One example that could have produced these kind of results is the placebo effect, where people improve because they expect to improve. In addition, anecdotes “may not be representative of most instances of a phenomenon” (Lilienfeld, & Landfield, 2008, page 1221).
To support his claim, David Pickup must follow-up on his clients to see if these homosexual feelings have completely dissipated. This is necessary as there have been cases, including in the Spitzer Study, where some subjects stated the therapy did not work. One example would be journalist Gabriel Arana, who stated that the therapy “ultimately delayed his self-acceptance as a gay man and induced thoughts of suicide” (Carey, 2012, para. 49). However, “‘at the time [he] was recruited for the Spitzer study, [he] was referred as a success story. [He] would have said [he] was making progress’” (Carey, 2012, para. 49). …show more content…
1217). Pickup wants his therapy to help his clients, therefore he would expect it to. Because of the lack of safeguards against this bias, Pickup believes that what he is doing is effective, or is at least providing even minimal help, when it could be doing nothing at all. Pickup also puts more emphasis on studies that appear to support his therapy on the surface but fails to mention that it has been discovered that this therapy is not necessarily a one hundred percent fix. He is “ignoring, minimizing, [and] distorting evidence that does not” (Lilienfeld, & Landfield, 2008, pg. 1220) support his
To support his claim, David Pickup must follow-up on his clients to see if these homosexual feelings have completely dissipated. This is necessary as there have been cases, including in the Spitzer Study, where some subjects stated the therapy did not work. One example would be journalist Gabriel Arana, who stated that the therapy “ultimately delayed his self-acceptance as a gay man and induced thoughts of suicide” (Carey, 2012, para. 49). However, “‘at the time [he] was recruited for the Spitzer study, [he] was referred as a success story. [He] would have said [he] was making progress’” (Carey, 2012, para. 49). …show more content…
1217). Pickup wants his therapy to help his clients, therefore he would expect it to. Because of the lack of safeguards against this bias, Pickup believes that what he is doing is effective, or is at least providing even minimal help, when it could be doing nothing at all. Pickup also puts more emphasis on studies that appear to support his therapy on the surface but fails to mention that it has been discovered that this therapy is not necessarily a one hundred percent fix. He is “ignoring, minimizing, [and] distorting evidence that does not” (Lilienfeld, & Landfield, 2008, pg. 1220) support his