The study used phone interviews to collect data from 93 older adults in the United States. The phone interview is generally a qualitative research design used by researchers to ask open-ended questions to collect critical information about the topic (KrendI & Perry, 2020). The research design is subjective and the findings are usually gathered and written in a holistic formal way by the researcher.
Subjective research is focused on respondent's personal opinions, interpretations, values, social interactions, and emotions. In the article, the authors say that they used phone interviews to ascertain the respondent's networks, subjective loneliness, and depression they had 6-9 months before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States (KrendI & Perry, 2020), and the impact of the pandemic on their social lives.
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The first strength is that qualitative research uses a smaller sample size and helps the researcher incur fewer costs related to the research. From the article, the researcher used a sample size of 93 adults and consequently used phone interviews to get information on their research topic (KrendI & Perry, 2020). The phone calls to the respondents were also a cost-saving initiative because less airtime is used compared to quantitative methods.
Time consumption is the weakness of the research design. Phone interviews are usually long due to the intent of the researcher to collect more information from the respondents that relate to the topic of study (KrendI & Perry, 2020). The sampling effect was a threat to the internal validity of this research. The authors say that there was no young adult to compare with their study of the old adults. Secondly, racial differences amongst the adults were not assessed. Finally, the respondents in the study were homogenous.
Article 2
Routasalo et al. (2009) affirm that the study used a quantitative research design in the systematic scrutiny of respondents. Quantifiable data was captured statistically using the UCLA Loneliness Scale and Lubben’s Social Network Scale at the entry of the research study. After three and six months, a six-dimensional questionnaire was used. The study performed a randomized control trial among the respondents.
Quantitative research is objective and tries to have facts by having precise measurement and analysis to arrive at the best answer on the topic of study. From the report, we can affirm that the authors were objectives because they used different scales to measure the respondent's loneliness at a certain timeframe of the research study (Routasalo et al., 2009). The objective of the research is important because clear and precise information is captured through the measurement scales.
The first strength of quantitative research is that the data is reliable, consistent, and precise. UCLA Loneliness Scale and Lubben’s Social Network Scale provide quality and reliable data for interpretation. The data may be used for further referencing due to its clarity and preciseness (Routasalo et al., 2009). The data can also be tested by the use of other statistical tools. From the report, the researchers administered a six-dimensional questionnaire after three and six months.
One limitation of this research design is that users might find it complex and difficult to understand the statistical terms used by the researchers. Mean, standard deviation and variance can be challenging for other people to understand. Routasalo et al. (2009) conclude that threats to the internal validity of this study are the problematic concept of loneliness and its measurements, and participants were selected through a process involving many complex steps.
References
KrendI, A, C., & Perry, B, L. (2020). The impact of sheltering in place of COVID-19 pandemic on older adults’ social and mental wellbeing . Oxford University Press.
Routasalo, P.E., Tilvis, R.S., Kautiainen, H. & Pitkala, K.H. (2009). Effects of psychosocial group rehabilitation on social functioning, loneliness and well-being of lonely, older people: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Advanced Nursing , 65(2), 297–305 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04837.x
