Assignment Quantitative Research Study Critiqueas You May Recall Evi ✓ Solved

Assignment: Quantitative Research Study Critique As you may recall, evidence-based practice relies on best available evidence, which is drawn from current research studies. But, just because a research study is published, it doesn’t mean it is without flaw. Social workers must make value determinations every time they interact with research they may apply to practice. Imagine that you are a practicing social worker and encounter a question, issue, or challenge on which you need to learn more. You search in the social work literature and find a quantitative study on the topic.

As you read it, you ask critical questions, closely analyze how the study was framed and conducted, monitor efforts toward validity, and ultimately decide whether to integrate the information in practice. For this Assignment, you replicate this process of critical evaluation by critiquing a quantitative research study. To Prepare: · Review the Learning Resources on critical reading and critique/evaluation. · Select one of the quantitative research articles your Instructor has provided. · Read the research article with a critical eye, taking notes and considering how the study was conducted. · Download the Critique Template in the Learning Resources for use in this Assignment. By Day 7 Submit a 3-page critique of the peer-reviewed research study you have chosen from those provided by your Instructor.

In your Assignment, be sure to identify and evaluate the following, as described in the template: · Title and Authors · Literature Review · Strategy of Research (Descriptive, Exploratory, Explanatory) · Methodological Approach and Design · Threats to Internal Validity · Application to Practice · Based on your critique of this study, is this social work intervention or knowledge safe to integrate into your practice? Why or why not? Use the Learning Resources to support your critique. Make sure to include appropriate APA citations and a reference list. Links Provided: 1 Quantitative Research Study Critique Student Name Walden University SOCW 6301: Social Work Practice Research I Instructor Name Month XX, 202X Quantitative Research Study Critique Include an introductory paragraph that names the research study you are evaluating and previews the structure and focus of your critique.

Provide your overall assessment of the study in a brief statement. Title and Authors In this section, evaluate the article title and the authors’ credibility. Do you think the title adequately describe the study and its key elements? Who are the authors and have they conducted and/or published previous research? Are they affiliated with a research institution or university?

Literature Review Consider the following questions in your critique of the article’s literature review: To what extent does the cited literature help you understand the problem? How does the literature reviewed put the problem in context? Be specific. Do the authors indicate how their research is different from and/or similar to earlier studies? Summarize what this article intends to add to the knowledge base.

Strategy of Research Address the following questions in your critique of the research strategy: What is the strategy/aim of this quantitative study—is it descriptive, exploratory, or explanatory? Does this strategy align with the research question? Methodological Approach and Design Consider the following questions in your critique of the methodological approach and design: How does a quantitative approach (as opposed to a qualitative approach) correspond with the research questions and/or hypotheses? Is the specific research design appropriate? To what extent can the design answer the research questions or address the stated hypotheses?

Threats to Internal Validity Consider the following questions in your critique of the internal validity: What have the authors done to address threats to internal validity? How does the presence or absence of information about validity affect your confidence in the quality of the study? Application to Practice Connect the information from the article to social work practice and provide your recommendations. Based on your critique of this study, is this social work intervention or knowledge safe to integrate into your practice? Why or why not?

References (Include full references here for any sources that you have cited within the research study critique. Note that the following references are intended as examples only.) American Counseling Association. (n.d.). About us. Anderson, M. (2018). Getting consistent with consequences.

Educational Leadership, 76 (1), 26-33. Bach, D., & Blake, D. J. (2016). Frame or get framed: The critical role of issue framing in nonmarket management. California Management Review, 58 (3), 66-87.

Burgess, R. (2019). Rethinking global health: Frameworks of Power. Routledge.​ Herbst-Damm, K. L., & Kulik, J. A. (2005).

Volunteer support, marital status, and the survival times of terminally ill patients. Health Psychology, 24 (2), 225–229. Johnson, P. (2003). Art: A new history. HarperCollins. ​ Lindley, L.

C., & Slayter, E. M. (2018). Prior trauma exposure and serious illness at end of life: A national study of children in the U.S. foster care system from 2005 to 2015. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 56 (3), 309–317. Osman, M.

A. (2016, December 15). 5 do’s and don’ts for staying motivated. Mayo Clinic. Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2016).

Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (7th ed.). Wiley. Walden University Library. (n.d.). Anatomy of a research article [Video]. Walden University Writing Center. (n.d.).

Writing literature reviews in your graduate coursework [Webinar]. World Health Organization. (2018, March). Questions and answers on immunization and vaccine safety.

