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Methodology, Design, and Data Management – Mental Health Impact of Mass Shootings on Young Survivors

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Methodology, Design, and Data Management – Mental Health Impact of Mass Shootings on Young Survivors

The mental health impact of mass shootings on young survivors represents a critical public health issue, particularly given the severe psychological effects these events can have on survivors. Knowledge of both the short-term and long-term psychological consequences is important in designing the appropriate interventions for these people in the form of eradicating PTSD, depression, and anxiety. This research proposal analyzes the psychological effects gathered through quantitative and qualitative research. The next plan covers how the study will be conducted, how data will be collected, how data will be managed, and how the ethical issues will be handled.

Research Methodology

This study will employ both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection to determine the impact of mass shootings on young victims. Mixed methods are essential in trauma research as one of the most effective ways of integrating research based on numbers (quantitative data) and testimonies (qualitative data). Thus, the research will be able to provide scope and specificity within the area of research.

Quantitative Component

Design

Survivors will be interviewed through a cross-sectional survey to establish quantitative information. This design is suitable as it has the potential to evaluate PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms at some point in time, giving both a short-term and a long-term perspective. (Mann & Marwaha, 2023).

Instruments

The self-administered questionnaire that will be used is the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM -5 (PCL-5), which will measure PTSD symptoms. Further, Cronbach’s alpha test calculated for the internal consistency of the PCL-5 was an impressive 0. 94 (Resick et al., 2023), which makes it helpful for PTSD diagnosis. Secondly, The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) will be used to determine the level of depression. They have been used in clinical practice and are well-recognized as a significant and valid measure of depression. Lastly, to evaluate anxiety that has been largely applied in the analysis of trauma, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) will be used(Velescu et al., 2024).

Qualitative Component

Design

Phenomenology is a research method that will prove quite helpful in identifying and assessing survivors’ perceptions. It is an appropriate qualitative method for assessing people’s perceptions of trauma and how they manage the symptoms that they are likely to experience.

Instruments

Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with the study’s population to obtain information on how the participants went through the disaster, how they dealt with it, and available support. The semi-structured nature of the approach is advantageous in this case because it allows the respondents to present elaborate opinions that they consider relevant (DeJonckheere & Vaughn, 2019).

Justification

The integration of these methods will ensure that the study will capture the objective reality of the trauma and the interpreter’s perception of the trauma by the survivors. Thus, the case shows that employing the level of quantitative and qualitative approach in identifying the degree of trauma in patients presents a more expansive outlook for exploring the phenomenon than the mere utilization of one. (Zelčāne & Piper, 2023).

Assessment of the Research Design’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths of the Research Design

This research combines quantitative and qualitative methods, leveraging the strengths of each to provide a comprehensive understanding of trauma. One major advantage of quantitative data is the possibility of accumulating a vast population sample, making the results statistically valid and usable for generalization. Meanwhile, qualitative methods provide more personal details about the patients’ traumatic history. This addresses the psychological effects and the survivors’ perspectives, which is significant when developing an individual differential approach.

Validated instruments like the PCL-5, BDI-II, and STAI ensure the data collected is robust and reliable. These tools are widely recognized in clinical research and provide a solid foundation for comparison with other studies. Given the topic’s sensitive nature, strict ethical guidelines are followed, including obtaining informed consent, ensuring confidentiality, and offering psychological support to participants. These measures are designed to protect the well-being of participants while maintaining the study’s integrity.

Weaknesses of the Research Design

Although the use of this design is good for summarizing the psychological impacts of a trauma at a given point in time, it cannot analyze the development of the psychological disorders over time or distinguish between cause and effect, which is paramount when studying the end product of the trauma. Another limitation is relying on self-reported data from quantitative and qualitative interviews. There is a tendency to have bias, such as recall bias, or where the participant’s answer may be self-serving in one way or another. Such biases prove harmful when applied in an analysis since they alter the results in a negative light.

