In 2001, Dr. Robert L. Spitzer, psychiatrist & professor at Columbia University, presented a paper at a meeting of the American Psychiatric Association about “reparative therapy” for gay men & women. By undergoing reparative therapy, his research findings indicated, gay men & women could change their sexual orientation.
Spitzer had interviewed 200 allegedly former-homosexual men & women that he reported had shown varying degrees of such change; all of the participants provided Spitzer with self reports of their experience with the therapy.
- Is this valid & reliable research? Why or Why not?
- What are some questionable factors?
- What factors could have contributed to the findings?
Sample Solution