Research Methods in Psychopathology - PSY 2234
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of nomothetic research approaches?

  • Studying unique cases in isolation
  • Examining individual differences in psychopathology
  • Identifying patterns among groups of individuals (correct)
  • Investigating the psychological effects of trauma on a single person

    • Which method is primarily used in idiographic research?

  • Natural experiments
  • Correlational studies
  • Quasi-experimental design
  • Case studies (correct)

    • What aspect of validity examines how well a study can be generalized to different populations?

  • Internal validity
  • Construct validity
  • External validity (correct)
  • Statistical validity

    • What is a significant advantage of case studies in research?

    <p>They allow for a detailed understanding of individual complexities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following research methods typically lacks internal validity?

    <p>Case studies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which question illustrates an idiographic approach to studying depression?

    <p>What childhood experiences contribute to one individual's depression?</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of study examines how high-status individuals may be more prone to personality disorders?

    <p>Correlational study</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of longitudinal studies?

    <p>They offer insights into how individuals change over time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does lack of external validity imply in a study?

    <p>The findings are only relevant to specific individuals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a strong correlation indicative of?

    <p>Significant overlap between two factors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following accurately describes a disadvantage of correlation studies?

    <p>They cannot establish cause and effect.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an advantage of conducting experiments?

    <p>They can confidently establish a causal relationship.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a confound in a study?

    <p>A variable that influences the dependent variable but is not the independent variable.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which scenario exemplifies a negative correlation?

    <p>As temperature rises, the demand for heating decreases.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of external validity, what improves generalization across groups?

    <p>Increasing the number of participants in a study.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens if confounds are present in an experiment?

    <p>They can mislead the interpretation of the study’s findings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be determined from an experimental study that cannot be determined from a correlational study?

    <p>The cause of a phenomenon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which research design has excellent external validity but poor internal validity?

    <p>Natural Experiment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an analogue experiment?

    <p>Measuring real-world behavior directly</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what type of study does a researcher analyze the same individual multiple times over an extended period?

    <p>Longitudinal Study</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a major ethical concern associated with experimental studies?

    <p>Manipulating variables that could harm subjects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of study is characterized by using real-world naturally occurring events to analyze differences?

    <p>Natural Experiment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about quasi-experimental studies is accurate?

    <p>They can offer some causal insights but lack the rigor of true experiments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a drawback of longitudinal studies regarding validity?

    <p>Small sample sizes affecting results</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Research Methods in Psychopathology

    • Course: PSY 2234
    • Semester: Fall 2024

    Overview

    • Approaches:
      • Nomothetic: examines what makes people alike, focusing on patterns of psychopathology, using experiments and correlations.
      • Idiographic: examines what makes people different, focusing on one client at a time using case studies and longitudinal studies.
    • Methods:
      • Case Study: Deep dive into one person's life and psychopathology. Often focuses on unique individuals.
      • Correlational: Examines the relationship or overlap between two factors.
      • Experimental: Manipulates one variable and measures its impact on another to observe cause and effect.
      • Quasi-Experimental: Similar to experiments but cannot fully control variables; includes natural, analogue and longitudinal studies.
      • Natural Experiment: Looks at naturally occurring events to observe their effects
      • Analogue Experiment: Imitates real-world experiences in a controlled lab setting.
      • Longitudinal Study: Studies the same individuals over an extended period.

    Research Approaches

    • Nomothetic:
      • Focuses on general patterns, categories, and similarities among people in terms of psychopathology
      • Employs quantitative statistical analyses of large-scale data to identify broader trends.
    • Idiographic:
      • Focuses on unique experiences and factors of individual cases of psychopathology.
      • Uses qualitative methods to gain deep understanding of individual journeys.

    Example: Depression

    • Nomothetic:
      • Examines why depression rates are higher in women than men
      • Investigates the efficacy of particular drug therapies in combination with talk therapy
      • Compares prevalence of depression across ethnic groups
    • Idiographic:
      • Explores specific childhood factors contributing to individual instances of depression
      • Aims to identify strategies to help clients change negative self-talk
      • Determines methods to help clients from specific cultural backgrounds feel comfortable.

    Nomothetic or Idiographic?

    • Study of whether high-status individuals have a higher likelihood of personality disorders – Nomothetic
    • Study following a person in rehab after a stroke – Idiographic
    • Study of identical twins; one develops PTSD, the other does not – Idiographic
    • Investigating daily mood of children with a parent in prison – Nomothetic

    Research Methods (General Considerations)

    • Validity:
      • Internal validity: How well a study can isolate the causal variable.
      • External validity: How well a study generalizes results to other people or contexts.

    Case Study

    • In-depth investigation of an individual's life and psychopathology.
    • Usually focuses on unique or unusual individuals.
    • Often idiographic (individual-focused)

    Case Study Advantages

    • Enables detailed examination of several factors contributing to psychopathology
    • Provides insight into the effects of psychopathology in unique or unusual cases.
    • Can suggest insights or leads for developing new therapies, based on a thorough understanding of an individual.

    Case Study Drawbacks

    • Lack of internal validity (difficulty isolating causal factors)
    • Difficult to generalize findings to other people or populations.

    Correlation

    • Analyzes the relationship between two or more factors (co-relation).
    • Types:
      • Positive correlation: as one variable increases, the other increases.
      • Negative correlation: as one variable increases, the other decreases.
      • Strong correlation: Factors closely related or significantly interdependent.
      • Weak correlation: Factors loosely related or only slightly interdependent.

    Correlation Advantages

    • Provides clues of possible relationships between factors, potentially predictive of risk factors.

    Correlation Disadvantages

    • Lack of internal validity; correlations do not imply causation.

    Experiment

    • Deliberate manipulation of one variable to observe its effect on another variable.

    Experiment Advantages

    • Potential for establishing causal relationships.
    • High internal validity (well-controlled conditions usually).

    Experiment Disadvantages

    • Ethical limitations when dealing with psychological manipulation.
    • Important to control for confounds to ensure that only the manipulated variable influences outcomes

    Experiment Disadvantages (Ethical Considerations)

    • Difficulty inducing disorders in individuals to study.
    • Ethical limitations require creative solutions—analogue, natural, longitudinal studies

    Correlational Study vs. Experimental Study

    • Correlational Study: Measures and analyzes variables to examine their relationships. Cannot determine cause. High in external validity, low in internal validity.
    • Experimental Study: Manipulates one variable to see its impact on another. Can determine causality. So-so external validity, high internal validity.

    Quasi-Experiments

    • Causal reasoning is explored. However, full control over variables is not feasible as is the case in true experiments.

    Quasi-Experiments (Types)

    • Analogue experiments: Attempt to create an artificially controlled environment resembling a natural occurrence.
    • Natural experiments: Research design that seeks to take advantage of naturally occurring changes that resemble an experimental design.
    • Longitudinal studies: Examine trends and changes over time.

    Quasi-Experiments and Validity

    • Each type of quasi-experiment presents contrasting merits and demerits regarding internal and external validity.

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    Week 2 - Research Methods in Psychopathology PDF

    Description

    Explore the various research methodologies in psychopathology with this quiz. Discover the differences between nomothetic and idiographic approaches, and dive into the specifics of case studies, correlational, experimental, and quasi-experimental methods. Perfect for students in PSY 2234, this quiz will deepen your understanding of how psychological research is conducted.

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