Evaluating precision in the social psychological assessment of depression: Methodological considerations, issues, and recommendations

Although social psychological studies of depression may have much to contribute to understanding this problem, a number of factors limit the potential of this research. Previous evaluations of research strategies used in social psychological research have tended to focus on questions concerning clinically significant states. While understanding these states are of considerable importance, subclinical or mildly depressed states also warrant attention. This article examines issues relevant to the study of these states and offers several recommendations aimed at improving the precision of this research. Specifically, issues concerning choice of cut-off points, specificity and third variable confounding, depressive heterogeneity, assumptions of continuity and distribution, stability considerations, and symptom profile research strategies are addressed along with recommendations for dealing with these issues.