Introduction

This lesson will cover research as conducted by clinical psychologists.

Clinical psychology uses scientific methods and empirical studies to answer clinical issues. A fundamental aspect of clinical psychological research is a focus on mental illness that creates a foundation for the field (Pomerantz, 2020). Although there may be overlap in the way in which clinical psychologists and other kinds of psychologists conduct research, it's important to understand the foundations upon which mental illness is understood and treated.

Lesson Objectives

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to

• identify the basics of clinical research methods and how they are used to test clinical interventions,
• distinguish between different study designs that are used by clinical psychologists, and
• recognize the ethical issues inherent in clinical research with humans.

Lesson Readings and Activities

By the end of this lesson, make sure you have completed the readings and activities found in the Course Schedule.