Research Proposal - Research Plan - Public Health - Assessment Answer

January 03, 2017
Author : Ashley Simons

Solution Code: 1HHD

Question:Research Proposal

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Research Proposal Assignment

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Research proposal

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Introduction

Enhancing community awareness about mental health and services that are nationally available can serve a great deal towards improving youth mental health in Australia. Further, building community capacity for accepting that mental health problems are real, can happen to anyone and are curable would further serve to improve quality of life of individuals living with mental health problems (Griffiths et al, 2015). Community awareness and capacity building exercises might also help stigma associated with mental illness and allow community members to open accept and help those who are affected by mental illness (Smith et al, 2014). In this context, the present initiative will present a brief background of mental illness in Australia followed by identifying prevailing mental health trends in the community. New South Wales is being selected for investigation in this study. A detailed research plan along with targeted population, sample size and ethical considerations will be discussed in the study.

Background

In accordance with statistics collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, about one in 16 young Australian is currently faced with a mental illness. In other words, approximately 6.3% Australians between the ages of 16 to 24 are either currently faced with a mental illness or have faced mental issues in past 12 months (Griffiths et al, 2015). Depression, anxiety disorders and suicide intention are among the most commonly faced mental health issues by Australian youth and a number of reasons have been outlined for the same. Research literature on youth mental health in Australia is also indicative of the fact that young individuals faced with mental health issues find it extremely difficult to come forward and seek help (Smith et al, 2014). This might be attributed to various reasons including the aspect of lack of acknowledgment by peers and other community members. Peers and members of the community are often not able to recognise the mental state that a person affected by a mental issue might be faced with. This results in community members condemning their actions or their way of dealing with things thereby pushing them deeper into depression (Christensen & Petrie, 2013). Youth faced with mental health issues is often bullied at school and misunderstood by friends. Approximately 24.3% young individuals in Australia reported being unable to deal with stresses in their life and were unhappy about the same. Stigma is also a major reason that contributes to poor youth mental health (Griffiths et al, 2015). Youth faced with mental health issues is often stigmatised and alienated from the society. This prevents them from sharing their feelings and emotions and makes things worse for them. Literature also reports that young individuals are not very open and do not like the aspect of sharing their worries with others. They are also (in a significant number of cases) not aware of services that exist in the community and can help them in improving their quality of life (Smith et al, 2014). Therefore, it is essential that the community at large is educated so as to understand the nature of mental health, accept individuals with mental illness and help them (Christensen & Petrie, 2013).

Hypothesis

Community awareness, education and capacity building will help improve youth mental health in Australia.

Rationale and Objectives

So as to be able to build capacity for helping young individuals affected by mental health issues, it would be essential to undertake carefully planned awareness and education programs. Education and awareness programs in turn can only be undertaken if prevailing mental health trends in the community are well understood (Griffiths et al, 2015). It is also essential to be able to have a fair idea of mental health services that exist in the community along with the rate at which they are approached by youth faced with mental health issues. Following are specific objectives of this study:

  • To identify the extent to which young individuals in New South Wales are faced with mental health issues.
  • To identity community attitudes towards mental illness in New South Wales.
  • To identity the extent to which youth is aware of community mental health services
  • To identify barriers faced by youth in contacting professional mental health services that exist in the community.

Targeted Population

Youth between the ages of 16 to 24 years residing in New South Wales has been targeted for this study. New South wales has been selected for this study owing to high prevalence of mental health issues in the region (approximately 35%) of total reported mental health issues in Australia are from New South Wales (Griffiths et al, 2015). The region has also demonstrated high rates of smoking, alcohol consumption and illicit drug consumption which are chief contributors of poor mental health. Past studies have also indicated that mental health awareness in the region is low causing individuals faced with mental health problems to keep their issues to themselves (Smith et al, 2014). Youth in the defined age group is targeted as this group is most prone to mental illness, might encounter several barriers while trying to explain their state of mind to others and is least expected to seek help (Christensen & Petrie, 2013).

Research Design

A mixed method design will be followed for this research as both qualitative and quantitative data will be collected. This approach is being proposed as an integration of qualitative and quantitative data will result in better understanding of the underlying problem as compared to either of the two approaches alone. Quantitative data includes collection of close-ended information including (but not limited to) information from rating scales or checklists (Tracy, 2012). Such data is useful while trying to prove particular hypothesis or answer a predetermined set of questions. The data however does not leave room for creativity and does not allow respondents to elaborate on their experiences. Qualitative data on the other hand includes collection of open-ended information. Such information is often collected in the form of thoughts, ideas and experiences (Smith, 2015). This method of data collection leaves enough room for participants to expand on their though process and provide information in detail. The method of data collection is best for recording experiences. However, collecting specific information while trying to answer specific questions or proving a hypothesis becomes difficult (Jackson, 2015). By mixing these two methods, a researcher is often able to offset weaknesses of both methodologies and aid understanding in a better manner. The use of a mixed method approach also makes it possible to make use of triangulation (that is a mix of data resources, researches and methods) while trying to examine the same phenomenon (Duncan & Fiske, 2015).

Research Tool

Questionnaires (or surveys) and personal interviews would be used so as to collect both qualitative as well as quantitative data for this research study. Questionnaires are a valuable research tool and are exceptionally useful while trying to collect data from a large number of participants in a short span of time (Tracy, 2012). The tool also makes it easy to collect quality first hand data and organise the same in accordance with research requirements. However, authenticity of data cannot be verified while collecting information with the help of this tool (Akerlind, 2012). It is also possible that respondents only partially complete a questionnaire thereby rendering it useless from a research perspective (Smith, 2015).

