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Video Outline Assignment
Hi, my name is Aarin Marlow, I am currently majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies with a
minor in Global Studies at Liberty University. With this major you can go any career path you’d
like. This major allows you to be able to mix and match fields of interests and academics to fit
what you’d like to accomplish within a career. I am using my degree to fulfill the requirements
for the certification to become a Child Life Specialist (CLS). As a CLS it is important to have a
passion for the development of children and healthcare. I am a big empath and have always
wanted to provide that quality within the medical field.
Research Topic and Question
Based on my interest in child development and the medical field, a research topic could
be “Enhancing Pediatric Care.” With the exploration of significant impact of CLS, my research
question will be “What impact does a Child Life Specialist have on Pediatric Patient Outcomes
and Family Coping Mechanisms? I hope to understand the psychological and psychosocial
importance of how a Child Life Specialist impacts a patient and family outcomes.
Journal Articles
The article pulled from “Do specialist paediatric palliative care services benefit children
and young people patients with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families?”
that which is pulled from Archives of Disease in Childhood provides insight into the positive
impact CLS have on children coping with anxiety and those learning coping strategies for their
illnesses. The article also touches base with their role as facilitator between providers, families
and the patients but also their role as an emotional advocate. This article adds background
information to my interest by urging more that there is need to enhance the emotional well being
of children during their treatments.
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The article “Comparing different patterns for managing febrile children in the ED
between emergency and pediatric physicians: impact on patient outcome” pulled from Children
and Youth Services Review emphasizes the role of a Child Life Specialist when helping a patient
alleviate stress and anxiety who may be undergoing medical procedures. This article helps my
background knowledge by showing evidence supporting the effectiveness and success this role in
a patient’s care is when it comes to outcomes benefiting said patient. When focusing on the
emotional and psychological needs they are overall bettering the experience for the patient. I can
better frame my research question to highlight those critical aspects that have great contributions
to the image of this role in healthcare.
Method of Research
When doing research about the benefits of a medical role in a patient’s outcome and
experience, I would use a mixed-method approach. This meaning I would use quantitative and
qualitative research methods when conducting for data. Combing these two methods would
allow me to have a well-rounded understanding of the role and impact a Child Life Specialist has
on patient outcomes and coping mechanisms. By using a mixed method, I am also able to have a
number (statistical) and a bias (narrative) approach to information regarding my topic.
Collecting Data
When collecting data for my research question, I would start with quantitative approach.
Quantitative research is defined as “Research methodology that seek objectively through testable
hypothesis and carefully designed studies” (Crawford, 2023, p.68) Based off the definition
provided from Dr. Crawford, I would use testable hypothesis such as surveys and/or
questionaries to collect information. Questionnaires and surveys are important approaches
because the collecting data because they allow an assessment of changes emotionally before and
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after interactions with a Child Life Specialist. Alongside quantitative methods I would then
analyze qualitative methods. Qualitative research is defined as “Researchers using methods [to]
seek insight through in-depth collection of information that may be subjective, hopefully with
hypotheses emerging from the in-depth information.” (Crawford, 2023, p.68) Using this
definition I could conduct interviews, focus groups or analyze metrics within the pediatric unit.
These methods of research allow communication of observations, insight into personal
experiences and perceptions, but also the statistical analysis of metrics based on length of stay,
progression of health and recovery times.
Disadvantages
Limitations, disadvantages and reliability issues will always have a chanced to be present
when it comes to research. Some limitations when using quantitative and qualitative research
together could be time consuming most of all, it would require intensive time investment.
Another would be the generalizability of the data with collecting such a big sample of data
because the pool of patients are so large or the opposite of that would be too less generalized
when only selecting few.
Conclusion
In conclusion, my research question is “What impact does a Child Life Specialist have on
Pediatric Patient Outcomes and Family Coping Mechanisms?” When going about answering and
collecting data for this research question a mixed-method approach would be best. Though this
approach would open many opportunities for data the challenges it arises could be complex.
Possible challenges would be the time-consuming work, too much or too less of a generalized
sample and the possibility for bias. Aside from the possible challenges and limitations the mix of
these research methods will allow for a clear understanding of the role and impact of a Child Life
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References
Crawford (2023). Introduction to Research: Less Fright, More Insight: A Customized Version of
Research Methods: Are You Equipped? Second Edition by Jennifer Bonds-Raacke and
John Raacke. Designed specifically for Ray (4th ed.). Kendall Hunt Publishing.
https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/books/9798385105748
Mitchell, S., Morris, A., Bennett, K., & Dale, J. (2016, April 1). G517(P) do specialist paediatric
palliative care services benefit children and young people patients with life-limiting or
life-threatening conditions and their families?. Archives of Disease in Childhood.
https://adc.bmj.com/content/101/Suppl_1/A306.1
Seow MD, V.-K., Chor-Ming Lin MD , A., Lin MD, I.-Y., Chen MD, C.-C., Chen MD, K.-C.,
Wang MD, PhD, T.-L., & Chong MS, MD, C.-F. (2007, November 18). Comparing
different patterns for managing febrile children in the ED between emergency and
pediatric physicians: Impact on patient outcome. The American Journal of Emergency
Medicine. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S073567570700188X?
via%3Dihub
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