Critique of Cultural Competency in Peer-Run Programs Article by Jessica A. Jonikas, et. al - Coursework Example

Social Research: Article Critique Number Due The use of critical skills when reading and evaluatingresearch articles has been underscored and that consumers of researchers should not accept an article or its findings at the face value must they should interrogate it further. The following paper is of a quantitative research article by Jessica A. Jonikas, Stephen Kiosk, Dennis D Grey, Marie M Hamilton, James McNulty and Judith A Cook. The title of the article is, “cultural competency in peer-run programs: Results of a web survey and implications for future practice.” The article was published in the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal of 2010, volume thirty four (34), and issue number two (2) from pages 121-129. Title and Introduction The title of the article “Cultural competency in peer-run programs: Results of a web survey and implications for future practice” (Jonikas, Kiosk, Grey, Hamilton, McNulty, & Cook, 2010), accurately and concisely refelected the content of the article and the reseach study itself. The title of the research was appropriate has it covered the purpose of the research and describes the research study at a glance. Although the wordings of the research study are numerous, they provide a concise answer to the overall aim of the study and it can be easily retrieved from an indexing system since it contains several key words. However, the title is not clear on the research problem but has pointed out the study population by hinting that the study population is to be carried out on the internet. The fact that the title of the article has revealed the study population is a bonus to the researchers. The abstract was concise and further explaining the article in more detail as evidenced by objectives, methods, results, and conclusions, which are provided at a glance. The type of the research study, the objectives of the study, sample size, variables, measurement methods, findings and conclusion were all mentioned in brief. In the introduction part of the research study, the authors have immediately stated the significance of the problem area, that is, there exists certain barriers that inhibit the uptake of peer run mental health support groups and programs. Statement of the problem The problem explored in the entire article was stated as a problem statement and in order to build their case and to convince the reader beyond reasonable doubt, the authors have provided legislations and past reports that have enhanced meaningful community participation and attainment of better life and a fulfilling life for people with disabilities in the past twenty years (Jonikas, Kiosk, Grey, Hamilton, McNulty, & Cook, 2010,pg.121). By providing the basis for the establishment of peer run mental health groups and programs that are geared towards the improvement of community participation for people with disabilities, the authors has further buttressed the statement problem. The Statement of the problem that has been postulated by the researchers is clearly a topic of interest. It is true that little has been done, in terms of research on the issue of cultural competency in peer-run groups and programs. Although the problem can be identified from the introduction part, it has been presented and stated rather in an ambiguous manner. The statement of the problem has been ingrained in the introductory remarks and it is upon the reader to synthesize and comprehend the problem. The statement of the research is important, significant in the field of psychology, and nursing as it seeks to provide more information on the cultural competency in peer-run groups and programs, an issue that has not been given much attention in the last two decades. Based on the research problem, the researchers have done well by adopting a quantitative approach and internet as the main source for the population and hence it can be affirmed that the problem of the study perfectly matches with the paradigms and methods that the researchers have used and it the general research fraternity. Another setback that is evident in the problem statement is that is has not been linked to any theory or theories within the psychology field or from any other relevant field. Literature Review The researchers have made tremendous efforts in summarizing the existing body of knowledge that are related to the research study, that is, “exploring the peers’ perception of cultural competency at both the peer provider and the organizational levels within peer-run programs and groups.” The literature review is adequate and comprehensive due to its extensive coverage of the topic and problem under study. The researchers have reviewed literature concerning mental health mutual support and mental health treatment disparities and thereafter linking the same to the problem under study and future research. By linking the past research studies and the current study, the literature review has laid a solid and perfect ground for the study and other subsequent studies. The literature review has identified past interventions and strategies that have been developed so as to increase the participation of people with disabilities in the community. Through the literature review, the authors have identified and created a gap that the study seeks to address. It also clear from the literature review segment that there was no omissions of significant references. The meaning of cultural competencies was well defined in the literature review and its relationship with attitudes towards race, knowledge bout cultures and skills for intercultural communication was also well established (Jonikas, Kiosk, Grey, Hamilton, McNulty, & Cook, 2010,pg.123). The research questions that were identified are; what common cultural competency barriers do those people with disabilities who are attending peer programs/groups report and do perceptions of these vary by race or ethnicity? What reasons do peers have for not attending peer-run programs and do these vary by race