Psychology Research ques

Psychology Research ques
Running head: PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET 0 Psychological Assessment Worksheet Name University PSYCH/655 Instructor Date Psychological Assessment Worksheet University of Phoenix Material Assessment Worksheet Using the Mental Measurements Yearbook, identify three measures of the constructs you are studying for your research question What is your research question? Example : My research question will be looking at different factors that may increase the risk of an individual developing alcohol addiction. Specifically, does age and environmental setting influence the development of alcohol addiction in others? Write a testable hypothesis for your research question. The testable hypothesis: Ex: of testable hypothesis The testable hypothesis will be that age and a person’s negative environment influence an individual’s of becoming an alcohol addict. Use these Notes to make testable hypothesis: The research topic will be to determine whether environment and age influence drug addiction. Research activities will be to observe the circumstances and environments in which individuals consume drugs . The researchers will seek to assess whether there are unique conditions where people who consume drugs limit themselves to, or do they consume drugs indiscriminately irrespective of their environments. They will also seek to determine if drug addiction can be prevented. If it can, what are the most plausible remedies? Is their effectiveness dependent on age? This research’s null hypothesis states that the tendency of alcohol abuse is dependent on environment factors and age. The alternative hypothesis will be that environment and age do not affect the probability of an individual’s abuse and subsequent addiction by alcohol. The research topic will be to determine whether environment and age influence drug addiction. Research activities will be to observe the circumstances and environments in which individuals consume drugs . The researchers will seek to assess whether there are unique conditions where people who consume drugs limit themselves to, or do they consume drugs indiscriminately irrespective of their environments. They will also seek to determine if drug addiction can be prevented. If it can, what are the most plausible remedies? Is their effectiveness dependent on age? This research’s null hypothesis states that the tendency of substance abuse is dependent on environment factors and age. The alternative hypothesis will be that environment and age do not affect the probability of an individual’s abuse and subsequent addiction of drugs. What constructs is your research question investigating? Examples: Use the paper from last week to complete assignment My constructs of my research question will focus on the types of environments that one lives and and the effects it may have on an individual and their development of drug addiction. The constructs that are going to be in my research question include negative environments such as environments with drug abuse, and looking at the mental and physical effects of an individual that experiences these negative environments and how it relates to their development of alcohol addiction. Using the Mental Measurements Yearbook, provide the following information for three measures of the constructs: What is the test? Include the name and authors. Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI), Miller, G.A. Personal Experience Inventory for Adults (PEI) Author By Ken C. Winters, PhD and George A. Henly, PhD Tony Cellucci and Glenn Gelman, is the Inventory of Drug-Taking Situations (IDTS). How is the test used? Include the target population, how the test is administered, and what information it provides. Test 1 The SASSI is a brief self-report, easily administered psychological screening measure that is available in separate versions for adults and adolescents. The Adult SASS helps identify individuals who have a high probability of having a substance dependence disorder with an overall empirically tested accuracy of 93 percent. The Adolescent SASSI-A2 is designed to identify individuals who have a high probability of having a substance use disorder, including both substance abuse and substance dependence, with its decision rules yielding an overall accuracy of 94 percent. The SASSI includes both face valid and subtle items that have no apparent relationship to substance use. The subtle items are included to identify some individuals with alcohol and other drug problems who are unwilling or unable to acknowledge substance misuse or symptoms associated with it. Support materials for the SASSI include User’s Guides containing easy-to-understand instructions for administering, scoring, interpretation, and Manuals providing comprehensive information on development, reliability, and validity. Target Population Adults and adolescence 12 to 18 Groups for which this instrument might be especially helpful. Inpatient and outpatient settings, including criminal justice, employee assistance, educational, mental health, medical, and vocational Test 2 The PEI is designed to gain information about a person’s abuse problems or patters and is administered to ages 19 and up. Benefits Measures substance abuse patterns and associated psychosocial problems in adults Ages 19 years and up Admin Time 45-60 minutes Format Self-report Norms Provided for two samples: 895 drug clinic patients and 690 nonclinical adults Publish Date 1996 Qualifications Level C required. About Qualification Levels Test 3. The Inventory of Drug-Taking Situations (IDTS). The IDTS is designed to assess and profile detailed situations of individuals who have taken drugs within the year. Drug abuser is the target population. What is known about the test’s psychometric properties, such as reliability and validity? Test 1 SASSI Reliabilities studies have been done and the test and retest measures of reliability were used validity studies were also done and the measures of validity that were derived were Criterion based on predictive motives. Interpretations of the SASSI profiles suggest results are useful in understanding of clients and provides effective feedback. Test 2 The PEI utilizes reliabilities in its measures which include internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The validity of the inventory is confirmed through the comparison scores and affected sampling down on the assessment. Test 3 The IDTS uses correlating scales for a total score with many measures of self-reported consumption, dependence, and social context. The pattern of severity with substance abuse and IDTS involves the Negative Situation scales. The norms for reliability and validity are not presented. Why would the test be useful for your study? The SASSI clinical inferences that may be drawn on the basis of certain scale scores include indication of defensive responding, clients’ level of insight and awareness of the effects of their substance misuse, evidence of emotional pain, and relative risk of involvement with the legal/judicial system. In combination with other available assessment information, the clinical inferences suggested by examining SASSI profiles ALSO provide INFORMATION FOR NEEDED further evaluation and treatment considerations. The PEI will help identify different effects addiction has had as well as the issues and trends associated with addiction. The IDTS will assist with identifying addiction and social/environmental factors for addicts. rEFERENCE Miller, G.A. (1985, 1999). The Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI) Manual, Second Edition. Springville, IN: The SASSI Institute
