L2: Research methods in clinical psychology

• Research


  A form of investigation aimed at discovering some facts about a topic or about furthering understanding of that topic through careful consideration or study
• Research on spiders


  • Davey (1994) found that spiders had been traditionally linked with the spread of disease and illness—a finding that will help us to understand why fear of spiders is so prevalent in Western societies today
• Scientific method


  A system of investigation in which a person makes careful observations of a phenomenon, proposes theories to explain the phenomenon, makes hypotheses about future behavior and then tests these hypotheses through more research and observation
• Scientific method requires that research findings are replicable and testable
• Theory


  An explanation for a phenomenon based on careful and precise observations
• Hypothesis


  A prediction about future behaviors that is derived from observation and theories
• Four main goals of research

  • Description
  • Prediction
  • Control
  • Understanding
• Etiology


  The causes and origins of psychological symptoms
• Analogue research involves using healthy non-clinical populations in order to shed light on the aetiology of psychopathology
• Evaluation research or clinical audit is the use of research methods to determine whether existing clinical knowledge, skills and resources are effective and are being properly used
• Correlational design


  Research designs which enable a researcher to determine if there is a relationship or association between two or more variables
• Longitudinal study/prospective design


  Measures are taken from the same participants on different occasions usually over an extended period of time
• Epidemiological studies


  The study of the frequency and distribution of disorders within specific populations over a specified period of time
• Experimental design


  Used extensively in research into the etiology of psychopathology, allows the researcher to establish the direction of causal relationships between events
• Experimental group


  Participants exposed to the independent variable
• Control group


  Participants not exposed to the independent variable, compared to the experimental group
• Case study


  An in-depth analysis of one person in which the clinician gathers detailed information about the individual and then attempts to ascertain what light these details may cast on the understanding of the individual's psychopathology
• Survey methods


  A research method that involves collecting information from a selected group of people who are representative of a larger group
• Naturalistic observation


  Observing behaviors as they occur without intervening or altering the behaviors in any way
• Systematic review


  A review of a clearly formulated question that uses systematic and explicit methods to identify, select, and critically appraise relevant research and to collect and analyse data from the studies that are included in the review
• Meta-analysis


  Attempts to detect trends across studies found through systematic review that may have used different procedures, different number of participants, different types of control procedures and different forms of measurement
• Qualitative methods


  Research methods that rely on the analysis of verbal reports rather than on statistical analyses of quantifiable data
• Qualitative methods are becoming increasingly used in clinical psychology research as they are useful for collecting data on everyday feelings and experiences associated with psychopathology
• Ethical issues in clinical psychology research

  • Informed consent
  • Causing distress or withholding benefits
  • Privacy and confidentiality
• Informed consent


  Should include details of the purpose of the study, a description of the procedures the participant will encounter, the duration of the study, who will know about the participant's involvement and whether confidentiality will be maintained, whether participation is voluntary or a payment is being offered, and a clear indication that the participant can withdraw at any time
• In the case of children and adolescents below the age of 17 years, the written consent of the parent or guardian is required as well as either the verbal or written agreement of the child
• Researchers have an obligation to be vigilant throughout a study for any indication that the participant might be experiencing distress and to terminate or suspend the study if this occurs
• Researchers have a legal and moral obligation to consider appropriate action if they believe a crime has been committed or is intended, and in some countries it is mandatory by law to report information about criminal activities such as child abuse