Classic Clinical Study- Rosenhan (1973)

?
Aim
To investigate the reliability of staff in psychiatric hospitals to identify the sane from the insane
1 of 17
Sample
Volunteer, 8 sane people, 3 females and 5 males, mixed professions, from painter to psychologist (inc Rosenhan)
2 of 17
Procedure 1
Contacted 12 hospitals, complained that they heard the words like 'thud', 'empty', 'hollow', the voice was unfamiliar but same gender as them, then once they were admitted they had to act totally normally & observe the way they are treated etc
3 of 17
How many were admitted and what were they diagnosed with?
All 8 of them, 7 with Sz and 1 with bipolar
4 of 17
Were the pseudo-patients allowed to be discharged?
None of the staff detected that they were pseudo and they were not allowed to be released until they were discharged as fit to be discharged
5 of 17
Did anyone suspect the pseudo-patients?
No staff and 35 out of 118 patients
6 of 17
What were the results?
Shortest stay: 7, longest stay: 52, average stay: 19, PP not detected by staff but detected by 35 real patients, one pp was released with the diagnosis "Sz in remission" not as sane
7 of 17
Observation results
Nurses stayed in ward offices 90% of the time, patients spent less than 7 mins a day with staff, normal behaviour was labeled (note taking was writing behaviour), lack of rights, choice and privacy
8 of 17
When the PP asked a simple question to the nurses and attendants, what did they observe?
88% ignored them, 10% made eye contact, 2% stopped for a chat
9 of 17
When PP asked the psychiatrists a simple request, what did they observe?
71% ignored them, 23% made eye contact and 2% stopped for a chat
10 of 17
Procedure 2, the follow up study
Rosenhan told them that over the 3 months, 1 or more pseudo-patients will attempt to be admitted into the hospital, staff had to rate the patients from 1-10 to show the likelihood of them being a pseudopatient
11 of 17
Results 2
193 patients assessed, 41 rated pseudo by staff, 23 rated as pseudo by psychiatrist, 19 by both
12 of 17
How many pseudo patients were sent in?
None, so they all guessed wrong
13 of 17
What did Rosenhan conclude?
That in the main study they were unable to detect the sane and in the follow up study they were unable to detect the insane (false positive & false negative), cannot distinguish the sane from the insane
14 of 17
Ethics
Use of labelling, obtaining consent from PPs as they didn't know for certain they will stay for so long
15 of 17
Practical issues and debates
Good mix of both quantitative and qualitative evidence
16 of 17
Reductionism
htr
17 of 17

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Sample

Back

Volunteer, 8 sane people, 3 females and 5 males, mixed professions, from painter to psychologist (inc Rosenhan)

Card 3

Front

Procedure 1

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

How many were admitted and what were they diagnosed with?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Were the pseudo-patients allowed to be discharged?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Psychology resources:

See all Psychology resources »See all Health and clinical psychology resources »