Article critique Silver linings and candles in the dark - Essay Example

? ARTICLE CRITIQUE SUBMITTED BY: SUBMITTED INTRODUCTION The study d ‘Silver linings and candles in the dark’ was conducted by Shiota (2006). The purpose of the study has been stated as to identify whether or not people use positive coping strategies in negative situations selectively. The literature review is comprehensive yet precisely written and provides a direction and rationale for study; the objectives of the study are clearly in line with the literature review which is a good research writing quality (Huck, 2011). A strong theory strengthens the study since it renders the paper with an explicit statement of assumptions while also specifying the key variables involved in the process under study (Torraco, Cited in Swanson & Holton, 1997). Theoretical reference is missing altogether in this paper. Lazarus (1966) theory of stress could have been useful to build the theoretical framework for this study since it explains selective appraisal of stressful situations; and the selective choice of coping strategies depend on these appraisals and individual differences. According to Huck (2011), it is easy to compare the findings against hypotheses if available. The researcher offers two hypotheses in the introduction, both non directional. The study aims at establishing the relationship of the types of coping strategies with negative situations and with direct enhancement of the experience of a positive emotion. The criterion variable is the type of coping strategy and predictor variables are negative events and enhancement of experience of a positive emotion (Bordens & Abbott, 2005). 2. METHODS The research uses a purely quantitative, non experimental design and relies upon a descriptive research methodology drawing on correlational research. Correlational research consists of research designs created to study the relationship between two or more variables. If such a research is used for prediction, than one variable is criterion variable and the other is predictor (Bordens & Abbott, 2005). The design serves the purpose of the study well, however the scope of this study could have been broadened if a qualitative, exploratory approach had also been added to it. According to Graham & colleagues (1989; Cited in Hasse-Biber, 2010), using a mixed method approach serves the following five purposes: tirangularization of results; complimenting the results; development of a concept; initiation of some new theses and expansion of existing ones. The benefits and applications of a study are enhanced if a mixed research methodology is used. According to Onwuegbuzie & McLean (2003), in addition to qualitative studies, quantitative studies must also be screened and checked for external as well as internal validity. In this study, the measures used are valid and the coding was undertaken by hypothesis blind researchers to ensure the validity of results; however, the third variable issue is applicable (Bordens & Abbott, 2005). 3. SAMPLING The participants for this study were 148 students enrolled in a psychology class at a West Coast University and they took part in this study as a class exercise. No target population has been specified as such by the researcher. According to Huck (2011), a full description of the participants should be part of a research paper. The author has accordingly added all details of participants including their mean age, gender distribution and ethnicity. This type of sampling is non probability and falls in the category of convenience sampling, non probability sampling is inferior to probability sampling since the results obtained from a non probability sample are less generalizable (Housden, 2006). According to Steinberg (2011), a large sample size yields more reliable correlations. The sample size of 148 with a response rate of 62% seems appropriate to yield a dependable correlation. 38% participants that were lost during the study were those who either did not return their coping diaries or whose diaries were un-codable. The study however lacks a power analysis (Huck, 2011). 4. MEASURES The study used two means of data collection. First was the PANAS (Positive and Negative Activation Schedule). The reliability of this instrument was calculated by the researchers and is reported to be Cronbach’s Alpha 0.86 and 0.87 for the positive and negative items respectively. Watson (1988, cited in Watson & Clark, 2011) reported that this instrument has a high validity. This instrument was used by the researcher in the current study to measure well being. The other measure used was that of coping diaries. Participants were asked to maintain diaries to record their feelings and coping strategies about negative events for one week. This measure was a bit subjective in nature, but in order to be able to quantify this subjective data, hypothesis blind research assistants were asked to code the data. Both the measures applied were appropriate and this section of the paper is also nicely presented with all details given. 5. DATA ANALYSIS Since this was a correlational research, correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between coping strategies and well being; and coping strategies and severity and type of negative event. Correlation is used to measure and determine whether or not as relationship exists between two variables (Bordens & Abbott, 2005); therefore, the data analysis method applied was highly appropriate for the type of study and variables. All data analysis was quantitative, using scores on the PANAS and coded data from diaries. The study clearly lacks control of external variables including: personality traits and personality types. There are two tables that present data. One table shows the mean scores obtained on each variable but the participants and the other table shows correlations of scores of each of these variables with coping strategy type. Table 1 for example shows that the coping strategy used for the maximum number of days is social support with a mean score 1.54. The second table shows correlations for each coping strategy clearly and also indicates whether the relation is positive or negative. For example the coping skill of distraction is positively correlated with negative affect with a correlation value of 0.20. The information is presented in tables clearly and the discussion which follows contains separate headings to discuss the findings of all calculations separately and clearly. 6. FINDINGS The main findings are: the type of coping strategy used is moderately correlated to the type of a negative event (stressor); use of positive reappraisal and creating positive sensory events were the two coping strategies found to be significantly correlated with the severity of negative event; and positive emotion inducing strategies were associated with positive aspects of well being, but more research is needed on this particular finding. The study is limited to one age group only and cannot be generalized to an older or younger population. The results are presented nicely, using two out of three methods explained by Huck (2011). Graphical representations of findings could have further enhanced the presentation of data. REFERENCES Bordens, K.S & Abbott, B.B. (2005). Research Design and Methods. New York: Mc Graw-Hill, p.99-100. Hasse-Biber, S.N. (2010). Mixed Methods Research: Merging Theory with Practice. New York: Guilford press, p. 3-4. Housden, M. (2006). CIM Research Book Marketing Research and Information. Oxford: Butterworth-Heineman, p. 194 Huck, S. W. (2011). Reading Statistics and Research. Boston, Allyn & Bacon: pp. 1-16 Onwuegbuzie, A.J & McLean, J.E. (2003). Expanding the Framework of Internal and External Validity in Quantitative Research. Research in Schools, Vol. 10 (1): p. 71-89. Shiota, M.N. (2006). Silver Linings and Candles in the Dark: Differences Among Positive Coping Strategies in Predicting Subjective Well-Being. Emotion, Vol. 6 (2): 335-339 Steinberg, W.J. (2011). Statistics Alive. London: SAGE, p. 446-447 Swanson R. A & Holton, E.F (1997). Human Resource Development Handbook: Linking Research and Practice. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler: pp. 114-137. Watson, D & Clark, L.A. (2011). PANAS. (Online). Available at: http://webcache.googleuser content.com/search?q=cache:BWRcvwI523UJ: www.statisticssolutions.com/resources/directory-of-survey-instruments/positive-and-negative-affect-schedule-panas+HISTORY+DEVELOPMENT+ AND+VALIDITY +OF+PANAS&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk&source= www.google.com.pk Accessed July 10th, 2011. Read More