Research Methods in Clinical Psychology PDF

Research Methods in Clinical Psychology Introduction to the Research Process Theoretical Foundations of Quantitative Research  Introduction Perceptions about Research Methods Story-telling using research Research Philosophy The Research Process...

Research Methods in Clinical Psychology Introduction to the Research Process Theoretical Foundations of Quantitative Research  Introduction Perceptions about Research Methods Story-telling using research Research Philosophy The Research Process 2  Perceptions about Research Process Feelings towards conducting research? Feelings towards consuming research? Feelings towards communicating research? 3 Research as a Story 4  Research as a Story e a r c h Res Results!! Methodology Discussion Hypothesis Generation Study Design Interpretation of findings Introduction Implications 5  Research as a Story e a r c h Res Results!! Methodology Discussion Hypothesis Generation Study Design Interpretation of findings Introduction Implications 6  Research as a Story Methodology = setting the story Roots from philosophical approaches to understanding – Falsifiability and tiny green men – Plato/rationalism vs. Aristotle/empiricism – Where is the field of psychology? 7  Research as a Story Variations in approaches – Quantitative – Qualitative Methodological Pluralism – Different genres of the story! – Ex. Predicting marriage satisfaction 8 Quant Approaches = Measurement How to measure – Ex. ??? 9  Operationalization Operational Definition – Ex. “Therapeutic Alliance” – Clinical definition – Operational definition 10 Operational Definitions of Complex Constructs Operationalism – Ex. Social Skills = scores on SSI – Strongly critiqued Converging Operations – Ex. Social Skills “indicators,” such as eye contact, vocal confidence, openness, etc. 11  Positivism August Comte (1830) Main tenets: 1. Our scientific attention should be limited to positive events (i.e., observable, present, granted). “Inferred constructs” 2. Physical science methods should = social science methods 3. Science should be objective and value free 12  Positivism Positivism -> Methodological behaviorism – Emphasis on observation – Ignorance of “private events” – Ex. Defining fear, love, and interpersonal trust using methodological behaviorism? Clinical Psych: Bx assessment movement – Control for 1970’s clinical inferences 13  Critics of Positivism Overly restrictive of what we can study, and how we can study Overly reductive approach to quantifying human experience – opposed by humanists and existentialists 14  Perspectives on Research 4 Epistemological positions – Correspondence theory – Coherence theory – Pragmatic criterion – Consensus criterion 15  Perspectives on Research Main classification of research: – Basic (pure) research – Applied research Action research Evaluation research 16  Practitioner Models Intuitive Practitioner Scientist-Practitioner Applied Scientist Local Clinical Scientist Evidence-Based Practitioner Clinical Scientist Practice-Based Evidence Model 17  Practitioner Models The Intuitive Practitioner – Challenge of research evidence in favor of “clinical evidence” – Ethical considerations? – Professional representation 18  Practitioner Models The Scientist-Practitioner – a.k.a. the “Boulder” model in the U.S. – a.k.a. the “Applied Scientist” model in the U.K. – Popular self-declaration for PhD and internship sites – Limitations 19  Practitioner Models The Applied Scientist – Born from U.K. work – Integration of clinical and research practices – Principally clinicians – Limitations 20  Practitioner Models The Clinical Scientist – Emphasizes the production of research – Background in experimental or epidemiological research – Common to not practice – Limitations 21  Doing the Groundwork of Research  Groundwork Your research topic is/(should be) your autonomous choice 23  Groundwork Intrinsic research interest – Sustain motivation – Benefit of experiential knowledge Extrinsic research interest – Unrealistic topics – Low motivation – Emphasis on “hot topics” 24  Groundwork Choosing your topic – Intrinsic interest – Stimulate by clinical work – Personal life exp 25  Hy Testing =/= Research Question Hypothesis – Specifics about predictions – Hypothetico-deductive view – Confirmatory Research Questions – Exploratory – Discovery-oriented 26