This discussion is divided in two parts
1. Main discussion post
2. Two replies
RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Selection of the appropriate sample is critical to the reliability and validity of research methodology. The sample must be representative of the population that is being studied. Researchers often report both the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the sample. There are many different methods for selecting a sample and random sampling provides the high control of outside variables but is often difficult to utilize in many studies.
For this Discussion, please review the following:
· For this assignment, read the article by Zaccari, Callahan, Storzback, & McFarlane (2020), listed in the resource section for this week.
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
· Cresswell, J. W., & Cresswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Sage.
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Gray, J. R., & Grove, S. K. (2020). The practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (9th ed.). Elsevier.
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University of Newcastle Library. (2020).
Research methods: What are research methods?
https://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/researchmethods
· Gray, J. R, & Grove, S. K. (2021).
Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (9th ed.). Elsevier.
· Chapter 3, “Introduction to Quantitative Research” (pp. 46–74)
· Chapter 10, “Quantitative Methodology: Noninterventional Designs and Methods” (pp. 234–260)
· Chapter 11, “Quantitative Methodology: Interventional Designs and Methods” (pp. 261–313)
· Chapter 15, “Sampling” (pp. 410–449)
Prepare at least a 350-word post discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the sampling method used in this study and if the sampling method promoted reliable and valid results. Include in the discussion if there is anything the researcher could have done to improve the sampling process.
Note: Post a 3-paragraph (at least 350 words) response. Be sure to use
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. Use the writing resources and the Discussion Rubric to develop your post.
Jerry Harris
In the study “Yoga for Veterans with PTSD: Cognitive functioning, Mental health, and Salivary Control” (Zaccari et al., 2020), the authors used a convenience sampling method to recruit veterans with PTSD to participate in the study. This sampling method involves selecting participants based on their availability and willingness to participate. While this method has some strengths, such as being cost-effective and less time-consuming, some areas for improvement may have impacted the validity and reliability of the study’s results.
One of the main weaknesses of the convenience sampling method used in this study is the low sample size. Initially, Only 27 veterans were enrolled in the study, and only 17 completed the intervention and assessment. Additionally, only 11 participants attended eight or more classes. According to Gray and Grove (2021), a sample size that is too small can lead to a lack of generalizability and reduced statistical power. This may have been a significant limitation in this study, as the small sample size may not have been representative of the population of veterans with PTSD.
Another weakness of convenience sampling is that it is often prone to bias. In this study, the participants were all veterans with a history of PTSD and had previously tried other types of therapy. This may have resulted in a biased sample that does not accurately reflect the population of veterans with PTSD. Furthermore, the model was not representative of the population, with more males than females completing the study.
One way to improve the sampling process in this study would have been to use a stratified random sampling method. This method involves dividing the population into subgroups and selecting a random sample from each subgroup. This would have allowed for a more representative sample and more accurate results. Additionally, using a mixed-methods approach, which combines both quantitative and qualitative research methods, would have provided a more comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of yoga in reducing symptoms of PTSD in veterans (Kajamaa, Mattick, & Croix, 2020). According to Gray and Grove (2021), stratified sampling can produce more precise estimates than simple random sampling when members of the subpopulations are homogeneous relative to the entire population. Additionally, a larger sample size would have been beneficial to address the limitations of a small sample size and high dropout rate.
In conclusion, while convenience sampling may have been a cost-effective and time-sensitive option for the researchers, it resulted in several areas for improvement that may have affected the validity and reliability of the study’s results. Using a larger sample size and a more representative sampling method, such as stratified random sampling, would have provided more accurate and trustworthy results. Additionally, using a mixed-methods approach would have provided a more comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of yoga in treating veterans with PTSD.
Gray, J. R, & Grove, S. K. (2021).
Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (9th ed.). Elsevier.
Kajamaa, A., Mattick, K., & Croix, A. (2020). How to do mixed‐methods research. Clinical Teacher, 17(3), 267–271.
https://doi.org/10.1111/tct.13145Links to an external site.
Zaccari, B., Callahan, M.L., Storzback, D., & McFarlane, N. (2020). Yoga for veterans with PTSD: Cognitive functioning, mental health, and salivary control Links to an external site. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(8), 913–917.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0000909
Amy Evans
This research article, “Yoga for Veterans with PTSD: Cognitive functioning, Mental health, and Salivary Control” was based on a random sampling of veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the levels of cortisol produced when using yoga (Zaccari et al., 2020). There were several weaknesses in the sample and a couple of strengths as well. There are some things that could have been done to improve the sampling process in this research. One of these would be to begin with a larger sample size so that if participants dropped out, there would still be a relevant sample size number. In this study, there is a significant, highly noticeable sampling error. Another would be a better baseline questionnaire identifying the best group exercise technique for all participants. The errors made with sampling in this research show that the sampling techniques did not promote valid and reliable results of the study.
One strength in this study on PTSD and cortisol level from yoga therapy is all participants had a medical history of PTSD according to their physician’s recommendation into the study, and all participants were exposed to yoga therapy. Another strength is all participants had tried some other type of therapy in the past.
There are many weaknesses in the random sampling of this study. One of these is the sample size. There were only 27 enrolled participants with only 17 participants completing the study in full. That is only 63% of the participants, which is only a little over half of the participants. A larger sample size was needed. The technique in which this sampling was tested also seems to be a downfall of this study in that sufferers of PTSD were positioned to face each other in their yoga treatment. This could be one reason among others that some participants dropped out of the study. Out of the 17 participants, there were two more males than females that completed the study. The sample should have involved an equal number of males and female veterans with PTSD. “For a sample to be representative, it must be similar to the target population in as many ways as possible” (Gray & Grove, 2021, p. 413). The sampling size was not representative to a whole population of veterans with PTSD using yoga therapy to find an increased cortisol amount affecting fewer depressive symptoms and better sleep patterns.
References
Gray, J. R, & Grove, S. K. (2021).
Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (9th ed.). Elsevier.
Zaccari, B., Callahan, M. L., Storzbach, D., McFarlane, N., Hudson, R., & Loftis, J. M. (2020). Yoga for veterans with PTSD: Cognitive functioning, mental
health, and salivary cortisol.
Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy,
12(8), 913–917. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000909
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