Design
This experiment was a 3 x 2 mixed factorial design. The first independent variable had 3 levels representing participant training (psychiatry, psychology and no training) x the second independent variable, which had two levels representing conceptualization of depression (biological conceptualization and psychological conceptualization). The dependent variable of the study was participants’ rated likelihood of recovery from depression for affected individuals (described in vignettes), represented by scores on a measurement scale constructed specifically for this experiment.
Participants
Participants were volunteers (n = 180), including psychiatrists, psychologists and college students assigned to either a biological or psychological …show more content…
Participants completed informed consent procedures then submitted information pertaining to their training (psychiatry, psychology, no training). Participants within each population sample (psychiatrists, psychologists and college students) were assigned to either the biological conceptualization of depression group or the psychological conceptualization of depression group via blocked randomization. Each group received one of the two vignettes to read (containing a story where a clinician explains to their client the nature of their depression either as biological or psychological in nature). After reading the vignettes participants then answered 3 questionnaires including: (1) a scale measuring the likelihood of recovery for the affected individual described in the vignettes, (2) a scale measuring participants’ beliefs about biological or psychological conceptualizations of the nature of depression, and, (3) a scale measuring if participant’s orientation was more biological or psychological. After reading the assigned vignettes and filling out the corresponding questionnaires participants were then debriefed about the nature of the experiment and thanked for their