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Social Science Psychology Loose-leaf Version for Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology

The strengths and weaknesses of structured interviews, and the strengths and weaknesses of unstructured interviews. Concept introduction: Interviews can be either unstructured or structured, and while most clinical interviews include both portions, many clinicians from different theoretical perspectives tend to favor one over the other. However, while these clinicians may have their own preferences over which type of interview to use, each of these interview formats have both their strengths and weaknesses. In an unstructured interview, the questions clinicians ask are mostly open-ended, and the lack of structure permits the interviewer to investigate unanticipated yet pertinent topics. This interview format typically appeals most to psychodynamic and humanistic clinicians. In a structured interview, clinicians ask specific, prepared questions. Sometimes a published interview schedule—a standard set of questions—are used. A lot of structured interviews also include a mental status exam, which contains questions and observations that systematically evaluate certain aspects of an individual’s mentation. This format ensures that clinicians will review the same types of significant issues in all of their interviews and allows them to compare each individual’s responses. Behavioral and cognitive clinicians tend to favor this format more. Although interviews often provide invaluable details about people, they have their limitations, which can include low reliability or validity, a high social desirability bias, inaccurate or inconsistent responses, or an experimenter’s biases or mistakes resulting in misinterpretations.

The strengths and weaknesses of structured interviews, and the strengths and weaknesses of unstructured interviews. Concept introduction: Interviews can be either unstructured or structured, and while most clinical interviews include both portions, many clinicians from different theoretical perspectives tend to favor one over the other. However, while these clinicians may have their own preferences over which type of interview to use, each of these interview formats have both their strengths and weaknesses. In an unstructured interview, the questions clinicians ask are mostly open-ended, and the lack of structure permits the interviewer to investigate unanticipated yet pertinent topics. This interview format typically appeals most to psychodynamic and humanistic clinicians. In a structured interview, clinicians ask specific, prepared questions. Sometimes a published interview schedule—a standard set of questions—are used. A lot of structured interviews also include a mental status exam, which contains questions and observations that systematically evaluate certain aspects of an individual’s mentation. This format ensures that clinicians will review the same types of significant issues in all of their interviews and allows them to compare each individual’s responses. Behavioral and cognitive clinicians tend to favor this format more. Although interviews often provide invaluable details about people, they have their limitations, which can include low reliability or validity, a high social desirability bias, inaccurate or inconsistent responses, or an experimenter’s biases or mistakes resulting in misinterpretations.

Loose-leaf Version for Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology

Loose-leaf Version for Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology

8th Edition

ISBN: 9781464177002

Author: Ronald J. Comer

Publisher: Worth Publishers

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