Social Work Research

Assignment 1 SWK557 Hypothesis to be tested : Women with higher level of social support are most likely to experience better health related quality of life than those with lower lever of social support The health related quality of life is the dependent variable The level of support is the Independent variable 1 . Lantz , House , Mero , and William (2005 ) said that stress is major events of people 's life changes that could be observed and reported objectively , e .g , divorce or death of a loved one

2 . According to Pearlin , Schieman , Fazio

and Meersman (2005 ) stress is the unhealthy responses to events that may disrupt the continuity of people 's live e .g . enduring economic strain due to loss of job

3 . According to Achat Kawachi ,Levine ,Berkey ,Coaklry and Colditz Stress is a life experience that affects people 's mental and psychosocial well being negatively in maintaining a level of over all functioning thus enabling them not to purse valued life goals

ReferencesAchat H , Kawachi I , Levine ,S ,Berkey C , Coakley Colditz , G (1998 Social Networks , Stress and Health Related-Quality Of Life . Quality of life Research , 7 ,775

Lantz , M .P , House , S .J , Mero ,

.R Williams , R .D (2005 ) Stress Life Events , and Socioeconomic Disparities in Health : Results from the Americans ' Changing Lives Study . Journal of Health and Social Behavior 46 , 274-288

Pearlin , L .I , Schieman , S , Fazio , E .M , Meersman , S .C (2005 ) Stress Health and the Life Course , Some Conceptual Perspectives ' Journal of Health and Social Behavior , 46 .205-219

Social Work Research 1 (SWK557

Assignment 2 1 . Hypothesis to be tested : Women with higher level of social support are more likely to experience better health related quality of life than those with lower level of social support 2 . Health related quality of life is the dependent variable

The level of social support is the independent variable

3 . According to Achat , Kawachi , Levine , Berkey , Coakley and Colditz (1998 , the health related quality of care is measured by the (SF-36 Health Survey Short -Form (p .737 A . Copy and the example of the Measurement questionnaire (see attachment B . Achat , Kawachi , Levine , Berkey , Coakley and Colditz (1998 ) said that the instrument measures the dimensions of health - related quality of life , mental and physical status (p .737 . This paint the picture that human health related quality should have a stable and sane human reasoning , and the level of healthy living should be devoid of rampant ailment and reduction in deteriorated health

C . According to Achat , Kawachi , Levine , Berkey , Coakley and Colditz (1998 , the instrument is self - administered , the respondents complete the mailed in questionnaire on their own and the sampled respondents are followed up every two years (p .737 . The questionnaire would contain two sections . Section A has to do with the bio data of the respondent- including the sex , age , and job experience . Section B of the questionnaire contains major questions that are constructed to aid in the analysis of the above stated hypothesis . It will take approximately 10 minutes to answer the questions in the questionnaire D . Fischer and Corcoran (2007 ) explained that the SF - 36 are computer scored which includes standardizing the scores for each item into a Z-score , weighing the score by a factor analytic weight and aggregating the scores into T scores . The instrument produces two composite scores : a physical health composite score (PCS ) and a mental health composite score (MCS .The PCS is the summation of scores on four aspects of physical health : physical functioning (items 3a , 3b ,3c , 3d 3e , 3f 3g ,3h ,3i ,and 3j , physical role (items 4a ,4b ,4c and 4d , bodily pain (items 7and 8 ) and general health (items 1 ,11a ,11b ,11c and 11d The MCS scores are the summation of vitality (9a , 9e , 9g and 9i social functioning (items 6 and 10 , emotional role (5a , 5b and 5c and general mental health (9b , 9c , 9d , 9f and 9h .Item numbers with an asterisk are reversed - scored . The PCS and the MCS scores on the SF-36 are highly associated with correlations ranging between .93 and .97 . PCS scores distinguished subjects with minor from those with serious health conditions and MCS scores distinguished persons with psychiatric conditions from those with minor health conditions . These procedures are computerized and readily available with the user 's manual (p .327 . The score associated with a high psychiatric / healthy person should have an indicator with the PCS and MCS on the SF-36 having a correlation (r ) ranging from 0 .90 to 0 .99 . On the other hand , an individual with low psychiatric / health condition would have a correlation indicator spanning from 0 .49 to 0 .00 . The end numbers should the level of high or low health condition of a respondent and the correlation this have with the level of social support gotten According to Fischer and Corcoran (2007 , the SF-36 has excellent internal consistency reliability with alpha coefficient of .93 and .88 for the PCS and MCS respectively . It also has extensive empirical support for its validity (p .327 . Thus , the validity of the data collection instrument with 0 .93 is very high . It means it conclusion is highly dependable . And the reliability with a coefficient of 0 .88 will continue to give the same accurate result . The validity and reliability of the instrument is gotten through a pretest , where small sample are analyzed through correlation analysis References

Achat , H , Kawachi , I , Levine , S , Berkey , C , Coakley , E Colditz G (1998

Social networks , stress and health related-quality of life . Journal of Quality Of Life Research , 7 , 735-750

