Pearson BTEC National Applied Psychology: Book 2

A2 Theories of stress, behavioural addiction and physiological addiction Studies: Key principles and critical evaluation of studies investigating psychological theories, to include critique of assumptions, methodology and ethics. ● Health belief model: Becker et al. (1978) Compliance with a medical regimen for asthma. Carpenter (2010) A meta-analysis of the effectiveness of health belief model variables in predicting behaviour. Specification content Here is an issue for lots of theories and models in psychology. If research shows that a part of a theory is wrong, does that undermine the whole theory? If barriers and benefits are more important than susceptibility and seriousness, should we abandon the health belief model or try to change it? An issue to consider Measuring the model On the previous spread, the health belief model (HBM) is illustrated with the example of practising safe sex by using condoms. Imagine you are carrying out research into this issue. You want to see if the HBM predicts condom use, so you need to ask questions that will measure each component of the model. Bear in mind that your participants are not psychology students and have never heard of this model. 1. Draw seven squares and write the name of one component of the HBM in each square (e.g. perceived barriers, etc.). 2. In each square, add a question (or two) that is relevant to that component of the model. 3. Cut out the boxes and arrange them into the shape of the model (see the diagram on the previous spread). ACTIVE GET Evaluation Subjective and objective measurements One strength was the researchers collected two types of data. They asked each mother whether they had complied with the asthma treatment plan (a subjective self-report ). They also took blood samples from the children to test for presence of the asthma medication (an objective measure). Because there was a very strong positive correlation between the two measures, this suggests there was no need to confirm the mothers’ subjective self-reports with an objective measure. This showed that simply asking mothers whether they had complied was a valid measure that could be easily used in this and other studies. Nature of data collection One weakness is that the researchers conducted interviews under extremely stressful conditions. The participants were visiting hospital during an emergency (children having asthma attacks). The researchers themselves note that the mothers’ responses under these conditions may have been different in other circumstances. For instance, in a less stressful interview situation answers may have been more rational. This means that the influences of the four components may have been over- or underestimated in this study. Evaluation Future directions and applications One strength is that this study can give researchers and practitioners valuable suggestions about what to do next. This review clarified the ‘state of play’ regarding the HBM. It highlighted the components of the model that ‘work’ (benefits, barriers) and those that are not effective (seriousness, susceptibility), providing a focus for further research. It also indicated the conditions in which the model is most effective (e.g. prescribed drug treatment) which has implications for practitioners in terms of how to try to change behaviour. This means that new approaches may give a greater chance of changing health-related behaviour. Outdated health belief model One weakness is that this review analysed a number of different studies. The HBM has since evolved into a more complex model of health-related behaviour that was not analysed in this study. For example, the central variables of self-efficacy and cues to action were not included. This was because these variables had not been tested in research studies at the time. This in itself suggests a wider problem – that development of the model has outrun testing of it in research. Therefore, Carpenter reviewed and analysed an outdated version of the HBM. Agnes has been told by her GP that she is ‘pre-diabetic’ and needs to make changes to her diet to lose weight. The GP explains that if she does not change her behaviour, then Agnes will soon become diabetic and risk several complications as a result, such as losing a limb and problems with her hearing and vision. Changing her diet will avoid all of these negative consequences and improve her overall health as well. However, Agnes knows that she will struggle to lose weight because she has been on several failed diets in the past. 1. Explain one finding of the study by Carpenter (2010). Refer to Agnes in your answer. (3) 2. Becker et al . (1978) carried out a study testing the health belief model. For this study: (a) Give one aim. (1) (b) Describe the procedure. (3) (c) Describe one finding and use it to explain whether Agnes will change her diet. (4) 3. Assess the study by Carpenter (2010). Refer to Agnes in your answer. (4) 4. Discuss the health belief model as an explanation of Agnes’ behaviour. Refer to at least two research studies in your answer. (9) Exam-style questions Becker et al . interviewed mothers after their children had been through a life- saving procedure in an emergency department, like this one. Perhaps that’s not the best time for a research interview. 17