Psychology Article Critique

Article Critique

Randomized Controlled Trial of Internet-Based Stress Management

Kristofer Zetterqvist , Juha Maanmies , Lars StroYOm and Gerhard Andersson

Abstract

The abstract was short and concise , it contained all the essential elements of the study that a reader would likely want to know about like what the is about , the design and methods used the results and recommendations . However , there was a length sentence on the sample of the study participants and one would at first ask why the need to include all of this , though it was addressed in the last

sentence for drop out rates were higher in this study it did not really contribute much to the abstract . Specific details in the results of the study was not included , like how many of participants actually felt relieved from stress and also it did not mention the major statistical tools used to analyze the data of the study

Literature review

The literature review was too short and it did not cover the much needed information on how the internet can be used as a medium for stress management and whether previous researches had found any evidence of its effectiveness or the information highlighted in the previous studies Moreover , self-help as a means of therapy was also not discussed thoroughly , and the literature presented described the variables superficially . There was also very little analysis or critical discussion of the related literature presented , most of it was in run-off sentences and did not sufficiently gave the reader an overview of what has been done , what methods had been used , what relevant findings could help in the design of the study proper

Research questions (hypotheses

The research statement of the study was to develop and evaluate an internet-based program for self-help stress reduction techniques through email correspondence . The research statement was ambiguous it did not contain the variables that the study was supposed to measure . Although the research was a development and an evaluation of the internet-based program , it did not clearly indicate what that program is , and how it will be evaluated . The hypothesis of the study was not congruent with its research statement , the author 's hypothesized that internet-based self-help programs for stress reduction will be cost-effective and educative for the participants

Population of the study vs population of interest

The population of the study was recruited over the internet and through news advertisements . The participants volunteered to be a part of the study and were contacted through email of the details of the study Although they were scrutinized as to their commitment to finish the study and their various psychological states there was no exclusion criteria , out of the initial number that showed interest , the first 100 was chosen to participate in the study , by the time the study started the participants were down to 85 because some withdrew from the study Since self-help is actually an independent method of stress reduction and only those highly motivated to engage in it will likely be successful in it , hence...