Focus on the most important variables of interest

a. You have around 375-400 words per study. Each study is worth 25% of the overall mark for this coursework. Some studies may require more detail than others and thus take up relatively more words – _you will need to judge what is appropriate. We are interested in how well you summarise lengthy and complex information; you need to make judgements about what to include and what to leave out.

b. We have not given a suggested word count for each question. It is likely that your answers to questions (1) and (2) will be short with longer answers to the other questions. However, there is likely to be some variability for the different studies e.g. some studies may call for more detail in questions (3) and/or (4) than other studies.

c. We expect to see evidence of wider reading and support for the points you raise. We suggest around 3-4 relevant references per study. Please list references after your answers for each study. Your reference list/s will not contribute to the word count (in-text citations are included).

d. You could cite methods used by other studies in the field, taken from original research articles or reviews. You can also cite textbooks. You could also find references for the measures e.g. questionnaires or protocols, used by the study. Don’t forget to access the Research Skills and Dissertation Centre for more lectures on study design. Please do not include lectures as references.

e. We do not expect you to comment on the statistical design of the study in any detail. Other than stating the main variables to show us that you understand what is being investigated, please avoid commenting on the statistical analysis. For example, you do not need to mention the statistical analyses used or results.

Hollis, C., Chen, Q., Chang, Z., Quinn, P. D., Viktorin, A., Lichtenstein, P., D’Onofrio, B., Landén, M., & Larsson, H. (2019). Methylphenidate and the risk of psychosis in adolescents and young adults: a population-based cohort study. The Lancet Psychiatry, 6(8), 651–658. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30189-0

What research design is used, and why do you think the authors chose this method?

What were the independent (or predictor) and dependent (or outcome) variables(s)? Focus on the most important variables of interest; you do not have to list every variable. What other variables not mentioned in the study might be useful to record and why?

What methods of data collection were used, and why do you think the researcher used these methods?

What evidence, if any, is there of the reliability and/or validity of the chosen measures?

What are some of the weaknesses of this type of study design? You can consider general weaknesses of the design and, if applicable, discuss how they affect the chosen study. Could you use a different study design to address the same research question? If not state why, and if yes, what other study design could be used?

1. The research design used was the experimental design. The aim was to identify the truth on the impact of the use of Methylphenidate on young adults and adolscents experiencing psychosis. The reason behind choosing this design is the observational role to compare the impact of the independent variable on the dependent variable , a vital aspect in the area of psychology dissertation help.

2. The independent variables were Methylphenidate and the psychotic individuals. The dependent variable included gender, age, the psychotic events, the duration before and after taking the Methylphenidate.

3. The methods of data collection used was observation and collecting the data from the secondary sources such as the Swedish prescribed drug register, the national patient register, and the total population register. The choice for these methods especially the observation method is the fact that the method enables in obtaining first hand information. The observation role is always aimed at get the exact accurate information that will lead to having the conclusion that is true and reliable. The collection of data from the secondary sources especially the registers save on time and costs and also expresses the interrelationship and interdependence of various governments agencies and research organisations.

4. The evidence available is solely from the screened individuals (63.7%) who expressive depicted that the Methylphenidate did not have an impact on the psychotic individulas and the events they expressed.

5. The key weakness of the studey is the dependence on the observational resulsts and using data that is already existing. The dependent variables and the independent variabels ought to be harmonized to coexist for a better outcome. Similarly the data obtatiend from the secondary sources may not give accurate information as expected and such could lead to erroneus findings. The alternative design that could have been employed is the diagnostic reseach design as it aims at examining an underlying problem and solving

References

Moran LV, Ongur D, Hsu J, Castro VM, Perlis RH, Schneeweiss S. Psychosis with methylphenidate or amphetamine in patients with ADHD. N Engl J Med 2019. 380: 1128–38.

Storebø OJ, Ramstad E, Krogh HB, et al. Methylphenidate for children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Cochrane Database System Rev 2015; 5: CD009885.

Viktorin A, Ryden E, Thase ME, et al. The risk of treatment-emergent mania with methylphenidate in bipolar disorder. Am J Psychiatry 2017;174: 341–48.

Turky, A., Felce, D., Jones, G., & Kerr, M. (2011). A prospective case control study of psychiatric disorders in adults with epilepsy and intellectual disability. Epilepsia, 52(7), 1223–1230. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2011.03044.x

1. What research design is used, and why do you think the authors chose this method?

2. What were the independent (or predictor) and dependent (or outcome) variables(s) for the psychiatric symptom scores ANCOVA analyses? Focus on the most important variables of interest; you do not have to list every variable. What other variables not mentioned in the study might be useful to record and why?

3. What methods of data collection were used, and why do you think the researcher used these methods?

4. What evidence, if any, is there of the reliability and/or validity of the chosen measures?

5. What are some of the weaknesses of this type of study design? You can consider general weaknesses of the design and, if applicable, discuss how they affect the chosen study. Could you use a different study design to address the same research question? If not state why, and if yes, what other study design could be used?

Answers

1. The research design used in the case control study of psychiatric disorders in adults with epilepsy and intellectual disability is correlational research design. The authors chose the design because the design helps establish the relationship between two closely connected variables, that is, the adults with Intellectual Disability and active epilepsy and adults with Intellectual Disability without epilepsy.

2. The independent variable in this case study are the psychiatric symptoms and the age of the adulthood. The dependent variable intellectual disability, epilepsy. The variable that ought to have been considered and used to effectively determine the corelation.

3. The data collection method used face to face interviews, and observation. The two key methods enable the researcher have a well noted conclusion as the information is obtained from the source. It reduces the number of errors likely to be obtained by the researchers.

