Running Head Operationalizing VariableRunning head Methods P.docx
- 1. Running Head: Operationalizing Variable Running head: Methods Paper 7 Methods Paper Learning Team A Alexander Wenceslao, Edith Zamora, Briahna Pitts, Elbert Johnson, Shaina M. Clasberry PSY 335 25 Jan 2016 Nancy Lees Abstract Is it possible to prevent suicidal influences by taking preemptive measures? According to last week’s research learning team A was able to identify mental illness, socioeconomic pressures, marital status, family history of suicide, and media influences as major contributions to our nation’s suicide rates. If preemptive measures are taken to minimize or address these influences then national suicide rates will decrease. Our groups hypotheses is as follows: If preemptive measures are implemented to minimize or address
- 2. the following suicidal influences; mental illness, socioeconomic pressures, discontentment with marital status and family history of suicide then the national suicide rate will decrease. This paper will explain in detail the method by which we plan to conduct a study to prove our hypothesis. Sampling Method In psychology, the purpose for sampling is to collect data from a target population. A target population is a portion of the total population that is in possession of something of interest. For the research project of this group, the target population consists of individuals of all age’s races and classes who are associated with suicide: those who are undergoing the mentality of suicide, those who have a history of exhibiting suicidal behaviors and those who have attempted suicide. With this research’s sampling method, it is important to stray away from sampling bias. The sampling method that would be ideal versus convenient would be the following: volunteer sampling versus opportunity sampling. Sampling bias happens when the data does not reflect the target population (McLeod, 2014). An example of this would be of psychology studies where universities used an opportunity sampling method that only comprises of their students. Opportunity sampling would be selecting individuals who are available at that particular moment in time (McLeod, 2014). This method, though convenient and quick, will not correctly represent the target population. The ideal sampling method that this research project would use is volunteer sampling. According to McLeod (2014), this method occurs when individuals choose themselves to be involved with a study. This sampling method would advertise for individuals of any and all demographics, later categorizing the demographics by age and by race for reaching more specified data. This advertisement would consist of a survey that is available nationwide all hours of the day— convenient to the target population, having different work hours or hours of operation. The reason why this method would be ideal is that
- 3. this method, though convenient, is also ethical for it having informed consent. Definitions of your variables According to Elmes, 2012, variables are the gears and cogs that make experiments run. Effective selection and manipulation of variables make the difference between a good experiment and a poor one (Pg. 159). In accordance to the hypothesis used to determine if it’s possible to prevent suicidal influences by taking preemptive measures the variables in accordance to the study would be independent and dependent variables. The Independent variables are manipulated by the experimenter (Pg. 160). In this case, the experimenter would take half of the sample population and use some preemptive measure to specifically address any and all of the influences identified as an influence to suicidal tendencies and observe to see if suicidal behaviors are still present. Independent variables are selected because an experimenter thinks they cause changes in behavior. The independent variables would be the tools used to address suicidal influences. The Dependent variable will be the suicidal behaviors. Only half the population will receive the independent variables and all observations will be recorded to observe the current suicidal behaviors in both the experiment and control group. In addition, a controlled variable is a potential independent variable that is held constant during an experiment (Pg. 161). Yet, this variable would not work for this study because “for any experiment, there are more desirable control variables than can ever be controlled in practice” (Pg.161). This variable cannot be controlled because there is many factors, which influence the variable and the examiner cant, control these factors. As a result, independent and dependent variables will be imperative in conducting the study to provide preemptive measures to avoid suicidal influences. Descriptive verses inferential statistics Descriptive statistics are for describing trends to a single variable (Creswell, 2012). This would mean that we needed specific statistics like the mean, median, mode, average, and
