PSY 2311st EditionExam # 3 Study Guide Lectures: 17 - 25Lecture 17 (October 21)Examples of Possible Ethical Dilemmas● Psychological benefits of exercise○ benefits: understanding of how exercise affects mood and psychopathology symptoms○ Risks: possibility of injury during exercise○ no more than everyday risk● If there is no benefits, than any risk is too much● Learning from rewards○ benefits: understanding of basic learning processes○ risks: papercuts○ no big risk● Childrens spatial navigation○ benefits: understanding how children process information about the world○ risks: children ages 9-11, they cannot provide informed consent because they are kids. The parent/ guardian has to consentLecture 18 (October 23)Animal Research Today● 20 million animals per year used in science plus industry testing● 95% rodents, also dogs, pigs, primates, insectsPeople Issue Animalyes not whether research is done,but what kindyesyes almost no procedure totally forbidden(upsetting yessituations, shock, surgery, drugs)yes risks (to participant) vs. benefits (to science)yesyes minimizing risks“least risky procedure”yesyes social protection: informed consent and confidentialitynoAnimal Research In Psych● Species specific behavior patterns○ bird songs, mating patterns● Captive animal enrichment○ behavior problems, health management, breeding● General psychological processes○ learning/memory○ neuroscience○ psychopharmacology○ implications for how we understand people in the everyday world○ implications for psychological problems● Comparative psychology○ language and numerical abilities in apes and childrenAnimal Welfare Today: The Players● US government● Animal welfare advocating groups○ humane society○ people for the ethical treatment for animals (PETA)■ “ animals are not ours to wear, eat, for entertainment, or to experiment on”● Terrorist groups○ animal liberation front (ALF)Major Arguments Against Animal Research● Irrelevance○ interspecies generality● Species-ism○ Does might make it right?● Alternatives exist○ “test tube” procedures, test on tissue samples○ computer simulations○ prisoners○ clinical trials● Animals are better off when not in captivity○ define “better off”● All of these have serious problemsRegulation of Animal Research● Animal care and use committee (ACUC)○ housing veterinary care○ research procedures■ benefits vs.pain and suffering■ humane disposalLecture 19 (October 28)Practical Significance● Social importance-- benefits resulting from applying a research result to influence everyday life● Can research results be applied?○ the moon illusion-- moon looks huge at the horizon and as it rises it looks smaller○ ways to use the moon illusion to better peoples lives?■ none, it is true but it doesn't really matter● Should the results be applied?○ is it important for people to see better without their glasses?■ not really○ an effect can be real but trivial○ judging practical significance requires a cost-benefits analysis that is not completely objective○ which problems are most important to solve?○ what benefits if this IV is manipulated in the real world?■ how serious a problem?○ What does it cost to manipulate?■ are there other ways to solve the problem?■ Resource limitations?● Who decides whether research findings will be applied to improve lives?○ public issues affect many people○ stakeholders-- those who are affected, have expertise, or have authority to decide■ citizens■ scientists■ government officials■ professionals○ each have different motivation, knowledge, and ideas about the research implicationsLecture 20 (October 30)How Research Informs Clinical Ethics● Clinical ethics-- treating clients fairly and safely● Research shows that some treatments actually work● If they don’t work and cause active harm(actually make things worse)○ dare program● If they do not work and cause passive harm (Opportunity cost)○ longer discomfort (lost quality of life)○ lost chance to get better● Things that do not work always cause harmTraditional PsychotherapyIndividual chooses therapist therapist chooses treatment therapist bills health insurance● Competence-- clinical insight, the longer you work the better you getNew Accountability for Treatment Effectiveness● Special education laws-- started in the 1970’s, required clear goals and documented progress● De-institutionalization of the mentally ill (1970’s)-- family’s became more responsible for the care of their mentally ill family member● Media age-- better informed consumers● Insurance industry-- managed care, some decisions making shifts from therapist to payer●Insurance Company chooses therapistInsurance Company approves specific treatmentsTherapist bills Insurance Company● Insurance company determines amount paid to the therapist, quality of therapy, and duration of therapyEvidence Based Practice Movement● Emphasis on what works● Empirical-- research determines what works● Testimonials do not count as evidence, nor do…○ case studies○ correlational research○ flawed experimentsDoes Count as Evidence● Good clinical treatments : randomized controlled trials○ IV= treatment○ DV= treatment outcome● Prime evidence= the randomized controlled trial○ subject selection○ subject assignment○ internal validity○ reliable and valid measurement● Experimental design○ presence vs. absence■ no treatment (wait list) control group○ type manipulation■ active treatment (treatment as usual) control group○ amount manipulation■ compare different doses of one treatmentWhy Therapists Should Care About Bad “Evidence Reputation”● It is depressing to be ineffective○ less than 10% of treatment is evidence based● Bad for business● What makes a good therapist○ old days-- clinical experience, intuition○ the evidence based approach-- evidence from clinical research guides choice of therapies○ therapist skills include searching through the literature, and applying the formal rules of evidenceLecture 21 (November 4)Effect Size●Effect Size What Percent of Group 2 Beats Group 1’s MeanPercent of the Experimental Group That are HarmedPercent Helped0 50% 50% 0%.2 58% 42% 8%.5 69% 31% 19%.8 79% 21% 29%1 84% 16% 34%● 2 ways for results to be statistically significant○ almost always true-- really big mean difference +