Physical Activity and Health Risks - Assignment Example

Article Critique Briefly discuss the research goals and hypotheses. The goal of this study isto examine the relationship between the frequency and intensity of physical activity and health behaviors of adolescents. Specifically, this study investigated associations among low-, medium- and moderate intensity physical activities and health risk behaviors including alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use, and health promoting behaviors including nutrition, sleep, and stress management of high school aged adolescents. The goal that has been presented by the researcher is informed by the argument that physical activities that the adolescents engage in act as behavior modification strategies. Critical examination of the study, based on the selection of the design that that researcher has used indicates clearly that the researcher hypothesized further that there would be differences that would be experienced by individuals in terms of their genders, ethnicity and ages, in reaction to the role of physical activities in promotion of good health. These views have been narrowed down to a wider, working hypothesis. In the research, the author has hypothesized that adolescents participating in increasing frequency of both vigorous and moderate physical activities would be less likely to engage in health risk behaviors, and more likely to engage in health promoting behaviors. There is however a need to appreciate that the researcher did not make specific consideration of other related factors defining the change of behavior of the adolescence. For instance, while dealing with the drug use as a risk behavior, a study needs to appreciate that there are reinforcing factors that promote the use of such behavior. Such factors need to be addressed first before embarking on making a uni-varriete analysis in the study. An alcohol addict would not successfully associate physical activities with adoption of good habits. (Weise, C. E., 2010). It requires that the study considers fears that the addict may be having including the withdrawal symptoms. The same explanation would be with the process of smoking cessation which may mean that the adolescence in question makes the step to forego enjoyment that comes with quitting smoking. Unless the hypothesis presented is in tandem with the salient barriers to appreciation of physical activities as causal factors to the adoption of healthy and nutritious behaviors, then the hypothesis remains null. 2. What theoretical construct(s), if any, is (are) being examined? In other words, does this study test a specific theory or theoretical construct(s)/concept(s)? This study has have been grounded on behavior modification theory. Broadly, the theory that the researcher has highly depended on is social learning theory. Social learning theory suggests that individuals learn new behaviors based on the observations that they make and also the instructions that they obtain from authoritative sources. Specifically, the author has attempted to prove stress management theory. In this case, the study assumes that risky behaviors such as use of marijuana, consumption of alcohol and smoking are as a result of stress that the adolescents undergo. In trying to validate this assumption, the research suggests that dealing with the stressful situation require that adolescent get involved with physical activity. While this would be a clear theoretical frame work of the study, the researcher ought to have appreciated that behavior patterns are concepts that can be learnt, unlearnt and re-learnt. In table two, there is a major evidential finding, which indicate that the there is a direct relationship between the adoption of new and healthy behaviors, and the increase in physical activities among the adolescents. 3. Diagram (using the Xs and Os concept presented in class) clearly the summarizing research design used in the study. In this diagram, identify the sampling method, independent and dependent variables (what’s measured), experimental and control groups, and the intervention/treatment. Now explain the diagram in words. The sample that has been used in this research is 822 11th – and 12th- grade students attending an ethnically and socially diverse suburban school in the North- East Florida during fall 2005 and 2006. In this study, the researcher has used convenience sampling design. This is the kind of design that researchers use when they have intention of proving certain theory. It is normally convenient in the population where the population is highly heterogeneous. (Creswell, J. W., & Clark, V. L., 2007) In this study, the researcher was interested in ensuring that all the ethnic groups and economic strata are given equal chances. This would eventually ensure that biases that may be experience as a result of dominance of specific groups are addressed. While this method of sampling has its advantages, it is not an accurate method of sampling since it can be easily manipulated by a researcher. In this study, the researcher has isolated independent variables as vigorous VPA and moderate VPA. These are the physical activities that the students have been engaged in. The intension is to ensure that that the two concepts can be manipulated to assess their impact the behaviors of the students. The dependent variable in this case is the behavior change from risky behavior to healthy behavior. The two concepts have been clustered together so that the author can have some control on the study without necessarily involving control group in the study. This means that the researcher has not used control group in the study. The question of whether the researcher considered the inhibiting factors of adoption of physical activities has been answered through the research methodology. Ideally, the use of treatment would be used as a control measure, however, this would only be applicable in the case where all the students needed the treatment. The researcher has therefore avoided the use of treatment to ensure that the subjects of the study are found in their natural state. 4. Why were MANOVA and ANOVA tests used in this study? The use of MANOVA and ANOVA in this study was the surest way through which the researcher would ensure that levels of the research are distinctively categorized. This method can always be used to ensure that different concepts are studied at the same time while independent factors are still observed. 5. Are the authors conclusions (as presented in the discussion) based on the statistical . findings appropriate? I.e., do the data analyses support the researchers’ conclusions? Explain your answer. The author has presented mixed position in the conclusion. First, the author’s identification of the fact that the study has some deficit is a better position that allows for other researchers to conduct future studies. However, there are severe errors that the author has conducted while presenting conclusion. First, the author has not addressed the big question. Secondly, the conclusion talks about CDC which was not originally in the findings and lastly, his conclusion does not discuss numbers as pointed in the findings. 6. What are the weaknesses of this study? Are there threats to internal or external validity? The study has been grounded on some non-scientific concepts such as ethnic differences. This undermines some important factors such as experiences that the subjects might have had. It therefore interferes with the internal validity of the study. 7. What would like to know that were not reported in the study? Or how might you improve this study? To improve this study, time facto should be taken care of. It should be clear that studies that border behavior need some systematic study such as survey. A survey would be able to allow the researcher understand other dynamics that would play along in interfering with the accurate understanding of the impact that physical activities have in healthy behavior. It is equally important that the study focus on positive psychology. While individuals may want to impress the researcher by stopping risky behaviors, it is would be better if the researcher also focus on positive reinforces of good behaviors. References Creswell, J. W., & Clark, V. L. (2007).Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE Publications. Delisle, T. (2006). Relationship Between Frequency and Intensity of Physical Activity and Health Behaviors of Adolescents. Journal of School Health, 2, 1-3. Weise, C. E. (2010). Behaviour modification for the treatment of alcoholism: an annotated bibliography. Toronto: Addiction Research Foundation. Read More