Research Methods in Clinical Psychology

1. Research Methods in Clinical Psychology Carolyn R. Fallahi, Ph. D.

2. Why do research? • We can avoid speculation. • Is a particular technique really effective? • Research also helps us extend and modify our theories. • Example of Beck’s theory of depression.

3. Methods • Observation versus unsystematic observation • Unsystematic Observation • Naturalistic Observation • Case Studies • The Case of Dora • The Case of Little Hans • The Three Faces of Eve • The Mask of Sanity • Cases in Behavior Modification

4. Epidemiological Research • The study of the: • incidence • prevalence • distribution of illness or disease in a given population. • Mostly done with surveys and interviews.

5. Potential Problems with Survey Data • How do we define mental illness? • How do we locate these cases? • How do we handle less serious forms of the illness? • Sampling issues. • Issues of social desirability. • (Henry, Moffitt, Caspi, Langley, & Silva, 1994)

6. The latest in Epidemiological Studies that are methodologically sound. • Kessler et al (1994) • Obtain estimates of the 12 month and lifetime prevalence of a number of mental disorders. • Gender differences.

7. Correlational Methods • Are particular patient characteristics related to therapy outcomes? • What is correlation? • The issue of causality. • Factor Analysis

8. Cross-sectional versus Longitudinal Approaches • Cross-sectional • Longitudinal

9. Experimental Method • Cause and effect relationships • Langer & Rodin (1976) study • The issue of matching. • Experimental hypothesis. • Independent & Dependent Variables. • Controlling for extraneous variables.

10. Between versus Within Group Designs • Between: 1 group receives the treatment; the other does not. • Random Assignment. • Within group: comparisons might be made on the same patient at different points in time. • Example.

11. Analog Research • The question: are studies in the laboratory analogous to real life? • The benefits of analog research. • For example: constructing the way they think phobias occur. • Almost all experimental studies are analog studies. • Issue: ethical restraints. • Other benefits: better internal validity.

12. Single-case design • Similar to both experimental and case study methods. • A subject’s behavior is measured under several conditions. • Baseline – measure – intervention – measure. • Positive use – in the clinical setting & reduces the numbers needed.

13. ABAB Design • A=initial baseline period • B=treatment period • A=return to the baseline • B=second treatment period.

14. Multiple Baseline Designs • Example of a baseline design. • Ethical issues. • Moras, Telfer, & Barlow (1993)

15. Mixed Design • Experimental & correlational techniques are sometimes combined. • Davidson et al (2004).

16. Statistical Significance • Statistical versus practical significance. • .05 is a scientific tradition. • Significant but meaningful?

17. Ethics in Research • Approval by the IRB. • Informed consent. • Use of deception. • The issues of inducements. • Publishing issues. • Informing research participants about how the data will be used. • Animal use.