Elements influencing Robustness of the research - Essay Example

These were the elements influencing the robustness of the research; thus, are critiqued together with the elements influencing the believability of the research. In the study of Stark, Craig and Miller in 2011, the target population has been clearly identified and consisted of 10 healthy Caucasian females aged 21 to 39 years, who were not pregnant or lactating, and did not use tobacco or caffeine within 2 hours of testing (76). Samples were selected by placing flyers around the university and by word of mouth.

The type of sampling is non-probability in nature, particularly convenience sampling because the researchers used the most conveniently available people as study participants. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were clearly identified as the study involved maternal choice, uncomplicated gestation of at least 37 weeks and no more than 41 weeks, and uncomplicated labor as inclusion criteria while exclusion criteria included mobility problems that limit entrance and exit from the shower. The author believed that the sample size is too small and not adequate enough to produce accurate and representative samples.

Ethical considerations were also included in the study. Ethical permission was granted for the study by the university’s institutional review board. . Concepts such as showering, pain, labor, and suffering are were clearly defined, as well as the terms and theory. Researchers ensured that reader understands what is meant by the terms, concepts, and theory used in the study. In the methodology section, four areas were critiqued: research design, data collection, instrument design, and validity and reliability.

The research design has not been clearly identified but based on the description, it is experimental in nature due to utilization of an intervention design with pilot testing. Data collection includes observation of physiologic variables during showering. It was appropriate and clearly described. Instrument design includes single-group, repeated-measures design to test the intervention with non-pregnant women of childbearing age and to allow frequent evaluation of participants before, during, and after a therapeutic shower.

Results were discussed. As stated earlier, there was a pilot study undertaken. Reliability and validity testing are not mentioned in the study. Qualitative Study The qualitative study entitled “Suicide Notes among Native Americans, Hispanics and Anglos” by Olson, Wahab, Thompson and Durrant (2011) was critiqued in terms of sample and ethical considerations. Just like critiquing a quantitative study, sample and ethical considerations are some of the elements influencing robustness of the study.

The sampling method and sample size have been identified. A maximum variation sampling was used as sampling method to investigate the differences and similarities in suicide notes among Native Americans, Hispanics and Anglos. A total of 69 suicide notes as sample size were included in the study. Although sample size was small, this is not