Research Design and Methods Coverage in CLP Courses

Research design and methods coverage is distributed across the Clinical and Health Psychology curriculum. The table below indicates topical coverage that occurs in our four research design/measurement and statistics classes. Additional research design material will be covered in substantive classes and supervised research experiences, and is not listed here.

Course code: 0 = CLP 7934 (Thesis Development); 1 = CLP 6527, 2 = CLP 6528, 3 = CLP 6529, 4 = CLP 7525

Topic Course Week
Key scientific/research concepts
Theory, models 1 1
Replication and inference 1 2
Threats to internal and external validity 1 2
Sources of variation 1 3
Loose research protocols as a source of extraneous variation 1 4
Primary versus secondary data 1 4
“New statistics”: The emphasis on effect size, confidence intervals, and diminution of null hypothesis statistical testing 2 8
Equivalency is not the absence of difference 2 9
Categorical versus continuous variables (levels of measurement) 2 9
Diagnostic ratios and clinical accuracy 2 10
Unexpected heterogeneity and subgroups in data 2 13
Concepts of reliability, validity, and multi-trait/multi-method designs 2 14
The concept of the latent variable 3 8
Conceptualizing change and reliable change 4 1
Trajectory concepts 4 2
Research designs
Correlational versus experimental research designs 1 8
Group comparison designs 2 1
Case Control vs. Cohort Designs 2 10
Multivariate versus univariate designs 3 1
Multi-level/nested research designs 3 5
Practical research tools and skills
Library as Research Support 0 1
Thesis components 0 1
Scientific writing 0 2
NIH proposals 0 2
Specific Aims 0 5, 6, 7
Hypotheses and analysis plans 0 9,10,11
Individual Development Plans 0 2,3
IRBs 0 5