The research questions and hypotheses significantly inform the choice of a study design. The study design then links the data collected to the study hypotheses and research questions. The alignment of the study is dependent on a flawless presentation of these components of the research (Babbie, 2017). For evaluation, I will use the research article " Changes in staff confidence and attributions for challenging behaviour after training in positive behavioural support within a forensic medium secure service .”
Evaluation of the Research Hypotheses
The study used two hypotheses to guide the research processes. The author used the two premises to select a suitable research design. The hypotheses were an extension of the study's purpose. The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of Positive Behavioral Support (PBS) training on confidence and causal attributions for staff members (Davies, Griffiths, Liddiard, Lowe, & Stead, 2015). The hypotheses expound on the purpose of the study by considering the variables identified. For instance, the hypothesis that confidence would increase after training is a logical extension of the purpose of the study. Also, the hypotheses align with the selected study design. The quantitative study design was chosen to test the various variables identified in the premises. For instance, the level of confidence in coping with patient aggression was used as a variable to collect statistical data before and after the training.
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Lastly, the method of data collection also aligned with the research hypotheses. For instance, to assess the confidence of staff in dealing with challenging behavior, a Confidence in Coping with Patient Aggression Instrument was used (Davies, Griffiths, Liddiard, Lowe, & Stead, 2015). This method of data collection ensured the collection of statistical data that would validate the first hypothesis. The hypotheses are structured to seek answers to variables identified in the study purpose. Also, the first hypothesis identifies the participants of the study. In this case, the author identified staff in a medium secure service in the South Wales region as the primary participants in the study. The research site is, however, identified in the method section of the article that gives detailed information of the participants.
The quantitative research design used by the researchers is the quasi-experimental approach with an element of the pretest-posttest approach. A quasi-experiment involves assessment of the causal impact of an intervention on the participants (Burkholder, Cox, & Crawford, 2016). In this case, the training is the intervention in the research. The pretest-posttest approach is used by researchers to test the variables before and after the intervention. The researchers measured the variables in the study in both unqualified and qualified staff, and comparison was made with data collected after the training.
There is a resilient alignment among the various components of the study identified in the research article. The components include theory, problem, purpose, hypotheses, and research design. The study was structured around the attribution theory. The theory postulates that attributions have a significant impact on care-giving behavior among individuals. The study, therefore, uses tenets of the theory to not only develop the second hypothesis of the research but also inform the purpose of the study. Also, the research hypotheses inform the selection of the research design and methods for data collection.
References
Babbie, E. (2017). Basics of social research (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Burkholder, G. J., Cox, K. A., & Crawford, L. M. (2016). The scholar-practitioner’s guide to research design. Baltimore, MD: Laureate Publishing.
Davies, B., Griffiths, J., Liddiard, K., Lowe, K., & Stead, L. (2015). Changes in staff confidence and attributions for challenging behaviour after training in positive behavioural support within a forensic medium secure service. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 26(6), 847-861.
