Look, Think, Act Processes in the study on Mental health Among Jamaicans and their Treatment

Action type of research involves processes of systematic inquiry that aim to improve the social problems and issues that affect the everyday functioning of people. According to Stringer (2013), the repeated circles of planning, gathering information, and reflecting participants involved in a particular action research one can adopt and implement changes necessary for social improvements. With the mental health problems on the rise in Jamaica the intervention, the research aims to provide evidence that supports the high cases and the need for government interventions to minimize the problem. 

Research questions 

Does the perceived economic factor of an individual influence the developments of high rates of mental health illnesses causing high costs and economic losses? 

Does society play a role in improving the mental health of an individual causing high costs and huge economic losses? 

Does the government‘s provision of necessary education on society improve their role in mental health causing high costs and huge economic losses? 

Does the government’s procedure of scaling up treatment for common mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and psychosis improve the Jamaican citizens’ health causing high costs and huge economic losses? 

Look, Think and Act Processes 

The “look” stage in the action research process involves acts of gathering information, which enables researchers to broaden their understanding of the perspective and the experiences of the various stakeholders, especially those affected or influence the problem under investigation (Stringer, 2013). The look process is qualitatively requiring the researchers to obtain or gather information about the perspectives and the experiences of the participants allowing them to define the issue in ways that make sense in their terms. According to Stringer (2013), the look stage seeks to understand the participants' experiences towards the problem at hand to enable working towards a viable solution in which participants are likely to invest their energies and time on. The process ensures a sense of objectivity in gathering data by directly gaining information from the participants, thus avoiding biases, experiences, and the perspectives of the research facilitators (Stringer, 2013). Therefore, the process involves the primary stakeholders in describing the nature of the issue and gathering of information needed. 

The “Think” stage involves the process of analyzing the information gathered from the responses on the issue that provides insights which the researchers’ actions to solve the situation is established (Stringer, 2013). The “Think” stage involves the process of identifying the aspects of data that helps the researchers in understanding and clarifying the nature of events and activities under investigation. According to Stringer (2013), analysis involves the process of filtering large quantities of data to obtain significant elements and features. The analysis procedures provide ideas and concepts that enable the stakeholders to understand better the problems affecting their lives. Stringer (2013) asserts that the analysis procedure involves the act of reflecting and interpreting information to provide stakeholders and participants with another way of thinking of the issue under investigation. 

The “Act” stage involves the processes of formulation of actions that are likely to resolve the problem. The process is governed by questions such as: what can we do to achieve better results? What steps are necessary for the achievements of the results we desire? Participants in the "Act" stage work better in a creative manner to ascertain what is required to obtain a better positive outcome and provide solutions on the ways to handle the tasks they have set (Stringer, 2013). Therefore, the action stage involves systematic processes of planning and implementation techniques. The process encourages supplementing the professional knowledge of research, which is incomplete in analyzing the problem with the participants' perspectives (Stringer, 2013). Planning, implementing, and reviewing phases governs the formulation of plans, which engage the participants in processes of inquiry, further providing them with chances to apprehend solutions to the issue. 

Conclusions and Implications 

The research cycles, in the look, think, and act processes facilitate the reevaluation, formulation, and action redevelopment, which ensure highly effective solutions are obtained for the problem in the research project. For example, the look process requires the researchers to gather information about the perspectives and the experiences of the participants allowing them to define the issue in ways that make sense in their terms (Stringer, 2013). Following this process, the researcher needs to understand what mental health and treatment mean to Jamaicans, how they refer to it, what they are doing to deal with it, the role of the society, and the government in the whole process. The process presents the Jamaicans in mental health research as the main determinants of how the study is to be conducted to ensure they participate fully in the whole process. In the act process planning, implementing, and reviewing phases governs the formulation of plans, which engage Jamaicans further providing them with chances to apprehend solutions to the mental health issue. 

Gauging from the “Look”, “Think”, and “Act” process, the mental health problem and its treatment is a feasible study in Jamaica, which directly involves the participants through the narrative methods as a strategy of inquiry. The research gathers detailed information from field texts such as autobiography information, journals, family stories from people with an encounter with the mental health issue at a certain point in their life. The study involves community leaders such as teachers, chiefs, government representatives, mental health problem survivors, and their families to gather necessary information. Resources required in this study include photos, journals, autobiographies, questions to guide interviews and tape recorders to help in understanding how Jamaicans create meaning around the mental health issue and its treatment. 

The research project is expected to be complete in 15 weeks, with the activities timeline for every section of the research paper as outlined below 

Research Timeline 

Reference 

Stringer, E. T. (2013).  Action research . Sage publications.