4. The evidence in this case is the psychiatric events and actions depicted by the individuals both epileptic and non-epileptic people.

5. The weaknesses of this study are the long-time frame of the study and the key comparison parameters. The time taken to observe and obtain ethe first hand information is extraneous and could involve many other activities at the same time. The data collection method gives first-hand information but the assumption that the individuals with intellectual disability will give and portray the correct information is erroneous in nature.

Reference

Moss S, Hogg J. (1997) Estimating IQ from adaptive behaviour information in people with moderate or severe intellectual disability. J Appl Res Intellect Disability 10:61–66.

Nihira K, Leland H, Lambert N. (1993) AAMR adaptive behaviour scale residential and community (second edition): examiner’s manual. PRO-ED, Austin, TX. Pawar DG, Akuffo EO. (2008) Comparative survey of comorbidities in people with learning disability with and without epilepsy. Psychiatric Bull 32:224.

Woodgate, R. L., Comaskey, B., Tennent, P., Wener, P., & Altman, G. (2020). The Wicked Problem of Stigma for Youth Living With Anxiety. Qualitative Health Research, 30(10), 1491–1502. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732320916460

1. Which qualitative research design was used and why did the authors choose this approach?

2. What sampling approach was used? Why do you think the authors chose this approach?

3. Why do you think the authors used interviews to collect data?

Answers

1. The qualitative research design used is ethnography. The design is culturally centred. As it immerses itself in an identified culture. Data is also collected and the direct interaction with the subjects involved.

2. Sampling approach used was the systematic approach were specific ages and individualised characteristic. The approach is significant as it helps in obtaining the needed structure of the variables in the research design.

3. The use of interviews is significant in getting first-hand information from the individuals being interviewed. The researcher is also able to seek clarification on the ambiguous responses, interviews provide instant source of information, and the researcher is also in position to get information from the illiterate members of the society effectively.

Reference.

Pedersen, E. R., & Paves, A. P. (2014). Comparing perceived public stigma and personal stigma of mental health treatment seeking in a young adult sample. Psychiatry Research, 219(1), 143–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2014.05.017

Sandelowski, M. (1995). Sample size in qualitative research. Research in Nursing & Health, 18(2), 179–183. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.4770180211

Woodgate, R. L., Zurba, M., Tennent, P., Cochrane, C., Payne, M., & Mignone, J. (2017). “People try and label me as someone I’m not”: The social ecology of Indigenous people living with HIV, stigma, and discrimination in Manitoba, Canada. Social Science & Medicine, 194, 17–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.10.002

Ativie, F., Komorowska, J. A., Beins, E., Albayram, Ö., Zimmer, T., Zimmer, A., Tejera, D., Heneka, M., & Bilkei-Gorzo, A. (2018). Cannabinoid 1 Receptor Signaling on Hippocampal GABAergic Neurons Influences Microglial Activity. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2018.00295

1. What was the main aim of this study and why do you think the authors chose this type of study?

2. What were the independent (or predictor) and dependent (or outcome) variables(s) and the different arms of this study? You may use a table here

3. What lab methods (of data collection) were used to analyse the data after the intervention, what were they measuring and why do you think the researcher used these methods? Please do not describe statistics here.

4. Of the methods described above which relevant (internal) controls or other measures can be applied to ensure the reliability and validity of the data? Which ones are mentioned in the study? Due to limited word count it is advised to describe only one method here.

5. What are some of the weaknesses of this type of study design? You can consider general weaknesses of the design and, if applicable, discuss how they affect the chosen study. Could you use a different study design to address the same research question? If not state why, and if yes, what other study design could be used?

Answers.

1. The aim of the study in the pharmacological ideologies is to strictly identify the significant effect of cannabinoids on microglial activity. On the same note to realize the impact of the cannabinoid receptor agonists on the neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory assessments.

2. The independent variable includes immune cells of the brain, neurons, central nervous system and the dependent variables are the microglia activities cannabinoid receptors. The arms of the study include the central nervous system and the microglia activities.

3. The lab method used in data collection was experimentation, and observation. The measurement solely focused on the microglia activities portrayed by the individuals via the impact of the cannabinoid 1 receptor. The methods are precise as they tend to exhibit what the study denotes directly. The first-hand information can be reviewed and reexamined to affirm the study findings.

4. Experimentation method in essence is the most crucial method used in this study. The method is both data and evidence oriented. The experiments conducted have to be done after the data has been collected. The data collected narrows down the scope to only independent and dependent variables. The variables ought to corelate and coexist.

5. The use of the historical data could be the greatest weaknesses of the study. The data could be erroneous thus giving erroneous. The design is also subjective and time consuming in nature. An alternative design could be the diagnostic design that aims at solving a problem after evaluating the underlying cause of a specific problem

Reference

Bilkei-Gorzo, A., Drews, E., Albayram, O., Piyanova, A., Gaffal, E., Tueting, T.,et al. (2012). Early onset of aging-like changes is restricted to cognitive abilities and skin structure in Cnr1􀀀=􀀀 mice. Neurobiol. Aging 33, e11–e22.doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2010.07.009

Chavarría, A., and Cárdenas, G. (2013). Neuronal influence behind the central nervous system regulation of the immune cells. Front. Integr. Neurosci. 7:64. doi: 10.3389/fnint.2013.00064

Monory, K., Polack, M., Remus, A., Lutz, B., and Korte, M. (2015). Cannabinoid CB1 receptor calibrates excitatory synaptic balance in the mouse hippocampus. J. Neurosci. 35, 3842–3850. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3167-14.2015

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