Reflective Ealuation of Research Project - Essay Example

Reflective Evaluation of Research Project Reflective Evaluation of Research Project When my research study is taken into consideration, it is evident that unemployment is one of the major life elements that are believed to contribute to poor mental health among unemployed women. My research study intends to investigate the relationship between unemployment status of women and their mental health. Notably, numerous studies have been conducted to determine the relationship between unemployment and mental health status. These previous studies have effectively linked unemployed with mental health problems. Therefore, my study is aimed at determining the same relationship, but with emphasis on unemployed women. However, to understand the problem effectively and conclusively without any degree of bias, my study will also involve or interview employed women. From my research study, I am aiming at establishing whether unemployed women have suffered depression and Attention Deficient Hyperactive Disorder due to their unemployed state. I also project that the research will reveal that some unemployed women do not exhibit these mental challenges (Warr, 1987; p. 35).Due to research’s diverse methodology and comprehensive case reviews, I established that the result were authentic and valid (Bell, 2005; p. 51) thus providing adequate information about the research and its intended activities. I also employed the use of Reflective Evaluation in this Research Project to help me in providing comprehensive theoretical and methodological aspects of the study as well as personal thoughts about learning incidences throughout the process. My research study has presented theoretical support and analysis of previous investigations/research works that have ever been conducted in the same area (Deryck B, 2004; p. 67). Several research works have indicated that similar research patterns have been conducted on different aspects involving the status of employment and mental health among women. In other previous study, the investigators established that women who remained unemployed for a period of over five years exhibited conspicuous signs of depression than those who were unemployed for less than five years (Bruce, 1998; p. 44). My critical analysis and understanding of the notion that unemployment has a direct effect on mental health is based on Jahoda’s deprivation theory of unemployment. Jahoda’s theory provides sufficient grounds for hypothetical analysis in the proposed study. The theory posits that class, age, and societal structures are major contributors of poor mental conditions among the unemployed persons (Edgell, 2012; p. 57). My aim of undertaking this study is to investigate and demonstrate that unemployment among woman leads to poor mental health conditions. I also proposed that unemployed women are highly susceptible to mental diseases such as depression. As such, the research study aimed at investigating whether women have better coping strategies towards solving these medical disorders associated with their unemployment (Romans and Seeman, 2006; p 122). To provide a quality report, I sampled 50 women. The sample comprised of those who were unemployed for more than five years and those unemployed for a shorter period. It should be noted that my sampling technique was random. However, the unemployed women in the targeted area were already identified. The desired information from for the research was collected through focused interviews and at times, group discussions were involved depending on my agreement with the women. This sample quantity and the sampling technique or the data collection methodology provided quality information that offered a healthy and effective conclusion without any degree of bias (Alasuutari, Bickman, and Brannen, 2009; p. 43). The justification of the design of the study provided points to success and excellence in choosing methodology that adequately explained most critical issues that formed the content of the questionnaire. This eliminates doubts about the potential questions that are likely to be considered during the development of the questionnaire. Additionally, my methodology was analysed and weighed against other research methodologies thereby evading any other applicable approach thus allowing the filtration process of the study population. Furthermore, my other conditionality was analysed to provide reasons for focusing on a given population group while ignoring others. In this study, women formed the core of the study. The scope of using qualitative research methods is robust considering that my proposed study aimed at generating minimal quantity applications (Alasuutari, Bickman, and Brannen, 2009; p. 189). In addition, I focused on the applicability of non-probability sampling technique thus minimizing chances for scrutiny of the methods. Furthermore, I intended the questionnaires to reach the participants by employing the services of volunteers to assist in the distribution process. The use of volunteers in this case minimized prejudice that may have been generated from pre-information on the concepts of the study by the targeted sample. Other than the raw information, the project also used secondary sources of data in the premise of the case studies (Bryman, 2012; p. 123). I applied case studies towards understanding the breadth and possible weakness that was not handled in such cases. The ethics of study processes are quite vital in any research. In addition, it is equally important to consider the benefits of widening the study to come up with a control population (Alasuutari, Bickman, and Brannen, 2009; p. 117). The control population in this study included women in full term employment who helped in identifying and arguing the subject under study. Project control is very significant since it helps in avoiding hasty generalization that women would suffer from poor mental health conditions even when they are employed (Alasuutari, Bickman, and Brannen, 2009; p. 123). The essence of codes of ethic is to help me in maintaining an amicable relationship with all participants especially the sample group throughout the study to ensure that wrong information is not provided during data collection. The volunteers who distributed the questionnaires also ensured that codes of ethics were maintained to minimize interference with data collection process. It is worth to note that when undertaking project, I adhered to the critical principles of social science inquiries that include participation, elimination of harm, dishonesty, secrecy, and political considerations (Bryman, 2012; p. 76). In fact, the codes of conduct advocate for maximum application of these principles. These elements ensured that the processes of research were guided by these principles. Considerably, interviewing of women about their unemployment status might affect their psychological and emotional wellbeing. As such, adherence to the social science research principles helped me in eliminating all concerns. The case studies provided the means of using secondary data towards eliminating any form of infringement on the opinion rights of their authors (Alasuutari, Bickman, and Brannen, 2009; p. 163). Additionally, I neither engaged nor participated in any political affiliation(s) or opinion(s) that might have affected or influenced the study. This is because studies on unemployment are subject to political challenges. The project planning strategies that I applied were sufficient and excellent at reflecting data management, research schedule, and proper data handling (Deryck, 2004; p. 45). Moreover, I eliminated personal bias by using the random sampling method. Finally, it is worth noting that I maintained immense caution when using social media in disseminating research findings by ensuring that the choice of language did not harm the image of my respondents. The proposed study has clearly shown that my research process meets scientific thresholds. The choice of the study topic is informed by the fact that for several years, studies have focused on men and children but neglected women. Therefore, focusing solely on unemployed women shall generate very distinct and robust knowledge regarding to the effects of unemployment on the mental health of women. The study methodology has clearly indicated that a critical process that shall be used in the research process is scientific. The section on ethical standards shall ensure that all moral and principle concerns are adhered to as defined by social research guidelines so that the research study is conducted in effective ways towards obtaining results that are valid, reliable and comprehensive. References ALASUUTARI, P, BICKMAN, L. & BRANNEN, J. (edits) (2009). The SAGE handbook of social research methods London: Sage. BELL, J., (2005). Doing your Research project: A guide for first time researchers in education, health and social science 4th ed. Maidenhead: OUP BRUCE P. D. (1998). Adversity, Stress, and Psychopathology Oxford University Press. BRYMAN, A., (2012). Social Research Methods 3rded. New York: Oxford University Press. DERYCK B. (2004). Implementation of the Data Protection Directive In Relation To Medical Research in Europe. England: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. EDGELL, S. (2012). The Sociology of Work: Continuity and Change in Paid and Unpaid Work. SAGE KORNSTEIN, S. G. and CLAYTON, A. H. (2004). Womens Mental Health: A Comprehensive Textbook. New York: Guilford Press. ROMANS, S. E., and SEEMAN, M. V. (2006). Womens Mental Health: A Life Cycle Approach. USA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. WARR, P. B. (1987). Work, unemployment, and mental health. Clarendon Press. Read More