Abnormal Psychology Chapter #4 – Flashcards
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dependent variable
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in an experimental study, the phenomenon that is measured and expected to be influenced
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external validity
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extent to which research findings generalize, or apply, to people and settings not involved in the study
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hypothesis
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educated guess or statement to be tested by research
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internal validity
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extent to which the results of a study can be attributed to the independent variable after confounding alternative explanations have been ruled out
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independent variable
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phenomenon manipulated by the experiment in a study and expected to influence the dependent variable
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research design
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plan of experimentation used to test a hypothesis
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testability
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ability of a hypothesis, for example, to be subjected to scientific scrutiny and to be accepted or rejected, a necessary condition for the hypothesis to be useful
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analog model
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approach to research that employs subjects who are similar to clinical clients, allowing replication of a clinical problem under controlled conditions
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confound
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any factor occurring in a study that makes the results uninterpretable because its effects cannot be separated from those of the variables being studied
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confounding variable
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variable in a research study that was not part of the intended design and that may contribute to changes in the dependent variable
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control group
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group of individuals in a study who are similar to the experimental subjects in every way but are not exposed to the treatment received by the experimental group. their presence allows for a comparison of the differential effects of the treatment
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generalizability
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extent to which research results apply to a range of individuals not included in the study
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randomization
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method for placing individuals into research groups that assures each an equal chance of being assigned to any group, thus eliminating any systematic differences across groups
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case study method
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research procedure in which a single person or small group is studied in detail. the method does not allow conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships, and findings can be generalized only with great caution (contrast with single-case experimental designs)
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clinical significance
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degree to which research findings have useful and meaningful applications to real problems
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effect size
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statistical measure that shows the amount of difference among the members of a group in a clinical study
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patient uniformity in myth
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tendency to consider all members of a category as more similar than they are, ignoring their individual differences
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statistical significance
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probability that obtaining the observed research findings merely by chance is small
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correlation
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degree to which two variables are associated. in positive correlation, the two variables increase or decrease together. in a negative correlation, one variable decreases as the other increases
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correlation coefficient
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computed statistic reflecting the strength and direction of any association between the two variables
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positive correlation
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association between two variables in which one increases as the other increases
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directionality
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possibility that when two variables, A and B, are correlated variable A causes variable B or variable B causes variable A
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epidemiology
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psychopathology research method examining the prevalence, distribution, and consequences of disorders in population
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negative correlation
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association between two variables in which one increases as the other decreases
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experiment
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research method that can establish causation by manipulating the variables in question and controlling for alternative explanation of any observed effects
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placebo control group
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in an outcome experiment, a control group that does not receive the experimental manipulation but is given a similar procedure with an identical expectation of change, allowing the researcher to assess any placebo effect
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placebo effect
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behavior change resulting from the person's expectation of change rather than from the experimental manipulation itself
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comparative treatment research
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outcome research that contrasts two or more treatment methods to determine which is most effective
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double-blind control
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procedure in outcome studies that prevents bias by ensuring that neither the subjects nor the providers of the experimental treatment know who is receiving treatment and who is receiving placebo
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repeated measurement
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when responses are measured on more than two occasions (not just before and after intervention) to assess trends
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single-case experimental design
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research tactic in which an independent variable is manipulated for a single individual, allowing for cause-and-effect conclusions but with limited generalizability (contrast with case study method)
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baseline
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measured rate of behavior before introduction of an intervention that allows comparison and assessment of the effects of the intervention
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level
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degree of behavior change with different interventions (for example, high or low)
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trend
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direction of change of a behavior or behaviors (for example, increasing or decreasing)
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variability
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degree of change in a phenomenon over time
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withdrawal design
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removing a treatment to note whether it has been effective. in single-case experimental designs, a behavior is measured (baseline), an independent variable is introduced (intervention), and then the intervention is withdrawn. because the behavior continues to be measured throughout (repeated measurement), any effects of the intervention can be noted. also called reversal design
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genotype
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specific genetic makeup of an individual
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multiple baseline
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single-case experimental design in which measures are taken on two or more behaviors or on a single behavior in two or more situations. a particular intervention is introduced for each at different times. if behavior change is coincident with each introduction, this is strong evidence the intervention caused the change
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phenotype
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observable characteristics or behaviors of an individual
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endophenotypes
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genetic mechanisms that contribute to the underlying problems causing the symptoms and difficulties experienced by people with psychological disorders
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human genome project
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ongoing scientific attempt to develop a comprehensive map of all human genes
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adoption studies
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in genetics research, the study of first-degree relatives reared in different families and environments. if they share common characteristics, such as a disorder, this finding suggests that those characteristics have a genetic component
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family studies
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genetic studies that examine patterns of traits and behaviors among relatives
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genetic linkage analysis
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study that seeks to match the inheritance pattern of a disorder to that of a genetic marker. this helps researchers establish the location of the gene responsible for the disorder
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proband
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in genetics research, the individual displaying the trait or characteristic being studied
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twin studies
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in genetics research, the comparison of twins with unrelated or less closely related individuals. if twins, particularly monozygotic twins who share identical genotypes, share common characteristics such as a disorder, even if they were reared in different environments, this is strong evidence of genetic involvement in those characteristics
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association studies
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research strategies for comparing genetic markers in groups of people without a particular disorder
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genetic marker
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inherited characteristic for which the chromosomal location of the responsible gene is known
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cohort
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participants in each age group of a study with a cross-sectional design
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cohort effect
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observation that people of different age groups differ in their values and experiences
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cross-sectional design
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methodology to examine a characteristic by comparing individuals of different ages
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longitudinal design
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systematic study of changes in the same individual or group examined over time
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retrospective information
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literally "the view back;" data collected by examining records or recollections of the past. it is limited by the accuracy, validity, and thoroughness of the sources
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cross-generational effect
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limit on the generalizability of longitudinal research because the group under study may differ from others in culture and experience
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sequential design
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combination of the cross-sectional and longitudinal designs involving repeated study of different cohorts over time
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informed consent
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ethical requirement whereby research subjects agree to participate in a study only after they receive full disclosure about the nature of the study and their own role in it
