(See related pages)
After reading and studying this chapter and participating in lecture and discussion, students should be able to:
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Explain the challenges inherent in researching abnormal behavior and approaches for overcoming many of these obstacles. |
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Define and distinguish between a primary hypothesis and a null hypothesis. |
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Define and distinguish between independent and dependent variables. |
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Explain the concept of operationalization. |
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Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of case studies. |
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Describe and distinguish among continuous variable, group comparison, cross-sectional, longitudinal, epidemiological, human laboratory, therapy outcome, single-case experimental, and animal studies, as well as the strengths and limitations of each type of study. |
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Explain why it is important to have a representative sample. |
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Discuss what third variables are and how they may be minimized or eliminated. |
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Explain why it can be important to match research participants on certain variables when comparing two groups. |
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Discuss what "significant differences" are between groups, and how significance is determined. |
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Define and distinguish between the prevalence and incidence of a psychological disorder. |
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Define and distinguish among control groups, placebo control groups, wait list control groups, and experimental groups, and explain the circumstances in which each would be appropriate and why (with regard to therapy outcome studies). |
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Define and distinguish between treatment efficacy and treatment effectiveness. |
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Discuss the ethical problems raised by human laboratory, therapy outcome, and animal studies and ways in which researchers attempt to avoid these problems. |
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Discuss the value of cross-cultural research and the challenges inherent in conducting such research. |
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Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of meta-analysis. |