Glossary / Lexicon

Participant refer to a human whose behavior the researcher is investigating; it is formerly called Subjects. Likewise, Participants are Individuals who participate in psychological research; humans who take part of a research study.

Description

Participants in the psychology context refer to individuals who take part in research studies, experiments, therapy sessions, or group interventions. They can be recruited from various populations, including clinical patients, healthy volunteers, students, or community members. Participants play a crucial role in advancing psychological knowledge and are often required to provide informed consent before participating in any activities. Researchers and practitioners carefully select participants based on specific criteria to ensure the validity and reliability of their findings. The participation of individuals in psychological studies helps to understand the complexity of human behavior, cognition, emotions, and social interactions.

Application Areas

• Research studies
• Clinical trials
• Therapy sessions
• Group interventions
• Behavioral assessments

Treatment and Risks

• Participants may receive psychological interventions or therapies as part of research studies.
• Risks may include emotional discomfort, confidentiality breaches, or potential harm from interventions.
• Researchers and practitioners must prioritize the well-being and safety of participants throughout the process.

Examples

• Individuals participating in a study on the effects of mindfulness meditation on stress levels.
• Clinical patients undergoing cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders.
• Volunteers engaging in a group intervention to improve communication skills.

Similar Concepts and Synonyms

• Subjects
• Respondents
• Participants
• Study participants
• Research subjects

Articles with 'Participant' in the title

• Nonparticipant: Nonparticipant in the psychology context often refers to a methodological role in observational research, where the researcher observes the behavior of subjects without interacting with them or altering the environment in any way
• Participant attrition: Participant attrition refers to the loss of participants that occurs during the course of a research study conducted over time. Attrition can be a threat to internal validity
• Participant factors: Participant factors is a term in a common factors approach that refer to the characteristics of the client or therapist, such as gender, ethnicity, attachment style, coping style, resistance, and expectations
• Participant modeling: Participant modeling refers to a form of therapy in which the therapist first shows the client a desired behavior and then guides the client through the behavioral change
• Participant-observation research: Participant-observation research refers to a special type of observational study in which a researcher actually joins an ongoing group to observe the members’ behavior

Summary

Participants in psychology refer to individuals who play a key role in research, therapy, and interventions, contributing to the advancement of psychological knowledge. Their participation is essential for understanding human behavior, cognition, and emotions. Researchers and practitioners must prioritize the well-being and safety of participants throughout the process.

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