researchers and policymakers
The author exposes the results of previous researchers, which provides a proper foundation for the study. In the introduction, the author acknowledges and gives credit to the efforts of previous researchers and policymakers, which serves as a foundation for the topic of study. The author proceeds to highlight the purpose and significance thereof explicitly. However, this section fails to define the theoretical framework that will guide the data collection procedures. There is no indication of how the researcher intends to collect and analyze the intended data.
In the research and methodology section, the author provides a clear and concise description of the data collection, interpretation, and analysis processes. The study will focus on a quantitative analytic approach targeting adults residing in a specific location in Massachusetts. The section proceeds to highlight the detailed procedure, including the sampling techniques and measures to ensure the data is accurate and reliable in accordance with Bowling’s (2014) description of Research Methods in Health. For example, questionnaires will be used to gather data from the respondents, while the data will be collected in charts for enhanced interpretation.
There is no indication of secondary analysis processes. Instead, the study focuses solely on primary data generated from patients registered in six local hospitals. The inclusion criterion is based on age and literacy levels, as well as the duration at the hospitals besides their health conditions. Although the researcher shows how to collect and interpret the data, there is no consideration of the current circumstances brought by the Covid19 regulations on public interactions. Based on the scale of the study area and topic of study, the overall design is efficient in addressing the quest of the researcher.
Although the researcher has a detailed account of how to prepare and complete the study, there is no alignment to the topic of study. The research aim has not been re-stated hence a failure to retain the overview and purpose of the research. Bowling (2014) explains that the failure to highlight the overview is detrimental to the readers’ understanding of the study. Nevertheless, the study seeks to address the purpose thereof. It is highly likely that the research assistants will lose the direct and divert from the specific aim because it is not re-stated or clarified repeatedly.
The plan to collect, analyze, and interpret data is clear and concise. The researcher intends to focus on patient-charts, nurses, and managers of the six selected hospitals of Worcester County. Moreover, the researcher will spend a specified time with research assistants to ensure that they are briefed on how to conduct interviews. For example, a mock survey will be conducted at the training session to ensure the research assistants have mastered the concepts of how to administer the questionnaires efficiently.
In order to ensure the accuracy of the information and results, the Katz index tool will be employed. The tool is designed to capture all possible activities of daily living. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) will help analyze the respondents’ cognitive states, while the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-8) will assess depressiveness in the participants, as defined by Sparkes and Smith (2013).
Apart from the concise description of intended data collection, analysis, and interpretation strategies, the respondents’ details, settings, and recruitment processes were satisfactory. Moreover, the period expected to complete the study was set at six months, which gives a clear and reasonable timeline for the scope and scale of the study. The author also highlighted the expected outcome and the essence of the results to health practitioners and policymakers. This study did not examine any foreseeable problems regarding the research design of choice. This failure puts at risk the entire process.