Psychology Research ques
SETTING UP YOUR RESEARCH Setting Up Your Research Psych 665/Integrative Capstone: Psychology Past and Present University Professor May, 2017 Exercise 1.1: Discovering the Subject of your interest Drug and substance use has traditionally been a difficult disease to control and eradicate from the society. While its effects are often far reaching, it often creeps up on individuals. Ultimately, it can rob individuals of the control of their thought process and in some cases their life once it becomes an addiction. With an addiction comes health issues as well as socio-economic consequences. Some individual put their family, relationships, and means of livelihood at risks. For example, a young man who may start taking drugs at a party to get in the mood ma y st art to tak e m ore q u a n ti t ie s o f t h e su bst ance to achieve a specific ‘high’ they want. Eventually, th ei r ability to be productive gradually fades, For this reason, the study of how drug and substance abuse can be tamed and brought to the minimum is crucial in any given society. Given that substance abuse is a worldwide problem, any useful insight gathered through research, would be immensely beneficial to humanity. The findings and recommendations of this research would be disseminated all over the globe to help ills caused by this epi demic. All people need to be counseled on the evils of drug abuse and inevitable addiction. Exercise 1.2 Understanding the personal viewpoint Every societal problem has its root in certain social or intrapersonal circumstances. Substance abuse, like other challenges encountered by huma nit y, does not exist in isolation. In fact, almost all individuals have relatives, friends, or acquaintances that have been affected by substance abuse. Whether they are affected directly or indirectly, everyone can find a way to look at substance abuse and drug addiction from the perspective of the person abusing the substance. This knowledge is vital in achieving the endeavor to minimize substance abu se and its effects. While a general understanding of what factors lead to substance use, it is necessary to go an extra mile to find the specific reasons that cause each individual to abuse drugs. For example, some people get into the habit as a result of peer pressure, the need to fit in, others due to depression and others as deviant behavior. While these are broad classifications, individuals have different st ories (Horvath, Misra, Epner, & Cooper, 2015). To win the battle against substance, both preventive and restorative measures must be exercised. Each of these measures, need those in charge of t he activities to get down to the nuances of each case. This way, they will have a chance of success helping individuals. Exercise 1.3 Selecting the focus of your study To efficiently find the underlying causes of drug abuse, one needs to understand behavioral tendencies that help develop the idea. More importantly, is necessary to comprehend that habits develop over time. For this reason, the focus group of this study would consist of drug addicts who are either adults or young adults. Compared to teenagers, individuals in this group are more likely to have abused drugs over a significant period. Lengthy periods of time are necessary for the levels of accuracy the data collected. For instance, there is a lot one can study from a 40 years old drug addict than can be learned from a mere 20 year’s ol d addict. The body of the former and experiences will be more pronounced than tha t of the latter. The other focus is that traditionally younger generations have learned to abuse drugs from older generations. Therefore, it would make sense that by attempting to diagnosing and helping the elder generations, the younger generations will benefit as well (Horvath, Misra, Epner, & Cooper, 2015). For the most part, this will be a preventive measure. That said, all groups, including the teenagers, are essential for this study. However, the adults are the primary focus group for this research. Exercise 1.4: Developing your interest statement Like illustrated above, substance abuse is not a habit that develops solely on its own. It requires contributing factors, which will push or pull an individual in that direction. For a long time, it has been observed that patterns of drug abuse occur in certain neighborhoods, families, and communities. It has also been found that people abuse drugs within groups of individuals who are roughly of the same age. These observations have lead sociologists and psychologist to theorize that environment and age have a bearing on the propensity of an individual that abuse drugs. However, the parallels go much deeper than environmental and age considerations. Familial settings, for example, influence on whether children born in a family of drug abuse, will abuse drugs or not. This point highlights the role of parenting by parents and close relatives. Cohesive families have very little tendencies of its members fall ing victims to drug abuse. Exercise 1.5: Research and Null Hypothesis The research topic will be to determine whether environment and age influence drug addiction. Research activities will be to observe the circumstances and environments in which individuals consume drugs. The researchers will seek to assess whether there are unique conditions where people who consume drugs limit themselves to, or do they consume drugs indiscriminately irrespective of their environments. They will also seek to determine if drug addiction can be pre vented. If it can, what are the most plausible remedies? Is their effectiveness dependent on age? This research’s null hypothesis states that the tendency of alcohol abuse is dependent on environment factors and age. The alternative hypothesis will be that environment and age do not affect the probability of an individual’s abuse and subsequent addiction by alcohol. References Horvath, T., Misra, K., Epner, A., & Cooper, G. (2015). Psychological Causes of Addiction – Addictions. Amhc.org. Retrieved 1 May 2017, from http://www.amhc.org/1408-addictions/article/48345-psychological-causes-of-addiction