Research Methods in Child Psychopathology

1. Research Methods in Child Psychopathology 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. Skeptism in Child Psychopathology Research • Experts of childhood disorders frequently disagree. • Findings often in conflict with one another. • Research has led to different treatment recommendations, and some treatments have no effect. • Conclusions are often qualified, with no definitive answers.

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

6. Common Research topics • Correlated variables are associated at a particular point in time with no clear proof that one precedes the other. • Risk factor: variable that precedes an outcome of interest and increases the chances that the outcome will occur. • Protective factor: variable that precedes an outcome of interest and decreases the chances that the outcome will occur.

7. Common Research Topics • Outcomes associated with childhood problems. • Interventions • Treatment efficacy • Treatment effectiveness

8. 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.

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

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

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

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

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

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

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

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

19. 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.