Personal interviews on the other hand allow researchers to collect detailed information and experiences that are authentic. Researcher might also probe the interview in a specific direction thereby causing the participant to reveal valuable information. Interview method of data collection however is time taking and might not be cost effective as the researcher might have to arrange for transportation and space. Also, participants might be reluctant to dedicate time for research (Jackson, 2015).

Methodology

Mental health service providers and volunteer organisations active in the region would be contacted for permission to conduct this research and for allowing the researcher to make use of their data on patients who have contacted them for receiving mental help. Two separate questionnaires will be constructed (one for community members at large and the other for mental health service providers in the region). Data from service providers will only be collected in the form of names and contact information of individuals who have contacted these service providers. Service providers will be encouraged to contact each individual separately for their permission before their data is shared with the researcher. Surveys with a request letter for completion (this letter would clearly specify the source from which their information has been obtained) will be mailed out to each individual. Alternately, the researcher would post the survey online and on social networking websites and request participation for this research. Set set of questionnaires will be distributed to mental health service providers (who agree to participate in this research) in NSW.

Members who provide their permission for this research would be requested to appear for a one to one interview with the researcher. The interview would be held at a location and time that are convenient to the participant. Each personal interview would last for half an hour (on an average).

Sampling

Convenience sampling methodology will be used for this research as all individuals who provide their consent for this research will be included in the same. Convenience sampling is a type of non-probability technique that comprises of recruiting participants that are easy to reach. This approach is best suited in the current situation as perspectives of the community at large need to be gathered (Tracy, 2012). Additionally, since the approach would allow the researcher to post the survey online, the relative time and cost associated with this research would be limited in comparison with other sampling methods that could have been adopted (Smith, 2015). The methodology however suffers from a number of biases as the researcher might request his/her friends and personal contacts to complete the survey thereby pushing research results in a particular and predetermined direction (Akerlind, 2012). Also, since the sample would not be randomly chosen, it is possible that the final sample does not accurately represent the actual population (Duncan & Fiske, 2015).

Sample Size

All individuals who provide their consent for this research would be included in the same. Total number of participants that would provide their consent cannot be determined at this time. Therefore, exact sample size is unknown at this time.

Data Collection

Data would be collected with the help of questionnaires and personal interviews. Responses obtained in the questionnaires would be tabulated and organised with the help of an excel sheet. Responses obtained in the form of personal experiences (via personal interviews) would be transcribed verbatim by the researcher and would later be studied so as to derive meaning from the same. Responses would also be recorded with the help of a voice recorder so as to ensure that the researcher does not miss out on valuable information provided by participants.

Data Analysis

Both qualitative as well as quantitative analysis techniques would be adopted so as to analyse responses that have been obtained. Qualitative data will be analysed with the help of narrative analysis techniques. Narrative analysis helps researchers in analysing experiences and meanings in depth by linking these to additional literature. Similar research studies might also be explored in order to derive meaning. (Smith, 2015) One of the biggest advantages of using narrative analysis techniques lies in the fact that it does not limit the scope of analysis. The researcher has enough freedom to explore research results in various directions and derive meaning from the same (Erickson, 2012). However, a disadvantage linked with this methodology is that results might be biased. The researcher might only chose to explore studies that are in line with his/her expectations (Duncan & Fiske, 2015).

Quantitative data obtained on the other hand would be analysed with the help of multivariate analysis. Multivariate analysis is a powerful statistical data analysis tool that might be used to analyse multiple independent variables with a single or multiple dependent variables (Jackson, 2015). Greatest advantage of using a statistical analysis method lies in the fact that results obtained would be accurate with extremely limited chances of error (Taylor et al, 2015). A disadvantage associated with using this methodology lies in complexity of procedure and time involved in analysis. The researcher would have to dedicate significant amount of time so as to organise data and obtain desired results from analysis (Tracy, 2012).

A combination of both these analytical techniques would allow for an in-depth exploration of the topic and accurately meeting research objectives.

Ethical Considerations

Several ethical considerations of the proposed research study can be elaborated on. First, it is absolutely essential to obtain consent for this research as it involves human research participants. Consent needs to be obtained from mental health service providers in NSW who are willing to participate in this research (Coolican, 2014). It is also essential that consent is obtained from each and every individual whose data would later be contacted by the researcher for the purpose of this research. Participants should provide their consent before their data is shared by service providers (Crowther & Lancaster, 2012).

Another important ethical consideration lies in not misusing data of participants. Only contact information of individuals who have contacted mental health service providers would be obtained so as to approach them for this research. Their case study would not be obtained and their information will not be shared with anyone else (Erickson, 2012).

Data obtained from questionnaires and personal interviews would be stored in password protected files and would be kept secure at all times (Crowther & Lancaster, 2012).

Participants would be allowed to withdraw from this research at any time they might wish to do so. They would not be pressured in any manner to provide their inputs. Research data will be shared will participants if they wish to see them (Taylor et al, 2015). Implications of this research will also be shared with all participants and areas for further research will be defined while coordinating with research participants (Coolican, 2014).

Conclusion

Mental illness is a prominent problem that Australia is faced with in the current day. Young individuals between the ages of 16 to 24 are most affected by this problem as they might face various barriers while trying to explain their mental state to others and are less likely to seek help. It is therefore essential to build community capacity to accept troubled individuals and encourage them to talk to professionals. In this context, the present study is aimed at identifying barriers that are encountered by young individuals while they try to seek professional mental help. The study is also aimed at exploring community attitudes towards mental illness and evaluating their understanding. Two separate sets of questionnaires will be designed. The first set will be distributed to the community at large (with the help of social networking sites and data obtained from mental health service providers). The second set will be distributed to mental health service providers in NSW. Both qualitative and quantitative data will be collected with the help of surveys and personal interviews. This data will be analysed with the help of narrative analysis and multivariate analysis techniques.

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