Why This Design Is the Best Fit for the Proposed Study

Using a mixed-methods approach allows for capturing the prevalence rate as well as the intensity of experiencing one or multiple types of psychological symptoms in the aftermath of mass shootings, so the identified methodological approach to the study of trauma could be considered optimal. Using quantitative and qualitative data makes it possible to have a complete grasp on the theme of psychological traumatology, which would not be possible with a single approach.

Ethical considerations are central to this research, with measures in place to protect participants from negative impacts. The use of validated instruments is an important component of the study, adding to the body of knowledge in trauma psychology by allowing comparisons with similar studies. Further, considering the target population and practical realities of working with trauma survivors, the design is also highly feasible. It accepts the possibility and naturality of the psychological distress and practical burdens some participants may experience while providing rich data that is essential to understanding gun violence and the psychological damage caused by it.

Population and Sampling Procedures

Population

The target subjects of the current research refer to young people who have survived mass shooting incidents, specifically those aged between 12 and 25 years. Further, one needs to be a survivor of a mass shooting within the last five consecutive years. This timeline is helpful because it makes it possible to identify both short and long-lasting psychological effects.

Sampling Strategy

A purposive sampling technique with inclusion criteria will be adopted to select study participants from the target population. This type of sampling is called non-probability sampling, which is most suitable in this study because it allows the researcher to study the experiences of people who have directly been exposed to mass shootings as the best candidates to describe mental health problems resulting from trauma. People will be recruited from schools, online support groups for trauma, and other organizations that have contact with the survivors of mass shootings (Cash et al., 2022).

Recruitment Process

The above organizations will contact targeted individuals either by phone or email. Each subject will describe the study’s procedures and goal and possible risks, discomforts, and benefits. Informed written consent will be sought from the participant or the participant’s legal guardian if the participant is under 18.

Data Collection Process

Quantitative Data

The PCL-5, BDI-II, and STAI self-report questionnaires will be administered through an online link and will require 30-45 minutes to complete. These instruments will be used to gather information on the presence of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The surveys will be conducted electronically so that the results can be safely stored with the participants’ anonymity preserved. Any quantitative data collected shall be stored in encrypted files so that only a few people can access it.

Qualitative Data

Semi-structured interviews will be conducted face-to-face or using telecommunications platforms based on the participant’s preference. These interviews will take about 60-90 minutes. If the participants permit, the interviews will be recorded for transcription. To secure the anonymity of the participants, the transcripts will be deleted from their details. This will give qualitative data, which will give a detailed understanding of the survivors’ experiences.

Data Management

Data Storage

Every piece of data will be saved in an encoded, password-protected server storage system. The collected data will not be linked or traced back to the participant in any form, and they will be assigned identification numbers for easy identification throughout the research process. All the reported data will be anonymized, and all data that might be traced back to any participants will be removed.

Data Handling

Qualitative interviews will be recorded in audio format, and transcriptions will be done with the removal of any identifying information. The transcripts will be coded and kept in file folders and locked storage for data security. Quantitative data shall be analyzed using SPSS, while qualitative data shall be analyzed using thematic coding so that data is well managed and analyzed.

Selection and Justification of Statistical and Qualitative Analysis Methods

Quantitative Analysis

The quantitative data will be analyzed using SPSS, a statistical tool that ranges from basic transpose to complex models. Qualitative data will be employed to describe the demographic elements of the participants and the array of PTSD, depression, and anxiety values. Descriptive means and standard deviation statistics will be used to assess mean mental health outcomes by demographic subgroups. Main effects ANOVA will also examine differences in mental health outcomes regarding age, gender, and socioeconomic status (Kaliyadan & Kulkarni, 2019). These analyses will aid in understanding which demographic group suffers most from trauma and how their mental health outcomes will be.

Justification for Statistical Techniques

Descriptive statistics will help summarize the basic features of the dataset, providing a straightforward understanding of the data points’ distribution and central tendencies. For this reason, ANOVA is selected to test for significant differences in the means of more than two unrelated groups. This is particularly relevant when comparing the differences in PTSD, depression, and anxiety within different demographic groups, which is important for developing relevant strategies for intervention.

