The Alaska Psychological Association regularly receives requests to survey the association’s members and affiliates. However, listserv guidelines do not allow research recruitment and so requests are instead placed on this list of research projects actively recruiting in Alaska. To be added to this list, please complete the Research Request Form at the bottom of the page. Projects will be removed after 6 months. Note, the Alaska Psychological Association does not endorse any listed research project listed below.
Abstract
This quantitative study seeks to gather information on how therapists and clinicians respond to learning about ethical violations within their field involving sexual boundary violation. (A sexual boundary violation includes any ethics violation involving actual or attempted sexual contact with a current or former client.) It will test the hypothesis that the majority of clinicians, when learning about a sexual boundary violation by another clinician, will not report it to an ethics board or other governing body. Information on this topic will be gathered via anonymous online questionnaire.
The questionnaire will include: the participant demographic questions, questions regarding their experience learning about a sexual boundary violation by another clinician, questions regarding actions they took in response, and the open-ended question, “Is there anything else you would like to say about this topic?” The questionnaire should take between 5 and 20 minutes to complete. Identifying information and contact information will not be collected on the online questionnaire for the purposes of protecting participants’ confidentiality.
IRB Name and Project Number
The study was approved by the Wright Institute Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects; 06201804
Participant Link with Informed Consent Information
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4006114/Ethics-and-Reporting
Abstract
Throughout the years, the rate of diagnosis of ADHD has gradually been increasing. Studies have shown that symptoms of ADHD can mimic presentations seen in other disorders. For instance, children experiencing anxiety or other mood disorders may also exhibit difficulties with concentration and off-task behavior. Thus, proper diagnosis can be challenging for healthcare providers who often find themselves engaging in heuristic processing when determining whether a child or adolescent meets diagnostic criteria for ADHD. Specifically, the literature suggests that healthcare providers have a tendency to weigh their diagnostic criteria according to their subjective assumptions about the disorder rather than weighing their diagnostic decision according to The Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) criteria. These heuristics play a role in their clinical judgement and biases the diagnoses they develop. Hence, their ability to accurately diagnose ADHD is impaired. Combined challenges of other disorders mimicking ADHD-like symptoms, in addition to healthcare providers engaging in a heuristic process when diagnosing, have been suggested to lead to over-diagnosis for both children and adolescents. Misdiagnosing an individual, especially a child or adolescent, with ADHD has the potential to negatively affect their emotional well-being, as well as their self-esteem due to the potentially unnecessary treatments, while potentially precluding more pertinent and necessary interventions. Given the increase of ADHD diagnoses among younger children, it is crucial to continue the evaluation of the potential issue of over-diagnosis.
While substantial research has been conducted on ADHD-related symptoms and intervention strategies, literature regarding the ADHD-focused diagnosis strategies of clinical psychologists is limited. Therefore, it is essential to assess clinical psychologists, with a focus on what strategies and guidelines they use to assess in order to determine the level of proper diagnosis.
As a step toward understanding diagnostic practices, this current ongoing study investigates whether ADHD is over-diagnosed in children and adolescents in the United States by clinical psychologists. Specifically, this study will evaluate the rate of ADHD diagnosis using case vignettes that may or may not depict a child with the disorder. Additionally, this study aims to determine whether gender of the child impact a clinician’s diagnostic judgment. This study also will examine possible factors among clinicians that may contribute to the potential over-diagnosis of the disorder (e.g., level of experience, knowledge of ADHD-specific guidelines from AAP).
IRB Name and Project Number
Midwestern University IRB Approval. Project received exempt status and thus does not have a number.
Participant Link with Informed Consent Information
https://redcap.midwestern.edu/surveys/?s=YCPHLKTEKH
