Abstract
The extant literature on the specific role of biofeedback in promoting skeletal muscular relaxation is reviewed and found deficient with respect to the use of properly controlled group outcome research. The review emphasizes the failure of commonly used control procedures to adequately control a number of potentially confounding variables. Strengths and weaknesses of three types of controlled group design (attention placebo, pseudofeedback, and altered contingency) are discussed with respect to their relative usefulness in controlling certain nonspecific or placebo effects in biofeedback research. Many published biofeedback studies failed to measure the credibility of control procedures or the subject's ability to discriminate different feedback contingencies. The studies reviewed suggest that the various control procedures used are not inert and are not equivalent with respect to their effects on control group behavior. The suggestion is made that the controlled group outcome design be accepted as the minimum requirement for testing the specific effects of biofeedback, and possible methods for improving control procedures are discussed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 377-401 |
| Number of pages | 25 |
| Journal | Biofeedback and Self-Regulation |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 1982 |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
Cite this
Controlled group designs in biofeedback research : Ask, "what does the control group control for?". / Hatch, John P.
In: Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, Vol. 7, No. 3, 09.1982, p. 377-401.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Controlled group designs in biofeedback research
T2 - Ask, "what does the control group control for?"
AU - Hatch, John P.
PY - 1982/9
Y1 - 1982/9
N2 - The extant literature on the specific role of biofeedback in promoting skeletal muscular relaxation is reviewed and found deficient with respect to the use of properly controlled group outcome research. The review emphasizes the failure of commonly used control procedures to adequately control a number of potentially confounding variables. Strengths and weaknesses of three types of controlled group design (attention placebo, pseudofeedback, and altered contingency) are discussed with respect to their relative usefulness in controlling certain nonspecific or placebo effects in biofeedback research. Many published biofeedback studies failed to measure the credibility of control procedures or the subject's ability to discriminate different feedback contingencies. The studies reviewed suggest that the various control procedures used are not inert and are not equivalent with respect to their effects on control group behavior. The suggestion is made that the controlled group outcome design be accepted as the minimum requirement for testing the specific effects of biofeedback, and possible methods for improving control procedures are discussed.
AB - The extant literature on the specific role of biofeedback in promoting skeletal muscular relaxation is reviewed and found deficient with respect to the use of properly controlled group outcome research. The review emphasizes the failure of commonly used control procedures to adequately control a number of potentially confounding variables. Strengths and weaknesses of three types of controlled group design (attention placebo, pseudofeedback, and altered contingency) are discussed with respect to their relative usefulness in controlling certain nonspecific or placebo effects in biofeedback research. Many published biofeedback studies failed to measure the credibility of control procedures or the subject's ability to discriminate different feedback contingencies. The studies reviewed suggest that the various control procedures used are not inert and are not equivalent with respect to their effects on control group behavior. The suggestion is made that the controlled group outcome design be accepted as the minimum requirement for testing the specific effects of biofeedback, and possible methods for improving control procedures are discussed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0020442766&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0020442766&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/BF00998927
DO - 10.1007/BF00998927
M3 - Article
C2 - 6756485
AN - SCOPUS:0020442766
VL - 7
SP - 377
EP - 401
JO - Applied Psychophysiology Biofeedback
JF - Applied Psychophysiology Biofeedback
SN - 1090-0586
IS - 3
ER -