1. Your instructor has reviewed several strategies to conduct and report on scientific research.  Discuss the procedures in the positivistic, scientific method and the components of this research paper. List two reasons why you agree or disagree with this worldview and how you might utilize it for your future research agenda

In research we evaluate two worldviews; Positivistic worldview searches for the truths and universal laws studies with a theory and very specific hypothesis that address one defined issue.  It also uses manipulation control and randomization.  The components of this research paper follow the positivists as it really hits on one specific of abuse.  I agree with the positivist view in that I think the specificity of it is very useful in research, if we didn’t use specifics and left if broad, nothing would really get solved and it would only address a little information about a lot of topic.  I also agree with using numbers, I think numbers really let people into what is really going on.  It hits home in their mind when reading a paper with actual statistics and numbers.  When I conduct the asthma study, it could be approached by this world view.  (quantitative, a scientific method, reality exists only when proven with numbers or numerical data)

2. We have stated that the researcher must remember the equation [dependent variables = independent variables]. Discuss the differences between independent and dependent variables and the influence one exerts upon the other.  How was this theorum influential in your study or project?

The independent variable can be referred to as the experimental or treatment variable, and the dependent variable determines the effectiveness of the manipulation or treatment and is the item observed and ,measured at the beginning and end of the study One is to be manipulated and the other to be measured.  The independent variable is typically self manipulated to see its effect on the dependent variable.  I guess with mine, the dependent variable was the side effects of adderall and the independent was the people using it and by how much.  So their choice of using it effected the severity of the side effects.

3. Create a list of the independent variables you identified in your study (Hint: these
are important client, institutional, environmental, or patient characteristics).  Give one example of a variable you could change or 'fix' in a departmental, governmental, or organizational policy.

From the methods study I “conducted” my independent variables were,  being outside of normal home environment, the different times of taking the medication, the type of medication the person nomally took versus the time or lack of (placebo) that they received, the way that their “education studies” wre taught versus how they were accustomed to, the food they ate the bed they slept in.  The times medication was delivered.  I could have fixed the location to be in their home town instead of bringing them to ETSU. 

4. When creating a study, one must address the operational definitions for individual studies.  Give 3 examples of operational definitions you encountered in your project.  How does this process help or hinder the researcher?

Adderall was one term defined, it sounds so common to most but some are unaware of what it is and what it is used for.  Another was Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.  Schedule II narcotics was the third.   I think it hinders the researcher because it seems that they are always having to explain things that gets them off track in what they were thinking about because they have to stop that thought and define something, so they (or I) loose my train of thought.  It does help the reader however!

5. Define the different scales of measurement (i.e. Ordinal, Nominal, Interval, Ratio). In each of these scales of measure, how would the researcher decide on which statistical analysis to use?  How did you decide what methodology to use (theoretically, you told me in METHODS chapter what you decided to do with all of the datum).

According to Masini the terms can be defined as follows Nominal - These are distinct variables that exist as names or labels of characteristics, no measure of any distance between data points, examples include hair color, college major, state of birth, political party. Ordinal - These attributes may be logically rank-ordered.  Represent the variable, such as conservatism, social class, alienation, prejudice, intellectual sophistication. Interval - The distance between variables is measured.  Examples include the temperature scale, standardized intelligence tests; probably have no absolute zero scale. Ratio - Based upon a zero point, ages are an example, as well as income; you can define differences between participants or variables (seldom used in social research that we in allied health conduct). Depending on the type of research the researcher is doing, the need to look at the scale of measures sheet and 1^st decide what I’m doing falls in to black category of the 4 listed above.  Then they would look at the different experiments and how they compare data and see which one suits their research.  For me mine was nominal and it is for descriptive research with nonparametric data where the items are ranked to see the relationship between the groups. 

6. Discuss the types of reliability. Why does a researcher in health care consider reliability an important component of their study?

A study is considered reliable if when it is repeated, similar findings are produced. Test retest reliability which is concerned with the reliability of scores over time.  Split half reliability concerns the extent to which different parts of an instrument are measuring the same thing.  And interrater reliability is the extent to which different raters or observers perceive the same person or characteristic similarly.  It can’t really be taken seriously if it is not reliable.  You have to bale to have something to prove it with, and if it is reliable compared to other studies then it seems to hold more truths in the eyes of the readers. 

7. Define validity. Examine internal and external validities and list attributes or problems associated with validity issues (think from the perspective of a potential patient or an informed peer reviewer of your study).

A study is considered valid only if investigators are truly addressing the constructs they set oiur to study and measure.  Internal validity is, are the investigators actually observing and measuring that they think they are? Factors are the effects of history maturation of the subjects during the study, testing during study testing of the subjects subject selection and subject mortality.  External validity is to what extent are the ideas generated or tested by the investigators applicable to other groups.  Factors are : Hawthorne effect, replication, generalizablity, multitreatments, and researcher effect. 

8. Discuss the characteristics of a quantitative research design. Name and discuss at least two designs from this worldview or viewpoint.  Why would you decide to use this worldview or research methodology (instead of qualitative)?

The purpose of quantitative research is theory testing: to establish facts show explanations and relationships between variables allow prediction and strive for generalizability.  2 designs from this method are predetermined and structured and do not change during the course of the study.  They are formal and specific according to a defined model and are used as detailed plan of operation.    I would use this if I was really trying to make a specific point; like when I do the asthma study this summer I will be trying to prove relationship between asthma and environmental factors. 

9. Discuss the characteristics of a qualitative research design. Name and discuss at least two designs from this worldview or viewpoint. Why would you decide to use this worldview or research methodology (instead of quantitative)?

The purpose of qualitative research is to develop an understanding of the perspectives of the actors and of that particular setting.  Qualitative designs are general in nature rather than confined evolving through out the study and remaining flexible to allow for change; they are used as a hunch as how to proceed.  I would use this if I were doing a basic and not through overview of something.  I would do this in the ADHD medication study, just watch and observe how the people act and compare my findings.  From that I would have an idea of what I thought worked best as far as med types dosages and scheduling then go from there. 

10. Your instructor has stated that “…the best positivistic (quantitative) studies often arise from a relativist study or (qualitative) framework of inquiry.” Discuss advantages and disadvantages of qualitative and quantitative research designs.  If you had it to do over, would you change the methoodology you used in your study?

Everything has advantages and disadvantages.  It is hard for me to completely compare two different types of research when I think it all depends on what you are trying to resolve with your research.  Of course from a more thorough standpoint with precision as a goal, of course the quantitative would be better.  The only disadvantage with that is that it seems harder to obtain and more goes into it and if you are lazy you wouldn’t want to do all of that. But a major advantage is that it is accurate and I feel that if you have a statistical number backing an idea that it seems more accurate.  And qualitative is just seems like an overview of an experiment you conducted and its just its finding, it doesn’t seem to me like you are looking for any particular outcome, you are just doing an experiment and recording the data. I think that an advantage of that is that it isn’t as “controlled” so maybe the findings might hold more truth because maybe the people are being more like their self since they aren’t told as much on what to do… (I don’t even know if that makes sense but it does in my head hahaha) I think with my experiment, I choose the best way to do it.  Had I done something different I may have choose a different method.