Why People Smoke - Qualitative:advocacy/participatory study - Research Proposal Example

?Running Head: Research Proposal Research Proposal [Institute’s Research Proposal- Why people Smoke Introduction According to global smoking statistics, smoking has killed 12 times more British people than World War II had. Yet, smoking is one of the most prevalent habits. According to another survey, 15 billion cigarettes are sold everyday which is approximately equal to 10 million cigarettes every minute (Siahpush et al, 2003). This research addresses the issue at its very route and tries to come up with long-term solutions. As will be explained later, the research points out at factors that might affect the addiction to smoking along with a comparative study between developed and developing nations. Thus, the research promises healthy contribution to the world of scientific literature in fields of substance abuse and public service. Purpose Statement This research entails an investigation into the factors responsible for such a high prevalence of smoking among people. It will help determine why exactly do people smoke and how different factors (peer pressure, stress level etc) affect this habit of smoking. The latter part of the research is based on qualitative advocacy intended to come up with a tangible action policy to cater to this health problem. Literature Review By using different sources on the internet and online libraries, the researcher came up with a list of literature and gone through multiple readings. Initially, this list of literature appeared unrelated but researcher applied the process of synthesized coherence, putting together work that is generally considered unrelated; theory and research previously regarded as unconnected were pierced together. In addition, the researcher looked into articles in online sociology books, research papers and surveys briefly conducted on gender attitudes by British and Scottish Social Attitudes Surveys that will be helpful in carrying out proposed research. Since smoking and its hazards is a contemporary issue and many aspects of this phenomenon have been extensively written about with different perspectives, the researcher has initially come up with several factors (Siahpush et al, 2003), which influence adoption of this habit for instance schooling in public or private institution, joint or nucleated family system etc. However, due to time constraint, it has been a decision to narrow the research down and specified two factors that are most relevant to the topic and can be tested feasibly. In this regard, researcher will be focusing on the research on these three factors only: Stress Australian Bureau of Statistics conducted a survey in 1998-99 revealing that financial stress and smoking are highly correlated (Siahpush et. al, 1999). This along with many other studies shows that stress has a positive correlation with smoking. People who have financial stress for example might have fewer ways out for recreation and might adopt smoking as a cheap pleasure. Peer pressure Nakajima in 2004 conducted an empirical study by University of Tsukuba revealing that peer pressure has positive effects on smoking (Nakajima, 2004). Many other researches also conform to this result. Especially in adolescence, individuals tend to show desire to fit in social groups and what they call ‘look cool’. Due to this, they might adopt certain habits that may be unhealthy but are socially acceptable within the circles they wish to fit in (Nakajima, 2004). Significance and Objectives The research will prove to be a milestone in the field of study. Even though there have been a lot of work done, very small portion of it actually deals with the question of why people get involved in smoking. Most research (Anderson & Burns, 2000) is based on the effect of smoking rather than its causes. This research directly addresses the question of why and is therefore a novel project. The objectives of this research are precisely to explore the causes of smoking and in particular the effect of stress and peer pressure on individuals will to pursue smoking. Secondly, the research also aims to prepare an action plan to cater to the problem. It intends to address one of the aforementioned factors and then make an action plan to reduce its effect. This latter part of the research is quite interesting in a sense that participative research study is not a common mode of research these days. Thus, this research will add considerable value to the field and can also be useful in policy-making for public affairs and substance abuse. Research Questions The research will try to answer following questions: 1. To what extent does peer pressure influence smoking? 2. To what extent does high stress level influence smoking? 3. Between stress and peer pressure, which factor influence smoking more? Hypothesis The extensive literature review has led to the following hypothesis, which will be tested in the process of research: 1. Peer pressure is positively correlated to smoking. This means that may people start smoke due to high levels of peer encouragement. 2. Increasing the level of stress leads to increased chances of smoking. This implies that higher stress levels lead to more chances of adopting smoking as a habit. 3. Stress is the most influential factor due to which people adopt smoking. Methodology The research will be conducted through the method of self-completion questionnaire, which will be distributed following the cross sectional research design i.e. data is collected on multiple variable at one point in time. The questionnaires are kept neither too lengthy nor too precise as to accommodate all precisions adequately. The questionnaire is properly equipped with easy-to-understand instructions to guide the volunteers through. Since it is a qualitative research, data will be obtained in more subjective form and therefore, numerical details are omitted. The independent variables are stress and peer pressure while the dependant variable is smoking habit. As the result is obtained, the variable that seem to have high positive correlation with smoking is focused and actions will be planned to minimize that variable in order to reduce smoking amongst the sample. Using this strategy called ‘Qualitative Advocacy’ or ‘Participative Research Study’, not only useful information is obtained but also efforts are made to make a positive change in the studies sample. Philosophical Assumptions of Qualitative Research There are basically five assumptions of qualitative research which are described below: 1. Epistemological: this assumption focuses on the relationship between the researcher and the subject. It implies that researcher grows closer to the subject and tries to step in his shoes. This assumption mainly relies on participant observation and forces the researcher to become an insider. 