- 4. range. In our study however, we will not have data that will display any type of descriptive numbers or statistics that will lead to answering our question which is, “Is it possible to prevent suicidal influences by taking preemptive measures?” For this study we will be using inferential statistics because we are trying to infer from our data what could decrease national suicide rates. Inferential statistics are for inferring information from small amounts of data not on just one person or group, but on multiple groups and populations. We will be observing the behaviors of everyone who’s behavior or behavior history is associated with suicide. Our study will be using inferential statics due to the fact that we are going to be using small sample or data sizes to infer whether or not taking preemptive measures on suicide influences will help a population of people. The closest we will get to descriptive statistics will be knowing the national suicide rates which could help us better understand our study. Operationalizing Variables When in a study, one wishes to find measures through which they can operationalize a variable, there is need to understand some few factors (Raider, 2002).Variables are operationalized when they are measurable, quantifiable, and have valid index being either independent and dependent variables. There is also need to know how to manipulate the variable to another level. Considering the case study about suicide in the quoted study, there is need to identify the concept. In this case, we will identify the behaviors exhibited by the experimental group. The intelligence in this case is measured to determine if the experimental group decreases the frequency in demonstration of behaviors that are indicative of being suicidal. The second measure of operationalizing the variables is to make a qualitative measures. In this case we are making a qualitative measure using the media. Since suicides have been known to increase with media influence this measure will be important in having suicide study complete. We will also make demographic measures and mental illness using IQ measures as (Raider,
- 5. 2002) explains. The third factor is to describe the method of taking the measure. We can do this by doing surveys to know how many suicidal people have been able to implement preemptive measures to prevent themselves from being a suicide victim. We can also do interviews so that we can take data for the same people. In making a completion of operationalizing independent and dependent variable, we need to know techniques. These techniques are used when we have had a hypothesis about an issue. Some of these techniques are the following; Literature search, Self-Report, Expert observation and Checklist observation (Raider, 2002). This techniques are done to complement the qualitative measures and then make conclusions. Conclusion We took a population of people associated with suicide and used an experimental group to implement preemptive measures that address the factors that contributed to their suicidal behaviors. Assuming our hypothesis is correct there will be no change in the behaviors of the control group, which would be those associated with suicided who were not exposed to any preemptive measures, and experimental group would progress by the significantly showing less signs of being suicidal. References Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). Suicide and Self-Inflicted Injury. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/suicide.htm Creswell, W. J. (2012). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research (4th ed.). Retrieved from https://newclassroom3.phoenix.edu/Classroom/#/contextid/OSIR
- 6. IS:49705887/context/co/vie w/activityDetails/activity/4e8be483-b896-4932-87b0- 9dcbbb6bded0/expanded/False Elmes, D.G., Kantowitz, B.H. & Roediger, III. H.L. (2012). Basics of Experimentation. Research Methods in Psychology. Ninth Edition. McLeod, S. A. (2014). Sampling Methods. Retrieved from www.simplypsychology.org/sampling.html Raider, J. (2002). Operationalizing Variables. New York: Springer. United States Census Bureau. (2016). U.S. and World Population Clock. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/popclock/ Discuss the importance of engineering professional registration to your professional career. Limit your discussion to one page. Cover the following aspects: 1.Business need by Code 2.Endorsement of reports and plans 3.Professional recognition 4.Professional education 5.Professional advancement Proposed Study Alexander Wenceslao, Briahna Pitts, Shaina Clasberry, Elbert Johnson, and Edith Zamora January 18, 2016 PSY/ 335 Dr. Nancy Lees
- 7. Summary Suicide is a national risk to all ages, both attempted and completed suicides. Suicidal behavior is able to be influenced by many factors that are both internal and external. While external factors such as the media may pose as an influence, internal factors such as genetics or situational stress may pose as influences as well. A new study that the group would create to answer the remaining unanswered questions would be to incorporate as many individuals as possible with a mass survey. The individuals that the survey targets would be those who are currently experiencing suicide related situations or have experienced suicidal situations in the past. Also, this survey would be inclusive to ask questions about what the causes are for the individuals to contemplate suicide. The external factors outside of the targeted group, the survey would be the media and its effect on suicidal influence, benefactors of the suicidal community, and those related to the suicidal individuals. To ensure gaining questions to remaining unanswered questions, the survey can ask questions concerning the external factors. Our group would set out to answer the following research question: “Is it possible to prevent suicidal influences by taking preemptive measures?” The hypothesis would be if it is possible to prevent suicidal influences, then the preemptive measures could be implemented across all demographics—thus decreasing national suicide rates. Suicide risk in relation to socioeconomic, demographic, psychiatric, and familial factors: A national register-based study of all suicides in denmark Abstract. Suicide risk was addressed in relation to the joint effect of factors regarding family structure, socioeconomics, demographics, mental illness, and family history of suicide and mental illness, as well as gender differences in risk factors.