Fischer , J Corcoran , K (2007 ) Measures for Clinical Practice and Research : A Sourcebook . Fourth Edition . Vol . 2 . New York : Oxford University Press , Inc

ASSIGNMENT 4

4 (a ) H1 : Women with higher level of social support are more likely to experience better health related quality of life than those with lower level of social support

(b ) Health related quality of life is the dependent variable

The level of social support is the independent variable

(c ) The survey research design would be recommended to test the research hypothesis . The survey research design would be used in conducting this research work . A survey design is a research method where data are collected from a defined population to describe the present condition of the population using the variables under study . Survey design does more than merely uncover data . They interpret , synthesis and integrate these data and point to implications and interrelationship (Bankole 2003 , pg 15 . Since the subject matter for this study is a social issue that affects a large group and the generality of people , the survey research method becomes most feasible and more appropriate to conduct the study

The sampling method for data collection would be conducted through snowball sampling method . In this sampling method , identified women who have utilized social support services for their health situation would be requested to identify other women who they know have also utilized the same services . Thus , this process will continue until the required sample size for the study is derived

(d ) Two strengths of the survey research are that it makes the collection of data very easy and less expensive . Thus , a large sample size can be accessed potentially through this method

Furthermore , the research method does more than merely uncover data . It gives the researcher the extra benefits of data interpretation synthesizes and integrates these data and indicates implications and interrelationships

The weaknesses with this design are that it lacks the ability to establish accurate cause and effects relationship . The experimental research design is more suitable than survey design in establishing cause and effect relationship

There is no regulation of condition and precision of measurement under survey design . This makes the obtained data to lack some merit of accuracy .ReferenceDependent variablesMeasuresNumber And Type Of SubjectsResearch Design And MethodAvis , Nancy A Kinlay , Sonja M (1995 ) The Massachusetts Women 's Health Study : An Epidemiologic Investigation of the Menopause http /www .amwa-doc .org /index .cfm ?objectid 335729CA-D567-0B25-5261A5D532 B17BA7 (Retrieved 6 /05 /08 )Women Transition to Menopause

Menopause is the state where older women stop to see their menstrual periods , and stops ovulates and produce ovaries for childbirth . The peri-menopause is a period of menstrual change immediately prior to menopause . The poor handling of this transition state to menopause would have health implications that could affect the lives of women The study measures the health related , life style , and other social factors that affect transition to menopause in women

A longitudinal linear analysis was utilized to measure the dependent variable

The longitudinal linear analysis is utilized in characterizing the transitions stages from pre - menopause stage to peri-menopause stage to post menopause stage

To carry out the measurement , 94 out of the 2 ,721 eligibles sample size were contacted six times by telephone every nine months for a period of 5 years . 72 - 90 validity for the instrument of measurement were derived , while 94 to 99 retention of cohort gave an excellent reliability of the measurement instrument

The sample size for this study was 2 ,572 . A cross sectional survey in 1981 -1982 was conducted in Massachusetts cities /towns for women born in the years 1926-1936 , inclusive . The sample was selected randomly from the annually compiled census lists in the selected cities /towns .A longitudinal survey research design is adopted for this study . Primary data for the study were derived through mailed questionnaires to 13 ,000 women . The design produced 8 ,050 usable responses adjusted response rate was 77

The sampling method adopts a simple random sampling . In this case 38 0r 10 of Massachusetts cities /towns were selected with probabilities proportional to size within 12 strata defined by city /town size , per capita income , and racial composition

30 minutes questions were drawn into four instruments : A core instrument with questions related to menstrual status , physical health and socio-demographic characteristics , and the remaining 3 instruments covering social support networks , life-style and help-seeking behavior Morris , Marika et al (1999 ) The Changing Nature of Home Care and Its impact on women 's Vulnerability to Poverty ' Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW http /www .swc-cfc .gc .ca /pubs /pubspr /199911__1_e .pd f (Retrieved 06 /05 /08 )Women Vulnerability to Poverty

Definition : Women are most affected by extreme gender imbalance in every aspect of home care . This makes home care policies and practices have significant and varied impact on women 's lives

The study measures the impact of current home care policies and practices on women vulnerability to poverty

The research adopted a qualitative and descriptive approach in analyzing the data . The measurements were a build up on previous research works on women 's roles as unpaid and underpaid caregivers . As a follow up interviews were conducted to compare and validate the research hypothesis

No statement of validity and reliability was stated for the measurement However , the research study and its methodology , interview questions were submitted for review and approval by institutional ethics committees at the University of Winnipeg and Memorial University of Newfoundland in St . John 's

The instruments utilized were regression analysis and simple percentage statistical tool . These were used to compare current data analysis and past data from previous studies and qualitative of data to draw conclusion .The sample size for this study is 51 respondents and 10 agencies on Home care services

