Health Psychology

The Health Psychology section of the syllabus is divided in 6 topics, which include sub-topics and studies that need to be known for the exam: a) The patient-practitioner relationship: • practitioner and patient interpersonal skills - Non-verbal communications (e.g. McKinstry and Wang); verbal communications (e.g. McKinlay, 1975; Ley, 1988). • patient and practitioner diagnosis and …

Debates

Determinism vs Free Will Determinism:   Belief that human behaviour is determined by factors that they cannot control; therefore, it is predictable. Mainly Behaviourist approach. Hard determinism – behaviour is controlled by one factor. Soft determinism – behaviour is controlled by general laws, which allows free will to come into play in some situation. Free will:  Belief …

Issues

Ecological Validity: The extent to which the setting of a study can be relevant to everyday life. For example, research conducted in a laboratory experiment may be considered low in ecological validity because it is not a setting humans are used to. The concept is that the more familiar a setting is, the lesser chance …

Ethical Issues

Protection of participants: Psychologists must ensure that no physical or mental harm is done to the participants during the research and that they leave the study i the same state they entered it. Informed consent: Participants must be informed about the nature of the study and agree to participate. However, researchers may decide not to …

Sampling Strategies

In order to get a sample, the researcher needs to decide on a target population, which are the group of people that the psychologist would like to study in the hope that the findings can be generalisable to and representative of that population. Random sampling: Involves every participant in the target populating having an equal chance …

Experimental Designs

Repeated Measures The same participants are used across all the conditions in a research.  + Eliminates any effect of participant variables as all participants take part in all conditions; therefore, it is more controlled. The results are less likely to be affected individual differences. + It requires fewer participants, making it easier to carry out …

Research Methods

Experiments: Laboratory experiments: Researchers control as many variables as possible. They can be conducted anywhere if they are controlled. Strengths: High level of control. It can be repeated. The cause and effect of the phenomenon can be easily spotted. Scientific equipment can be used easily – no need of hiding from participants. Weaknesses: The experimenter …