Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Health Psychology

287 views Dec 5, 2023

Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Health Psychology 1. Efficacy vs. Effectiveness The terms 'efficacy' and 'effectiveness' are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. Efficacy refers to how well a treatment or intervention works under ideal conditions, such as in a controlled research study. Effectiveness, on the other hand, considers how well the treatment works in real-world settings, with all the complexities and variables that come into play. 2. Prevalence vs. Incidence When studying the occurrence of a health condition, it's important to differentiate between prevalence and incidence. Prevalence refers to the total number of cases of a condition within a specific population at a given time. Incidence, on the other hand, focuses on the number of new cases that develop within a defined period. While prevalence gives us an overall picture, incidence helps us understand the rate at which new cases are occurring. 3. Correlation vs. Causation One of the most critical distinctions in health psychology research is between correlation and causation. A correlation indicates a relationship between two variables, but it doesn't imply causation. To establish causation, researchers need to conduct rigorous studies, such as randomized controlled trials, that can demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship. 4. Acute vs. Chronic When describing the duration of a health condition, 'acute' and 'chronic' are commonly used. Acute refers to a condition that has a sudden onset and a relatively short duration.

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