ▫Confound: Something that affects your DV, but is not measured or controlled for (is not your IV). DOES vary systematically with your IV

21. The Experimental Method

22. Mixed Designs Research designs that combine both experimental and correlational methods Individuals from two or more populations are assigned to different experimental groups Can reveal best interventions for each subgroup

23. Mixed Designs

24. Strengths and Weaknesses of Research Methods

25. APA Standards ▫Informed consent: researchers must inform participants of basic details/purpose of the study so subjects can knowingly consent ▫Confidentiality ▫Deception: sometimes needed to study particular variables without compromising experiment ▫Debriefing: requirement that researchers explain importance and results of experiment; reasons for deception can be revealed here ▫Fraudulent data Research and Ethics

26. Take-Home Clinical psychology could not function and grow without research All clinical psychologists are scientists that should be able to understand research There are multiple types of research, most of which are necessary to fully understand psychological disorders and how to treat them