RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

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