The samples were collected from two local sites in Canada : Winnipeg and St . John 's

30 of the respondents were home care workers , 21 were home care recipients . The home care workers were divided further into 17 paid workers and 13 unpaid workers . In addition , 19 persons were also interviewed for national home care policy . 3 of these were federal government official involved in home care policy and others were representatives of organizations involved with home care issues .Survey design was adopted for this study . Questionnaires and Interviews were utilized in collecting the primary data . While secondary data were derived from documents from existing home care policies from a gendered perspective . A qualitative approach is utilized in describing variables associated with previous research in the same subject matter

A snowball sampling method was adopted in selecting the research respondents . 19 national organizations , selected from the list of participants on the Conference on Home Care , in Halifax in March 1998 were approached to be interviewed and to put forward list of participants to be interviewed . Helgeson , V .S Cohen , S (1994 Social Support and Adjustment to Cancer : Reconciling Descriptive Correlational , and Intervention Research ' Health Psychology Journal vol . 15 , No . 2 http /www .psy .cmu .edu scohen /helgcohen96 .pdf

Social support and adjustment to cancer

Definition : Emotional support is most desirable by patients suffering from cancer . Correlational studies have shown that emotional support has the strongest associations with better adjustments for patients with cancer .The study measures the Emotional support and adjustment need for cancer patients . Measurements of research subject were conducted in four phases , with each measuring different variables . High level of validity and reliability of data

Correlation analysis was utilized in measuring the level of social support to cancer patients and their response rate to adjustment .The sample for this study was 192 . this was collected in three phases : 79 breast and colorectal cancer patients for 1st phase , 58 women recovering from breast surgery for the 2nd second , emotional and informational support for 55 cancer patient for the 3rd third and 64 sample for support need from patients with 18 months diagnosed cancer . The sample were collected through interview of patients suffering from cancer Survey research design was adopted for this study . Responses from interviewed respondents used in addressing , descriptive data collected on the kinds of support patients from different network members secondly correlational research conducted on support related to cancer adjustment

The sampling method adopted is random sampling , where respondents were selected from list of documented cancer patients Methodology Strengths and weakness of cited empirical articles

Article 1

Strength

The duration of data collection (spanning over 5 years , large sample size and well defined population of study from which samples were collected aided in making the research have a strong validity and reliability . This is strength to my area of study , as study on social phenomenon requires large sample size and a well-defined population of study to validate adequately the research conclusion

Weakness

High sample size , i .e . 8 ,050 , was generated but only a quarter of this was utilized (2 ,572 , this result to waste in resources and time fro the unutilized samples . Supposed the entire sample were used this would have added more value to the research findings and conclusion . The implication of this to my study is that the wastage of time and resources in gathering unused samples would mean incurring greater cost for the completion of the study Article 2

Strength

The strength of this article lies on the utilization of qualitative approach in analyzing data from previous studies , and conducting a comparative analysis of the analyzed primary data with derived secondary data . In addition , there were collection of data from different stakeholders and agencies . This approach illustrates a means obtaining a strong validate research conclusion from previous findings with those observed from the current research primary data . This approach gives a kind of double confirmation on the research conclusions to increase the level of its validity and reliability

Weakness

There was no pretest or pilot study for validity and reliability of the instrument of measurement . This will affect the strength of the validity and reliability of the study

Article 3

Strength

This article strength is in the conducting of research on different phases with different samples to bring about valid conclusion . These different phases of sample collection and test made the uncovered variables in the preceding phase to be confirmed in the other phase This strengthened the conclusion of the research findings . it also increase the scope and sample size , thereby increasing the strength of validity and reliability of the measurement instrument for the study

Weakness

For the third article , its weakness lies in the sample size . Despite the three phases adopted in sample collection , only 192 samples were generated for the study . In to have a valid conclusion there sample size need to be increased . This could have being buttressed by reliance on secondary data or sample collection through snowball methods where more subjects with cancer could be determined and added to the sample size REFERENCES

Avis , Nancy A Kinlay , Sonja M (1995 ) The Massachusetts Women 's Health Study : An Epidemiologic Investigation of the Menopause http /www .amwa-doc .org /index .cfm ?objectid 335729CA-D567-0B25-5261A5D532 B17BA7 (Retrieved 6 /05 /08

Bankole , A .R (2003 , Research Methods : An Introductory Approach . Lagos Adeshina Print Production Publication

Helgeson , V .S Cohen , S (1994 ) Social Support and Adjustment to Cancer : Reconciling Descriptive , Correlational , and Intervention Research ' Health Psychology Journal , vol . 15 , No . 2 http /www .psy .cmu .edu scohen /helgcohen96 .pdf (Retrieved 25 /03 /08

Morris , Marika et al (1999 ) The Changing Nature of Home Care and Its Impact on Women 's Vulnerability to Poverty ' Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW http /www .swc-cfc .gc .ca /pubs /pubspr /199911__1_e .pd f (Retrieved 06 /05 /08 ...