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Patient variable biases in clinical judgment: conceptual overview and methodological considerations
Psychological Bulletin
|September 1, 1989
Summary
Past psychotherapy bias research had negative findings due to narrow definitions of bias and the biased clinician model. Broader definitions and social cognitive processes may offer new research directions for understanding patient variable biases.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychotherapy Research
Background:
- Previous psychotherapy bias research yielded inconclusive or negative findings.
- Restrictive definitions of bias and limited models of the clinician have hampered progress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify conceptual factors contributing to negative findings in psychotherapy bias research.
- To propose a broader definition of bias and explore theoretical perspectives.
Main Methods:
- Review of published studies on patient variable biases (gender, race/ethnicity, age).
- Analysis of conceptual and methodological limitations in existing research.
- Discussion of social cognitive processes relevant to bias.
Main Results:
- Bias in psychotherapy may require broader definition and could be more circumscribed than previously thought.
- Existing research often lacks a strong theoretical framework.
- Methodological issues also impact findings.
Conclusions:
- Revising the definition of bias and incorporating social cognitive theories can advance psychotherapy bias research.
- Future research should address methodological limitations and theoretical gaps.