Research Methods and Study Design

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Nov 24, 2024

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1 Research Methods and Study Design Christopher Colon Grand Canyon University Health Care Research Methods, Analysis and Utilization Gail Tucker 20 th September 2023

2 Research Methods and Study Design The US healthcare system is increasingly concerned about inmates' mental health. As mentioned in Topic 2, this complex issue affects incarcerated people and society as a whole. Inmates often face unique and challenging circumstances that can worsen or cause mental health issues. Comprehensive research is needed to understand this issue's causes, effects, and interventions. This paper evaluates and chooses the best research method for US inmates' complex mental health issues. The healthcare community can improve policy, inmate well-being, and mental health research by choosing an effective research method. This paper will have several key parts. First, it will compare qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research methods. This comparative analysis will reveal the pros, cons, and uses of each method for studying inmate mental health. Second, the paper will justify the research method using the specific research design needed to fully address this issue. The paper emphasizes the method's suitability for investigating the problem by aligning it with the research design. This paper will also develop mental health research questions for inmates. These research questions will be tailored to the research method to ensure relevance and feasibility within the study's parameters. A focused and meaningful research inquiry requires precise research questions. The paper will conclude by discussing the ethical issues involved in inmate mental health research. Prisoners face unique ethical issues, including informed consent, confidentiality, and vulnerable population protection. This paper will emphasize the importance of ethical research and explain the role of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) in overseeing and approving such studies. Comparison of Research Methods When choosing a research method to address mental health issues in US inmates, consider the pros and cons of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods. Exploratory

3 qualitative research seeks to understand phenomena from participants' perspectives ( Kalu et al., 2017) . It uses non-numerical data like interviews, observations, and open-ended surveys. Individuals' lived experiences, emotions, and perceptions are best captured by qualitative research. Its strengths include rich, context-specific insights into complex issues like inmate mental health. However, its subjectivity and limited generalizability are criticized. Qualitative research on prison mental health can reveal inmates' experiences and the causes of their problems. However, quantitative research draws conclusions from numerical data and statistical analysis. It is objective, precise, and can find patterns and correlations. Quantitative studies are ideal for assessing inmate mental health, risk factors, and intervention efficacy. This method may miss individual experiences and contextual factors that affect mental health. Quantitative research on inmates' mental health can provide prevalence and scope data, but it may not reveal the causes. Justification for Research Method The research method and design must match to effectively address US inmate mental health issues. A mixed methods approach with qualitative and quantitative components is best for this research. This method is ideal for studying correctional mental health's many facets. Due to inmates' complex mental health issues, a mixed methods approach was chosen. A single qualitative or quantitative approach may not capture this complex problem. Researchers can gain a more holistic understanding by combining qualitative methods like in-depth interviews and participant observations with quantitative methods like standardized mental health assessments and surveys ( Green et al., 2015) . The qualitative component lets researchers examine inmates' complex thoughts, feelings, and coping mechanisms. They can study psychosocial factors, prison conditions, and individual stories that quantitative data may miss.

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4 Proposed Research Questions Research questions must be relevant and aligned with the research method and design to address mental health issues in US inmates using mixed methods. These research questions should guide the investigation and help us understand prison mental health. 1. Qualitative Component  How do prisoners describe their mental health issues?  What mental health coping mechanisms and social support do inmates use?  How does prison overcrowding and security affect inmates' mental health? 2. Quantitative Component  How common are depression, anxiety, and PTSD in inmates?  Do incarceration length and mental health symptoms correlate statistically?  How many inmates seek mental health services and treatment, and what are the barriers? The above research questions capitalize on mixed methods. The qualitative component explores inmates' lives to illuminate mental health's subjective aspects. It explores perceptions and coping mechanisms to provide context and depth to how prisoners manage mental health issues. Qualitative data will reveal nuanced factors that quantitative data may miss. However, the quantitative component provides numerical data on mental health disorder prevalence and their associations with factors like incarceration length, providing a broader perspective. Quantitative findings can define the problem and identify trends that may inform policy. A mixed methods approach that addresses these research questions allows researchers to triangulate findings, cross- validate qualitative and quantitative data, and provide a more complete picture of US inmates' mental health. Ethical Considerations and IRB Requirements

5 In researching mental health issues in prisoners, ethical issues must be addressed. Due to their limited autonomy and potential power imbalances in prison, incarcerated people are vulnerable. Therefore, their rights and well-being must be protected throughout the research process. Informed consent is a major ethical issue in empirical investigations ( Nijhawan et al., 2013). While inmates have the right to make informed participation decisions, the prison system's coercive nature may make it difficult to obtain truly voluntary consent. Researchers must balance inmates' understanding of the study's purpose, risks, and benefits with their avoidance of coercion. Another ethical principle is confidentiality. Given the confines of prisons, participant anonymity is difficult. Researchers must take strong measures to protect inmates' identities and keep their information private. The IRB is crucial to ethical research oversight. The IRB evaluates a study's ethics and ensures it follows ethical guidelines. This oversight includes reviewing research protocols, consent forms, data management, and participant protection. Informed consent is a fundamental ethical principle for researchers. Inmates must give voluntary, informed, and understandable consent for the study. Researchers must explain the study's goals, risks, and benefits and give inmates time to decide without undue influence. The principle of confidentiality is important. Researchers must use all means to protect participant privacy. This typically involves using coded identifiers, securing data, and ensuring that study information does not harm inmates. Participant safety is paramount. Researchers must actively protect participants and prioritise their safety and well-being. This includes routinely assessing and treating participants' emotional distress and discomfort during the study. Conclusion

6 This paper examined the key factors in choosing a research method for US inmates' mental health. It introduced the prison population's mental health issues as a major healthcare issue. The paper stated that it would evaluate the best research method to address this complex issue by comparing methods, justifying the chosen approach, formulating relevant research questions, and considering ethical issues. Comparing qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research revealed their strengths and weaknesses. The paper concluded that the mixed methods approach was best because it can provide both qualitative and quantitative depth in understanding inmate mental health issues. The research questions fit the mixed methods approach and met the study's goals while taking into account the problem's complexity. These questions captured subjective inmate experiences and quantitative prevalence data, aligning with the mixed methods design. Ethics also stressed the importance of incarcerated people's rights, well-being, and dignity. The IRB approves healthcare research to ensure ethical compliance. This research could inform policies and interventions to improve incarcerated people's mental health and advance mental health knowledge. The paper urges researchers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to prioritize prison mental health.

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7 References Green, C. A., Duan, N., Gibbons, R. D., Hoagwood, K. E., Palinkas, L. A., & Wisdom, J. P. (2015). Approaches to mixed methods dissemination and implementation research: methods, strengths, caveats, and opportunities. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research , 42 , 508-523. Kalu, F. A., & Bwalya, J. C. (2017). What makes qualitative research good research? An exploratory analysis of critical elements. International Journal of Social Science Research , 5 (2), 43-56. Nijhawan, L. P., Janodia, M. D., Muddukrishna, B. S., Bhat, K. M., Bairy, K. L., Udupa, N., & Musmade, P. B. (2013). Informed consent: Issues and challenges. Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research , 4 (3), 134.

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