Consider the various research designs presented in chapter 3. Given the goals and objectives of your social services agency identified in week 2, discuss possible research designs that could be used to evaluate outcomes at your agency. What would be the best design to answer your evaluation questions?
A correlational research design of consideration for Empath Home Health Agency's goal and objective to manage mental health to increase the quality of life with their hospice patients would be correlational. I did not see mental health and quality of life as manipulated experimental variables; I saw them only as exploration frequency or measurement to identify a relationship as a correlation for research methods. As a pre-and post-assessment model using the entire population over a 30-day enrollment 01/01/2025 to 03/30/2025, initial and exit assessment data are collected using Non-PII, remaining HIPAA compliant within APA regulation.
What would be the best sampling method for your population?
Full Answer Section
- Evaluation of Program Effectiveness: It can help determine the effectiveness of the agency's interventions in improving mental health and quality of life for hospice patients.
Specific Design:
A
nonequivalent control group design could be used. This design involves selecting two similar groups of patients: one receiving the agency's mental health interventions and another serving as a control group. While random assignment is not possible, careful selection of the control group can help to minimize bias.
Data Collection Methods:
- Pre-test and Post-test: Assess mental health and quality of life measures before and after the intervention.
- Self-report questionnaires: Use validated instruments to measure patient-reported outcomes.
- Clinical records: Review medical records to gather information on diagnoses, medications, and treatment plans.
Sampling Method:
A
convenience sample could be used to recruit participants for the study. This involves selecting participants who are readily available and willing to participate. However, it is important to ensure that the sample is representative of the target population to enhance the generalizability of the findings.
By carefully designing and implementing a quasi-experimental study, Empath Home Health Agency can gain valuable insights into the effectiveness of its mental health interventions and make data-driven decisions to improve patient outcomes.
Sample Answer
Understanding the Goal and Objective:
Empath Home Health Agency's goal is to manage mental health to increase the quality of life for hospice patients. Given this, a quasi-experimental design would be the most suitable research design. This design allows for the evaluation of a program or intervention without random assignment to control and experimental groups.
Why a Quasi-Experimental Design?
- Real-world Setting: It allows for the study of interventions in real-world settings, which is more ecologically valid than a randomized controlled trial.
- Practical Feasibility: It can be more practical to implement than a randomized controlled trial, especially in healthcare settings.