2. Ontological: this assumption focuses on the actual nature of the reality. It implies that reality is subjective and can vary from one observer to another. This approach relies more on introspective reports of the subjects. 3. Axiological: this assumption focuses more on values and implicit biases. While following this approach, the researcher corrects the subject’s interpretation to their values and then gives his interpretation explaining how the values of an individual affect his perspective on issues. 4. Rhetorical: this assumption focuses on the language of the research. Using this approach, the researcher uses an informal style of writing which is engaging and strictly restricted to qualitative approach. 5. Methodological: this assumption focuses on process of the research. One can use induction and employ the design that is derived. This approach relies more on details before jumping to generalizations, and keeps adjusting the method from experiences of the field. Analysis Once the data is compiled, analysis will take place. In the analysis, the data will be summarized and in case of any new variable, all variables will be rearranged. Once, variables are defined, associations will be formed paying way to statistical analysis. As soon as the researcher had a little clue of how each independent variable affects the dependant variable, researcher can move forward to seeing which one affects the most. Ethical Consideration As researcher has used questionnaires for our data collection, one could not directly observe the ethical implications of the research. However, keeping in mind the four dimensions mentioned by Bryman, researcher will try the best to maintain the ethical integrity of the research: Firstly, the issue of informed consent will not pose a problem as only those respondents who will be willing to participate will respond to the questionnaires. A note will be attached with the questionnaire providing considerable information However, the information provided will be basic so the participant would not discover the hypotheses being tested nor be influenced by it. Deception will also be avoided as researcher will inform the participants what the research was avoiding provision of false information to ensure their participation. There is also the fact that questionnaires ask direct questions so it would be difficult to deceive anyone into believing that the research is intended for anything but what had already been stated. The respondents’ privacy will be maintained as well. In addition, names will not be asked to maintain the anonymity. There is no physical harm involved. As far as mental harm is concerned, researcher has been careful in designing the questionnaire so that the data is attained without causing stress to the respondents. Questionnaire Please respond to the following statements and questions: Place a check in front of your age group: ____ 18 – 20 ____ 21 – 24 ____ 25 – 30 ____ 31 – 34 ____ 35 – older Gender: ____ M, ____F Major: ______________________ 1. Do one or more of your parent(s) or guardian(s) currently smoke? ____ Yes ____no 2. In the home in which you grew up, did anyone else smoke? ____ yes ____ no 3. If yes in number 1 and 2, how many members of your immediate household (parents, siblings, and grandparents) smoke? ______ 4. How many times per day are you (not including yourself, if you are a smoker) in an environment where you can smell smoke or someone smoking? ____ 5. Do you smoke cigarettes? ____ yes ____no If you responded with Yes, please continue with question 6. If you responded with No, please skip to question 15. 6. At what age did you begin smoking? ____ 7. What were the three main reasons you started smoking? 8. Approximately how much do your smoke? _______ Cigarettes per day or ________ cigarettes per week 9. What are the main reasons you continue to smoke? 10. Name the three places you smoke most often. 11. What triggers your urge to smoke? 12. Do you anticipate health problems related to smoking? ____ yes ____no 13. Have you tried to stop smoking? ____ yes ____ no If YES, how many times? ____ If YES, what methods did you try? __________________________________________ 14. Do you feel you could stop smoking whenever you wanted to? ____ yes ____no 15. If you do not smoke now, did you ever smoke? ____ yes ____ no 16. If you did smoke, what were the two most important factors that prompted you to quit smoking? 17. If you have never smoked, what factors have influenced you to not smoke? 18. As a non-smoker how does a smoking environment affect you? Thank you! (Toyota & National Science Teachers Association, n.d.) . References Bryman, A., Bell, E. (2007). Business Research Methods. Oxford University Press. Print. Anderson, Christy and Burns, David M. (2000). “Patterns of Adolescent Smoking Initiation Rates by Ethnicity and Sex.” Journal of Tobacco Control. Volume 9, pp. ii4-ii8. Retrieved on February 12, 2011: http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/9/suppl_2/ii4.full Nakajima, R. (2007). “Measuring Peer Effects on Youth Smoking Behaviour.” Review of Economic Studies. Volume 74, pp. 897-935. Retrieved on February 12, 2011: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-937X.2007.00448.x/full Siahpush, M., Borland, R., Scollo, M. (2003). “Smoking and Financial Stress.” Journal of Tobacco Control. Volume 12, pp. 60-66. Retrieved on February 12, 2011: http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/12/1/60.full Toyota & National Science Teachers Association. (n.d.). Questionnaire. NSTA. Retrieved on February 12, 2011: http://ists.pls.uni.edu/~stone/Smoking%20Questionnaire.doc World Health Organization. (2006). World Health Statistics 2006. World Health Organization. Print. Read More