Justification for Qualitative Techniques

Using thematic analysis is justified because it helps organize and analyze qualitative data to find meaningful information. The format helps the researcher build a rich story of the survivor’s diverse experiences and ways of dealing with the trauma.

Ensuring the Reliability of Qualitative Analysis

To enhance the standard of the qualitative findings of this study, the method of triangulation will be employed with data from various sources or different analysis techniques. In this way, the study increases the reliability of conclusions drawn from individual interviews with those obtained from focus group discussions or other literature.

Inter-rater reliability will also be addressed by involving multiple researchers in the coding process. This approach reduces bias and ensures that the themes identified are objective. Discrepancies regarding coding will be addressed in meetings where the researchers agree on emerging themes. Moreover, the member-checking process will be used so the participants can overview the interpreted results and ensure that their experiences are expressed correctly.

The interview data will be analyzed thematically, focusing on variables such as stress, coping strategies, and support patterns. Several authors will code the data to increase its credibility and dependability (Busetto et al., 2020), allowing for a rich understanding of the survivors’ emotional and psychological responses to trauma.

Limitations

Cross-Sectional Design

The quantitative aspect of the study uses a cross-sectional design, which is appropriate for collecting data at one point only; it thus restricts judgments of within and between variable change over time as well as statistical inference of causality (Kaliyadan & Kulkarni, 2019). This hampers the chance of knowing the process through which the PTSD, anxiety, and depression symptoms change or recover, and this is very important for long-term management.

Self-Report Bias

Qualitative and quantitative methods rely heavily on self-report measures in which recall bias could be a concern or when there is a social desirability response bias. This may result in a distorted or reported picture of the condition and exaggeration or underreporting of the symptoms, thereby introducing bias in the analysis.

Sampling Method

The study utilizes purposive sampling, which is most useful in identifying a certain interest group, but it has the disadvantage of generalizing results to the total population of all trauma victims (Shah & Bohlen, 2023). This, in turn, restricts the external validity of the study findings with other populations or other settings than the young survivors of mass shootings.

Assumptions

Honesty in Responses

The research also assumes that the respondents will be honest and accurate in their responses when answering the interview questions and filling out self-completion questionnaires. This assumption is important in order to minimize some of the errors that may exist in data collection, but it is appropriately addressed by using standard psychometric questionnaire instruments that are believed to eliminate biased responses.

Stability of Diagnostic Criteria

It is postulated that the diagnostic criteria and the scales used in the study, including PCL-5, BDI-II, and STAI, maintain their reliability and validity throughout the study period (Devkota et al., 2023). These instruments are widely used in psychological research, and based on these instruments, the assumption on which this argument has been based rests. Thus, changes in the diagnostic criteria make their results change, become useful or limited, or give a different perspective.

Consistency in Participant Experience

The research assumption holds that the trauma conditions or cases of the participants are similar. However, there is one significant advantage of applying this assumption when performing the analysis and at the time of the results’ interpretation because it does not consider the other factors that define the sufferers’ experiences and might produce a difference in the outcome. (DeJonckheere & Vaughn, 2019).

Addressing Limitations and Assumptions

To overcome such limitations and assumptions, future research can also undertake longitudinal research to capture such changes over time and not be confined to convenience sampling but move to the correct probability sample, such as the random or the stratified sample. (Zelčāne & Piper, 2023). Further increasing the reliability checks on the collected data by comparing self-reported data with clinical outcomes or observations could also reduce the effects of various forms of bias.

Ethical Considerations

Each participant will be well-informed of the objective and methodology involved, possible hazards of prospective research, and advantages of the research before they are involved. This will be done through ‘information sheets’ and ‘consent forms, which detail the information the participants will be allowed to use in the research study. In addition to the participants’ permission, consent from their parents or guardians will be sought for participants under 18. This means the consent process will be developed to enable clients of different ages and abilities to fully understand it.

Moreover, all the information gathered from the targeted participants will be assured privacy through identification numbers. Patients’ identifiers will be collected but distantly stored from the study data and can only be accessible by the research team. Further, digital records will be saved on encrypted, password-protected servers. Documentation and recorded information, such as consent forms and interview transcripts, will be stored in locked cabinets accessible only to a few people.