Paper for above instructions

Quantitative Research Study Critique

The aim of this critique is to evaluate the study titled "Volunteer Support, Marital Status, and the Survival Times of Terminally Ill Patients" by Herbst-Damm and Kulik (2005), published in Health Psychology. The analysis focuses on the study's purpose, its methodological design, literature review, and implications for practice in social work. This critique assesses how effectively the research has been conducted, the validity of its conclusions, and its relevance for social work professionals.

Title and Authors

The title of the article succinctly encapsulates the core concepts the researchers aim to explore: "Volunteer Support," "Marital Status," and "Survival Times." It effectively lays out the parameters of the study. Herbst-Damm and Kulik are credible authors; Herbst-Damm holds a Ph.D. and has previously published research focused on health psychology and social support systems. Kulik is also an established researcher with a background in psychology and has extensively explored similar topics related to health behaviors and outcomes (Herbst-Damm & Kulik, 2005). Their affiliations with reputable academic institutions further enhance the credibility of the study.

Literature Review

The literature review is a vital part of the research as it contextualizes the study. The authors draw from a wide range of sources that discuss the impact of social support on health outcomes, particularly regarding terminally ill patients. They effectively frame their research against existing literature, detailing how earlier findings suggest a positive correlation between volunteer support and improved quality of life among the dying (Herbst-Damm & Kulik, 2005). The review not only contextualizes their research but also highlights a gap in the understanding of how marital status interacts with volunteer support, suggesting that their study seeks to fill this void in the literature. Overall, the literature reviewed is pertinent and supports the research's framing.

Strategy of Research

This quantitative study adopts an explanatory strategy. The objective is to explore the relationship between variables, particularly how volunteer support and marital status may affect the survival time of terminally ill patients. This aligns well with the researchers’ inquiry into various social support mechanisms and their contributions to patient outcomes. The research questions posed are clearly defined, focusing on whether the presence of a spouse and levels of volunteer support correlate with the longevity of patients (Herbst-Damm & Kulik, 2005).

Methodological Approach and Design

The authors employed a quantitative research design to explore these relationships. This approach is suitable as it allows for statistical analysis of patterns and relationships between variables. The researchers utilized a cohort study design, tracking the survival times of terminally ill patients in relation to their marital status and the amount of volunteer support they received. This design is appropriate as it enables a clear investigation of correlational relationships among the selected variables (Herbst-Damm & Kulik, 2005).
However, while the quantitative approach is helpful in establishing patterns, it may not capture the nuanced understanding that qualitative methods could provide, especially in understanding the subjective experiences of terminally ill patients regarding support (Creswell, 2014). That being said, the transparency regarding their methodology allows readers to understand how findings were reached.

Threats to Internal Validity

In assessing threats to internal validity, the authors took several steps to control for confounding variables, such as age, sex, and the socio-economic status of participants. They conducted statistical analyses that accounted for these factors, thus enhancing the reliability of their results. However, the study may still have limitations; for instance, it lacks a discussion on the possible biases introduced by self-reported data concerning marital status and volunteer support (Herbst-Damm & Kulik, 2005). The absence of randomization introduces the possibility of selection bias, thus casting some doubt on the robustness of the findings. Furthermore, without control groups, establishing causation remains tenuous.

Application to Practice

The study provides valuable insights for social work practice, particularly in the field of palliative care. Understanding how social support mechanisms affect patient survival can guide social workers in developing interventions that strengthen social networks for terminally ill patients. Social work practice can benefit from integrating the findings into interventions aimed at enhancing volunteer support for patients who are unmarried or whose spouses may be unable to provide adequate support due to their own limitations.
However, before integrating these findings into practice, practitioners should consider the limitations of the study, particularly regarding its internal validity. While the findings suggest that volunteer support positively impacts survival times for terminally ill patients, the evidence is not without its flaws. Therefore, while it may be appropriate to use this research as a guide, social workers should remain cautious and seek complementary studies or qualitative assessments to better understand the patient experience (Sue & Sue, 2016).

Conclusion

In conclusion, Herbst-Damm and Kulik's study provides important insights into the influence of social support on the survival times of terminally ill patients. While the authors demonstrate credible research practices and a logical methodological framework, the study’s internal validity may be affected by various factors. As such, while the findings can inform social work practice, they should be utilized in conjunction with additional evidence to ensure comprehensive support strategies are developed for terminally ill patients. Social workers must remain critically engaged with research findings to responsibly and ethically apply them to practice.

References

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
Herbst-Damm, K. L., & Kulik, J. A. (2005). Volunteer support, marital status, and the survival times of terminally ill patients. Health Psychology, 24(2), 225–229.
Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2016). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (7th ed.). Wiley.