- 8. Method: Data were drawn from four national Danish longitudinal registers. Subjects were all 21,169 persons who committed suicide in 1981-1997 and 423,128 live comparison subjects matched for age, gender, and calendar time of suicide by using a nested case-control design. The effect of risk factors was estimated through conditional logistic regression. The interaction of gender with the risk factors was examined by using the log likelihood ratio test. The population attributable risk was calculated. Results: Of the risk factors examined in the study, a history of hospitalization for psychiatric disorder was associated with the highest odds ratio and the highest attributable risk for suicide. Cohabiting or single marital status, unemployment, low income, retirement, disability, sickness- related absence from work, and a family history of suicide and/or psychiatric disorders were also significant risk factors for suicide. Moreover, these factors had different effects in male and female subjects. A psychiatric disorder was more likely to increase suicide risk in female than in male subjects. Being single was associated with higher suicide risk in male subjects, and having a young child with lower suicide risk in female subjects. Unemployment and low income had stronger effects on suicide in male subjects. Living in an urban area was associated with higher suicide risk in female subjects and a lower risk in male subjects. A family history of suicide raised suicide risk slightly more in female than in male subjects. Conclusions: Suicide risk is strongly associated with mental illness, unemployment, low income, marital status, and family history of suicide. The effect of most risk factors differs significantly by gender (Qin, Agerbo, & Mortensen, 2003) What was the author’s goal? The objective for this study was the suicide risk was addressed in relation to the joint effect of factors regarding family structure, socioeconomics, demographics, mental illness, and family history of suicide and mental illness, as well as gender differences in risk factors (Quin, Agerbo & Mortensen, 2003, Pg. 765). What questions remain unanswered? Conclusions: Suicide risk
- 9. is strongly associated with mental illness, unemployment, low income, marital status, and family history of suicide. The effect of most risk factors differs significantly by gender (Quin, Agerbo & Mortensen, 2003, Pg. 765). In addition, a question that is remain unanswered is if age is also plays a factor as a suicide risk. What was the author’s research question? What is the suicide risk in relation to socioeconomic, demographic, psychiatric, and familial factors? What was the author’s hypothesis? Suicide risk to be connected to the following factors: family structure, socioeconomics, demographics, mental illness, family history of suicide, mental illness, and gender. How to Adjust Media Recommendations on Reporting Suicidal Behavior to New Media Developments Abstract. The purpose of this study is to establish best practice and evidence-based approach to reduce suicidality by community-based multilevel interventions. 193 member states of the United Nations (UN) were used as sample of countries to gather information on national suicide prevention programs, media recommendations, and press codes. Experts assessed the existing national programs. These experts rated the inclusion of variables in each media recommendation and press code. For each variable, the percentages of inclusion in the media recommendations or press codes were calculated. What was the author’s goal? The author’s goal is to present accurate and up to date information concerning the effects of media on suicidal behaviors. What questions remain unanswered? Are all relevant factors for preventing imitation included in the existing media recommendations? Do they consider emergent media? What was the author’s research question? The author’s question was how many of the of the sample of United Nation countries has a national suicide prevention program, media recommendations to assist suicide prevention and which organization has prepared them.
