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Methodology: Dysfunctional Behaviour

Methodology: Dysfunctional Behaviour. Methodology. Case Studies Correlational Methods Experimental Methods General limitations. I. Case Studies. Famous Examples: 1. Little Hans 2. Anna O.

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Methodology: Dysfunctional Behaviour

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  1. Methodology:Dysfunctional Behaviour

  2. Methodology • Case Studies • Correlational Methods • Experimental Methods • General limitations

  3. I. Case Studies • Famous Examples: • 1. Little Hans • 2. Anna O. Today, we typically do in-depth studies of a patient with a particular disorder (usually including treatment).

  4. Case Studies: Useful because... • May provide support or challenge theories • Source of new ideas for therapy • Opportunity to study unusual problem that is too uncommon to do general observations & comparisons

  5. Case Studies:Limitations • Observer may be biased & selective • Issues being studied often involve countless variables in a person's life • May not be able to generalize to others, even if problems appear to be similar

  6. II. Correlational Method • Systematically observe the extent to which events or characteristics vary together.

  7. Correlational Method • Allows us to draw broad conclusions: • Observe numerous individuals • Uniform procedures to allow replication • Analyze results w/ statistical methods • Only allows for description -- does not explain causality

  8. Correlational Studies:2 Special Forms • Epidemiological studies • Incidence = # of new cases that emerge in a population w/in a time interval • Prevalence = # of cases that exist in a population at a given time • Helps to identify groups at risk

  9. Correlational Studies:Two Special Forms • Longitudinal Studies • Characteristics or behaviours of the same subject(s) are observed on many occasions over a long period of time. • Ex: observe normal children w/ parent who has schizophrenia -- do they develop the disorder or other problems? • Cannot infer causality

  10. Experimental Method • Quasi-Experimental Design: • Make use of existing groups • Compare group w/ existing characteristic to group w/out it • Try to control other variables by matching control groups on as many other characteristics as possible • Still may have confounding variables

  11. Experimental Method • Analogue experiment • Subjects induced to behave in ways that are analogous to real-life abnormal behaviour • Often use animals for ethical reasons • Ex: Seligman & learned helplessness • Ecological validity -- same as real life?

  12. Experimental Method • Single-subject experiment • Baseline is observed before manipulation of an independent variable (usually treatment) • Observe again after IV • Similar to case study, but IV is controlled

  13. Experimental Method • Controlling confounds in all experimental methods: • Control groups -- not exposed to IV, but otherwise similar • Random assignment -- selection into two groups is random • Blind design -- use of placebo; do not tell participants or observers about groups

  14. General limitations of clinical investigation • Needs and rights of patients • Human functioning is very complex • Self awareness may influence results • Investigator has special link to subjects

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