or ethnicity? What challenges and successes have peers had in promoting cultural diversity and competency within peer programs? (Jonikas, Kiosk, Grey, Hamilton, McNulty, & Cook, 2010,pg.123). The main hypothesis identified by the authors is that there exists certain cultural competencies that act as a barrier to the utilization of peer run mental health programs and groups. The above hypothesis was testable. The Methodology For the purposes of the study, the overall study design was appropriate and this can be supported by the measurement and sensitivity tools that were used. It is important to point out that the research study has failed in totality to mention and define the conceptual frameworks for the study. Although the researchers have provided the reasons and basis for the study, they have failed to point out and link the study to any philosophical basis, conceptual framework or any ideological orientation. The research study has however defined cultural competencies on the basis of ethnicity and culture and at the organizational level. Although the research has failed to explicitly state the research questions, the absence of the same can be imagined. The research statement problem and the research objective have covered the slot for research questions but it is also important to note that the researchers have not justified the absence of research questions from the study. The research study design has been based on the conventional method of data collection and analysis. This is due to the fact the research was based on qualitative data collection and analysis. The research study adequately described the target population and participant and the setting and sample of was also described in sufficient detail. Although the researchers used a sample size that consisted of 527 participants and based their results on the above, it can be argued that the sample size was small and hence saturation could not be achieved. On the other hand, it can be postulated that the sample size was adequate given the notion that every research is always constrained with certain factors. However, it can be opined that the sample size was not adequate since the research failed to give a true reflection of the overall population that used the peer-run groups or programs. A scrutiny of the overall design of the study reveals that it has internal validity although the measurement approach or tool has some demerits and this has also been confirmed by the authors. The degree of external validity of the research study can be stated to be low and this can be linked to the small sample that was used. The study was not psychometrically validated due to the failure or absence of the mental health peer program cultural competency surveys. Data Analysis Two tables have been used to display the data from the research study and they highlighted the reasons for not attending peer run programs as reported by respondents who had never attended such programs and also the problems of peer run programs in meeting multicultural needs as reported by participants. The tables were accurate and they reflected the content and results that were described in the text. Results and Conclusions The researchers have offered a perfect interpretation of their findings by considering the implications and limitations that arise from the research study. The discussion phase of the research has succeeded in pointing out the limitations and implications of the research which is a strong scoring point for the research. The researchers studied the perceptions of adults with psychiatric disabilities in relation to cultural competency of peer-run mental health support groups and programs and they relied mainly on web survey respondents. They have pointed out the limitation of this type of study by admitting that the results may not represent the mental health peer programs or groups or the people that use them. The limitations have been based on the premise that the study was based on a non-random convenience sample or respondents with access to the internet. It was also biased towards women with high school or greater education and the Caucasians and hence there is chances that the results from the study is not a true representation of all mental health peer programs and groups or the people that use such programs. In order to eliminate the limitations that were associated with the study, the researchers ought to have embraced a more comprehensive methodological approach by involving other non-web users so as to enhance the reliability of the data and its validity. In conclusion, the internal and external validity of the above study is in question. This is based on the fact that the researchers have conceded that the study was not a true reflection of the population that used peer-run groups and programs. References The researchers have endeavored to use current references for the study and it comprehensively covers more and classical studies that have done within the field of psychology and nursing. General Information The researchers have achieved their objectives by generating results that are related to the aspirations of the study. This study seeks to buttress other research studies that have done on the field and further shed more light to the uptake of peer run mental health programs and groups. Results from this research study also support the importance of establishing peer run mental health programs that are tailored to various cultural competency needs. Policy makers and more so those involved in the development of peer programs and groups can use the results of the study to address cultural competencies issues in such peer run mental health programs. The research study also gives chance for future research by allowing such future studies to use broader population. References Jonikas, J. A., Kiosk, S., Grey, D. D., Hamilton, M. M., McNulty, J., & Cook, J. A. (2010). Cultural Competency in Peer-Run Programs: Results of a Web Survey and Implications for Future Practice. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal , 34 (2), 121-129. Read More