The selected research article, as previously researched is Epidemiology of Eating Disorders: Incidence, Prevalence, and Mortality Rates . From the title and the research design, the central variables measured in the quantitative study are incidences, mortality rates, and prevalence of eating disorders. Incidences descriptively refer to the number of newly reported cases of eating disorders. The mortality rate, on the other hand, denotes the number of deaths per population as a result of eating disorders, while prevalence indicates the commonness of the disorder in the study population or the general population.
One of the primary assessments was on incidence rates of both anorexia and bulimia nervosa in the determination of whether the trends regarding the two disorders were on the rise. Other assessments included prevalence –one-year and lifetime prevalence rates in determining the at-risk population group as well as the number of new cases. Ultimately, mortality rates assessments were made to measure death as an indication of illness severity. The research design used in the study, though quantitative, is meta-analysis review where different research and studies are combined to come up with conclusions. On this accord, no significant reliability tests were conducted. However, the study evidences concepts of inter-rater, where different studies’ assessments and statistics are compared for correlation and conformity.
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On the other hand, validity tests such as construct and criterion are observed, especially when the study compares the results of two or more studies to inform a conclusion. Also, during case detection under prevalence assessment, a two-stage screening approach was conducted to inform the validity of the study results.
INTERNAL VALIDITY CHECKLIST |
EXTERNAL VALIDITY CHECKLIST |
| Structure | Generalizability |
| Bias | Representativeness of sample |
| Compliance to ethics | Sampling and survey research |
| Appropriateness of statistical tests |
Regarding structure, the article indeed satisfies the standard requirement for a meta-analysis study by having an abstract, introduction, methodology, conclusion, and references sections. Because the study used an extensive database through the help of Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), the results and conclusions can be generalized internationally. Moreover, because the sample was large, the study results were representative of the population. Further, the article as well further specifies sampling and survey methods used for the research. On the other hand, the meta-analysis study removed bias by conducting correlation analyses to compare results and assertions from all the included studies to ensure not only reliability but also validity. However, the study does not inform of any procedures undertaken to satisfy the ethical requirements of research using human participants –this is because it is a meta-analysis review. However, if the study conducted direct research, it could have achieved this concept by acquiring consent from the participants as well as permission from an IRB. Because the study is a meta-analysis review, it does not undertake any statistical analyses except for comparative and correlation analyses essential to ensure the validity of results.
Even though validity and reliability tests were not significant in the article, they helped boost confidence in accepting the assertions and conclusions made by the authors. Further, through the validity and reliability attempts, the conclusions and results of the study can be generalized internationally, which informs the scientific merit of the research.
References
Smink, F. R., Van Hoeken, D., & Hoek, H. W. (2012). Epidemiology of eating disorders: incidence, prevalence, and mortality rates. Current psychiatry reports , 14 (4), 406-414. DOI: 10.1007/s11920-012-0282-y
