Research Psychology

During class we have often talked about various subfields of psychology. There are two main branches of psychology which include basic research and applied research.  Basic research is experimental and seeks after knowledge. On the other hand is, applied research, which is interventional.  Applied research is looking to be applied to real life.

Research requires curiosity, eagerness, skepticism, humility and an open mind, all of which are exemplified in Grey’s Anatomy. A study needs to based in theory. It should be able to explain, organize, and predict.

A major component of Grey’s Anatomy has been its research experiments. Though they may not have been psychological experiments, they were medical, and composed of similar premises.

As you may know, Meredith’s mother was diagnosed and eventually died of Alzheimer’s. Though we have come a long way in research, even to this day there is much that remains unknown about this fatal disease. Therefore on a past episode, Meredith and Derek decide to conduct a research experiment on the rapidly progressive Alzheimer's disease.

Like any good psychological research Meredith and Derek have created strict guidelines for the clinical trial. All candidates go through an intense screening process and psychological testing. In their study the independent variable is the drugs given, and their dependent variable its affect on the memory. Throughout the trial patients are randomly selected. Some will receive the drug, whereas other may only receive the placebo. Neither patients, nor the doctors have any idea of which group they are in. Until the envelope with the syringe comes into the operating room, everything is left secret, in order to create a psychologically sound experiment.  

In this episode I learned come with strict rules and regulations. When those are broken the legitimacy and credibility of the study are also broken. In the show, despite being warned not to, Meredith sneaks the Alzheimer drug in hopes of saving a friend. In the end she was caught, and the experiment was terminated.