Factors to Decrease the Rate of Smoking - Research Paper Example

Factors that decrease the rate of smoking Introduction This is a paper that seeks to propose a study to investigate factors that work to reduce the rate of smoking. The overarching purpose for this research would be establishing the dominant factor that works to reduce the rate of smoking. The topic, therefore, entails examining factors that dominantly work to promote or reduce on rate of smoking with a focus on the later. Research Questions The researcher has set out research questions in an attempt to identifying specific considerations to make in order to achieve the purposes for the study. The research questions play a central role in any study and are said to have very close relation with the purpose of the study in the sense that the research questions are what directs any research work. Moreover, the research questions can support the research in its objective of achieving the possible answer to the thesis. The central research question in this proposed study what are the factors that help reduce on smoking rate. There are other research questions which support the leading research question. These are: Why does smoking entail? What causes an individual to resort to smoking? Research Design There are six major research designs that can be used by researchers. Among these, the researcher shall settle with the use of survey research design. Generally, surveys entail a representative research whereby data collected from a group of people is generalized for a wider population base. The term survey is used widely in research work. It refers to the process of selecting a relatively large sample of people from a predetermined population in which the researcher is interested in. This process is followed by collecting a small quantity of the data out of the selected individuals. This information is then used by the researcher in making inferences concerning the wider population. In using the survey, collection of data are in a standardized form usually achieved through interviews or by a questionnaire. Surveys are always designed in away to providing snapshots of state of things at any specific time’. This strategy is suited to descriptive type of studies, although limited to aspects of a situation. The method has some disadvantages and advantages. These include: first, the research gives data that are based on empirical data secondly the coverage of many events implies more likelihood of some other approaches to obtaining data that are based on representative samples. This may be generalizable for a whole population. Thirdly, survey produces large data within a short time at a fairly low cost. This implies that researchers can come up with small time-span for a given project. This in effect assists, in proper planning, as well as, in delivering end results. However, it should be noted that survey as a research method has some disadvantages. This include how significance data becomes neglected should the concerned researcher put much emphasis on the coverage while excluding the account of the implications of the data for problems, issues, or theories. Secondly, in survey, there is the likelihood of the data produced lacking depths on the topic that is being investigated. Last but not least, in survey it becomes difficult to control and to secure a high response rates to a survey. This happens when survey is done by post, as well as, when carried out over the telephone or face to face. In this study, the surveying sampling technique shall involve the selection of candidates that is not based on any fore knowledge of who is going to be part of the sample size and who shall not be part of the sample. Since surveying sampling has been identified to be a type of sampling technique that ensures very high levels of fairness in data collection. This is said because the researcher does not have any influence over the people from whom data will be collected from. By extension, it means that the researcher shall not have any control over the type of data to be collected. The final result can, therefore, be judged as highly genuine. One weakness that has been identified with surveying sampling technique as against purposive sampling technique is that with the surveying sampling technique, there is the likelihood of all variables set being not represented in the sample size. Even if they are represented, there is the fear that there may not be a fair representation of them. This is to mean that if for instance we want to compare the occurrence of stress in males as against females, there may be the likelihood that there may be no males in the sample size if they are selected randomly. The researcher, however, trusts that since there is a general evenness in the representation of variables within the population, there is a high probability that all variables will be met. Dependent and Independent variables. The research this proposal seeks to suggest has mortality and morbidity as the dependent variable while the amount of glycemic and the amount of glucose under control as an independent variables. This is in consideration that the study seeks to ascertain if controlling the level of glycemic, as well as glucose levels is significantly affects the rate of mortality and morbidity among the critically ill patients in the ICU. The confounding variables, in this case, include all the diseases more in particular the hospital related infected infections that can interfere with the outcomes especially for the case where they alter mortality and morbidity rates among the critically ill patients in the ICU. Sample Size The sample shall be a handy percentage out of the total population size to be built with a total of 1548 patients being enrolled in the study. The population, on the other hand, refers to all people who have some level of possibility of becoming part of the sample size. All 1548 patients shall be composed of adults that shall be receiving mechanical ventilation. It would be seen that this population presents a very large number of people whom the researcher will have to deal with. It is always important to build a sample size for data collection when there is a very large population to deal with. With the sample size, the researcher will now be dealing with a number that is quite manageable and not out of the control of the researcher. Using a large sample size ensures very high level of fairness in the representation of people in the sample size. Again, it is important to make the scope of population wide so that there will be variety in variables. It is for this reason that the researcher shall use large sample. Even more, the conclusions from a survey can well be considered representative if the sample size is large enough. This would go a long way in reducing bias as well as reducing on variability, which in turn will make it appropriate for generalization of the results and their application in practice. Inclusion and Exclusion Principle. This research would include adult patients, who are admitted in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit that is dedicated basically though not exclusively to the surgical patients between the 2nd February 2000, and 18th January, 2001. These patients should be receiving mechanical ventilation. In consideration to this, the inclusion principle is adult patients who must be receiving mechanical ventilation. The exclusion principle is all patients that are taking part in other trials, and those who are moribund. Methods of Data Collection In this study, observation method would be employed. Observation method would entail collecting data for the first time. Generally, collection of the primary data shall be collected through experimental survey. Experimental survey entail a representative research whereby, data collected from a group of people is generalized for a wider population base. For this research, therefore, the researcher will make use of the data that collected from the sample size to represent the wider idea as it exists among all adult patients, within the surrounding area of the research and beyond. A prospective, randomized controlled study would involve adults admitted in the surgical intensive care Unit. During admission, patients would be randomly be assigned in order to receive the intensive Insulin therapy. Because conclusions from surveys are generalized, it is always important to ensure that the selection procedure for the sample size is very fair and well represented. It is for this reason that the surveying sampling procedure will be used by the researcher. Again, it is important to make the scope of population wide so that there will be variety in variables. It is for this reason that the researcher shall use large sample. Even more, the conclusions from a survey can well be considered representative if the sample size is large enough. In this case, in this study the type of sampling that would be more suitable would be a randomized sampling. Method for Analysis of Data In this study, t test of mean differences shall be the most applicable statistical method for analyzing data. This is because the t-test is more often than not used in determining whether the difference between the two means is significant. For this case, the t-Tests statistical method is widely used by most researchers for making comparison of the mean values of the numeric outcome for two groups. Clearly, it is most suitable for this study given that it shall be used to calculate the means for critically ill patients and for making the comparison to ascertain if they differ significantly in regard to patients affected. Following the study design used, it is clear that the study is quite feasible. As a survey, it is the level of reliability and validity that will give the research the needed credibility for its findings to be generalized. From this study I have learned, there are several factors to be put in place to ensure that the results are highly reliable and valid. Some of the factors include the selection approach used in selecting sources of data for the research. In the absence of such selection mechanism, the data presented under the data collection cannot be trusted as reliable and valid because they will not have any empirical backing. Another factor has to do with the use of random sampling technique to select members in the sample size. With that technique, the implication is that the researcher shall have no control whatsoever over the results. Even more is the extensive reliance on quantitative data analysis method. With quantitative data analysis, figures and values shall be displayed for all people concerned to have their own calculations to check the accuracy of results. Finally, the researcher is based on compromise to ethical standards such as the confidentiality of respondents. This means that there shall not be any legal issues to litigate the research findings. In some cases, legal litigations lead to the withdrawal of certain components of data, rendering the whole research conclusion compromised and academically paralyzed (Bergh et al, 2008). References Bergh et al, 2008. Insulin Therapy in Critically Ill Patients. New England Journal of Medicine 345: 1359-68. Read More