- 10. What was the author’s hypothesis? The hypothesis states that media recommendations and press codes of ethics vary considerably in the included preventive factors and that there is a need for optimization, given the current state of knowledge about responsible media reporting. Surrogate Endpoints in Suicide Research Abstract. Surrogate endpoints frequently substitute for rare outcomes in research. The ability to learn about completed suicides by investigating more readily available and proximate outcomes, such as suicide attempts, has obvious appeal. However, concerns with surrogates from the statistical science perspective exist, and mounting evidence from psychometric, neurochemical, genetic, and neuroimaging studies suggests that surrogates may be particularly problematic in suicide research. The need for greater phenotypic refinement of suicide- related behaviors, development of and adherence to a shared suicide nomenclature, and conservative interpretation of investigational results that are limited to the precise population and suicide-related behavior under examination are discussed. What was the author's goal? The author’s goal was to determine if a surrogate endpoint could work for suicide attempt research. Even though there are many critics that do not like that idea of a surrogate endpoint for other scientific studies. What questions remain unanswered? Why is suicide attempts taxing for caregivers and health care systems? Can suicide be heritable? Are there different subgroups for suicide? What was the author’s research question? The author’s research question was, is it possible to have a surrogate endpoint for suicide? Another question that came about was, are suicide
- 11. attempts similar to completed suicide? What was the author’s hypothesis? Surrogate in suicide research needs a lot of conservative investigation results and it only limits to a certain population with behavioral study (The American Association of Suicidology, 2010). Causes of suicide in middle-aged men in prefectures in japan during the recent spike in suicides Abstract. The article speaks of the situation of rising suicide rates in Japan. In Japan, there is a surge of suicides reported from the National Police Agency that focuses on the demographic of middle-aged men. The article states that the main reason is the “economic slump” (Inoue, Fukunaga, Okazaki, Fujita, Abe, & Ono, 2011). The article lists six prefectures and the reasons for why the middle aged men in those prefectures committed suicide. What was the author's goal? The author’s goal was to address the issue of rising suicide rates in middle-aged men in prefectures in Japan. What questions remain unanswered? What other demographics have a similar surge in suicide rates in comparison to middle-aged men? What was the author's the research question? Why are middle-aged men, in Japan, more prone suicide? What was the author's hypothesis? If “economic difficulties” are common amongst middle-aged men in those prefectures, then the relevant organizations in Japan should be able to help decrease suicides (Inoue, Fukunaga, Okazaki, Fujita, Abe, & Ono, 2011). References Inoue, K., Fukunaga, T., Okazaki Y., Fujita, Y., Abe, S., & Ono, Y. (2011). Causes of suicide in middle-aged men in prefectures in Japan during the recent spike in suicides. West Indian Medical Journal,59(3). Retrieved from
- 12. http://web.a.ebscohost.com.contentproxy.phoenix.edu/ehost/deta il/detail?sid=629023a3-41e9-4715-a4e0- 131f8986099b%40sessionmgr4003&vid=0&hid=4214&bdata=Jn NpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=mdc&AN=21294298 Qin, P., Agerbo, E., & Mortensen, P. B. (2003). Suicide risk in relation to socioeconomic, demographic, psychiatric, and familial factors: A national register-based study of all suicides in denmark, 1981-1997. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 160(4), 765- 72. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/220467861?accountid=458 Maloney, J., B. Pfuhlmann, E. Arensman, C. Coffey, R. Gusmão, V. Poštuvan, and A. Schmidtke, et al. 2014. "How to Adjust Media Recommendations on Reporting Suicidal Behavior to New Media Developments." Archives Of Suicide Research 18, no. 2: 156 169. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed January 17, 2016). Hal S. Wortzel, MD, Peter M. Gutierrez, PhD, Beeta Y. Homaifar, PhD, Ryan E. Breshears, PhD, and Jeri E. Harwood, PhD. (2010). Surrogate Endpoints in Suicide Research. The Amercan Associaton of Suicidology. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.contentproxy.phoenix.edu/docview/8 48859259?pq-origsite=summon&accountid=458