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You will have learned about the classic study by Rosenhan (1973) - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 3 - 2022 - Paper 2
Question 3
You will have learned about the classic study by Rosenhan (1973). (a) Describe the results of Rosenhan (1973). (b) Explain one strength of Rosenhan (1973). (c) Expla... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:You will have learned about the classic study by Rosenhan (1973) - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 3 - 2022 - Paper 2
Step 1
Describe the results of Rosenhan (1973).
Answer
Rosenhan's study revealed significant implications regarding psychiatric diagnoses. Of the 12 hospitals studied, 11 admitted pseudopatients who claimed to hear voices. Notably, these patients were given a diagnosis of schizophrenia. On average, the length of stay in the hospital for these pseudopatients was 19 days, with a range from 7 to 52 days. Furthermore, in three instances, the pseudopatients' writing behavior was misinterpreted as symptoms of their 'condition' by nurses. In addition, a follow-up experiment found that 41 patients were mistakenly identified as pseudopatients by at least one member of staff, demonstrating a systemic issue in the diagnostic process.
Step 2
Explain one strength of Rosenhan (1973).
Answer
One strength of Rosenhan's study is its use of quantitative, objective data, such as the number of days spent in the hospital. This data allows for a clear comparison with similar studies to evaluate the reliability of the findings. By enabling other researchers to test Rosenhan's results against newer versions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the study enhances the credibility of its claims about the misdiagnosis in psychiatric settings.
Step 3
Explain one improvement that could be made to Rosenhan (1973).
Answer
An improvement that could be made to Rosenhan's study would be to expand the range of hospitals included in the research. Rather than focusing mainly on institutions in the east and west coasts of America, incorporating a more diverse selection of hospitals from various regions would provide a more comprehensive understanding. This could help ensure that the results are representative of broader practices in mental health institutions across the entire United States.