Directions: You have 25 minutes to answer the following question.

It is not enough to
answer a question by merely listing facts. You should present a cogent argument based on
your critical analysis of the question posed, using appropriate psychological terminology.
1.

Acceptable answers must include subject/verb: no stand-alone pictures or outlines.

2.

You may establish which point is being discussed by the structure of the essay if it is
written in order of the questions asked.

3.

A point once earned cannot be lost by a later wrong statement, unless immediately
contradicted.

Dr. Franklin investigated the relationship between stress and physical illness. She persuaded a high
school principal to require all female athletes in the school to participate in her study. She explained
the purpose of her research to the athletes and asked them to use a standard form to rate the
severity of their stress over the last six months. More than 250 athletes completed the form. Then Dr.
Franklin analyzed the forms returned by the first 100 athletes. She requested the attendance records
from the nurse's office for each of those athletes to verify the number of days absent due to illness
during the same six-month period. In the debriefing summary that Dr. Franklin sent to the 100
athletes after she completed the study, she stated that athletes who reported more stress also
experienced more frequent illness. Dr. Franklin concluded that stress causes physical illness.

Identify the research method used by Dr. Franklin

Describe the operational definitions of the TWO key variables that Dr. Franklin used in the
study

Based on the information provided, describe ONE appropriate and ONE inappropriate ethical
feature of the study

Identify ONE statistical technique that Dr. Franklin could use to represent the relationship
between the variables in the study

Describe TWO aspects of research design that weaken the validity of Dr. Franklin's
conclusion that stress causes physical illness

Dr. Franklin Essay

Dr. Franklin investigated the relationship of stress and physical illness by studying
100 high school female athletes over the course of six months. Her study found
that athletes who reported more stress were also frequently ill. She then concluded
that stress causes physical illness. While Dr. Franklins study is a well formed
correlational study with a solid hypothesis, it does have its strength and
weaknesses.
Two of the variables that Franklin would have needed to define are stress and
physical illness. She would have needed to explain that stress is mental or
emotional strain caused by anxiety or overwork. Then she would have needed
to explain to the nurse the operational definition of physical illness in her study.
Whether it be a common cold or another disease or disposition, it is important for
the nurse to know what Dr. Franklin was looking for. The treatment of the athletes
and the school nurse is also where the ethics of Franklins research come in.
Although she was willing to debrief the selected athletes after the study, she
persuaded the principal of this school to require all female athletes in the school to
participate in the study which would then mean that the school nurse would have to
give all of the attendance records for the selected athletes with or without their
permission. The study was completely involuntary.
The best way for Dr. Franklin to show her findings would be through a
correlational graph and coefficient. In this graph she could show that the more

stress an athlete has correlates with the number of days a student is absent due to
illness. This is also where Dr. Franklins study could be improved. The biggest
general issue with her study is the sample of students she selected. They were all
female athletes, and that leaves out a very large portion of the student body that
she is selecting her sample from, and that could weaken the overall validity of the
study. One other major issue with the study is the conclusion. Because Franklin used
a correlational study she should not say that stress causes physical illness
because correlation is not causation.
Dr. Franklins study on the relationship of stress and illness, although it has
flaws, is a very well thought out study that with some ethical and structural
adjustments could be extremely successful.