Research Questions and Variables of Interest/Constructs

Week 6 Assignment 1 Turnitin

Monique, I am very concerned you are not using research for your problem statement, rather, you are using agency reports. The research in your topic area from the past few years (2014, 2015, and 2016) has to be used to lead you to the gap. Otherwise, you have not identified a gap, you have identified an trend, based on agency reports that are outdated. This will not do for a dissertation. Dissertations require you use the latest information, continually updating the information, and of course, use research studies. You are becoming a researcher and so your dissertation has to reflect your mastery of the research. And, I am concerned you are not using APA format to introduce your abbreviations (loss of one point). Do note your references are not in APA format (loss of five points). And, you are still listing the background information, even though you have written information about each of the studies. Release these into paragraphing without the enumerated listing. I am very concerned you are not taking the time to carefully organize your work into great paragraphs (loss of two points; according to the guidance I have provided). Also, you have to use current information, current research and not outdated research (loss of two points). Do note you no longer need a running header. I do not see a specific conceptual framework mentioned in your framework section (loss of ten points). Usually, there is a deduction of 20 points for failing to include a specific framework that is supported by the original designers of that framework, and then, a connection to your research ideas with current research. Your framework section has 1 and 2 sentence paragraphs, do present great depth in your prospectus, Monique that is required.

Sampling Strategy and Participant Characteristics

Research Questions

The research questions for this study seek to find answers on unexplored treatment avenues for patients. Below are three questions that the research seeks to address.

1. How responsive are patients exposed to substance abuse when subjected to Creative Therapy as a form of treatment?

2. What is the correlation between stress and addiction?

3. What forms of gender-based treatment can be applied to women patients of substance abuse with respect to psychological and biological diversity?

Theoretical Population

A research population is generally a large collection of individuals or objects that is the main focus of a scientific query. It is for the benefit of the population that researches are done. However, due to the large sizes of populations, researchers often cannot test every individual in the population because it is too expensive and time-consuming. So for this research study, the targeted population for the study is composed of male and female adults between the ages of 21 to 55 years, of the nationality of Caucasian and African American, residing in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Sampling Frame

The sampling frame constitutes adult men and women affected by the use of an abusive substance to a point that they require rehabilitation drawn from the targeted population. In addition, it encompasses individuals affected socially, emotionally and physically. The sampling frame is accessible through individuals admitted to inpatient substance abuse treatment facility or having the willingness to undergo outpatient treatment services (Trochim, 2006) privately.

Sampling Strategy

The most appropriate sampling strategy for this research study will be Purposive Sampling, with this type of sampling the sizes are often determined on the basis of theoretical saturation (the point in data collection when new data no longer bring additional insights to the research questions) (Bryman, 2012). Purposive sampling is therefore the most successful when data review and analysis are done in conjunction with data collection.

Participants Characteristics

The participant’s characteristics for this study, will be individuals being selected based upon their age, place of residence, gender, and substance use/abuse. The criteria the researcher has chosen, has allowed the researcher to focus on individuals that will generate the most positive outcome to this study.

Recruitment Process

The researcher would form collaborations with local Substance Abuse Treatment facilities within the community and – using recruitment strategies appropriate to the age, location, culture, and study population – and identify individuals who fit these criteria, until we meet the prescribed quotas (Creswell, 2014).

References

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approach (4th Ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Bryman, A (2012) Social research methods, 4th Ed, Oxford: Oxford University Press, especially the section “Sampling in qualitative research”.