Given the potentially traumatic nature of the interview topics, precautions will be in place to minimize emotional distress. This includes training interviewers in trauma-informed care techniques and allowing participants to pause or stop the interview at any point. Subsequently, the questionnaire recipients will be referred to psychological support services, and an introduction and conclusion of the services will be given. As part of the study, a licensed clinical psychologist will be on hand to attend to any emergent emotional needs of participants as they are in the study or as may be identified by the research team after they complete the study.

Finally, informed consent will be provided after participation, followed by an option for a debriefing session to clarify any misunderstandings regarding the study and assure the availability of support services. Furthermore, the participants will also be offered a chance to give suggestions about their experience so that further ethical practice issues can be addressed in subsequent studies.

Ethical Review and Oversight

The research proposal will be followed by submission to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) to ensure that all the requisite ethical considerations are met and the study is fully compliant with federal, state, and institutional regulations. Second, the ethical scrutiny of the study will be continuous so that if any problem surfaces during the study, it will be handled immediately. This will involve submitting status reports to the IRB and an independent ethics consultant to monitor the conduct of the study. In addition, the study will be conducted voluntarily. Participants will be informed that they can withdraw from the study at any time, and no consequences or implications will be given. Furthermore, participants will be respected and retain control of the research process. Their feedback will be acknowledged and valued in this study.

Dissemination of Findings

The results would be shared with mental health agencies, educational institutions, and organizations supporting individuals affected by trauma. A manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed journal will be developed, and the findings will be disseminated at public health and psychology conferences. Moreover, members of community groups that work with trauma survivors shall be provided with overviews of the research results for use in subsequent practices.

Conclusion

The findings and Recommendations that will be derived from the study would assist in enhancing the readiness of mental health services to tackle Mass Shooting incidences, especially as they relate to young survivors. The use of both the survey quantitative data and the interview qualitative data will enable both the rate of trauma and each survivor’s narrative. Privacy and compassion rules and regulations relating to issues throughout the conducting of the research will be observed. Therefore, the conclusions drawn from this study shall go a long way in enhancing the understanding of the various ideas related to trauma and help in establishing proper therapeutic interventions for the survivors.

References

Busetto, L., Wick, W., & Gumbinger, C. (2020). How to use and assess qualitative research methods. Neurological Research and Practice, 2(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42466-020-00059-z

Cash, P., Isaksson, O., Maier, A., & Summers, J. (2022). Sampling in design research: Eight key considerations. Design Studies, 78(1), 101077. ScienceDirect. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.destud.2021.101077

DeJonckheere, M., & Vaughn, L. M. (2019). Semistructured interviewing in primary care research: A balance of relationship and rigour. Family Medicine and Community Health, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2018-000057

Devkota, R., Cummings, G. G., Hunter, K. F., Maxwell, C. J., Shrestha, S., Dennett, L., & Hoben, M. (2023). Factors influencing emotional support of older adults living in the community: A scoping review protocol. Systematic Reviews, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-023-02346-7

Kaliyadan, F., & Kulkarni, V. (2019). Types of variables, descriptive statistics, and sample size. Indian Dermatology Online Journal, 10(1), 82–86. ncbi. https://doi.org/10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_468_18

Knott, E., Rao, A. H., Summers, K., & Teeger, C. (2022). Interviews in the social sciences. Nature Reviews Methods Primers, 2(1), 1–15. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43586-022-00150-6

Mann, S. K., & Marwaha, R. (2023). Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559129/

Resick, P. A., Straud, C. L., Jennifer Schuster Wachen, LoSavio, S. T., Peterson, A. L., McGeary, D. D., Young‐McCaughan, S., T., D. J., & Mintz, J. (2023). A comparison of the CAPS-5 and PCL-5 to assess PTSD in military and veteran treatment-seeking samples. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2222608

SAMHSA. (2022, July 18). Qualitative and quantitative assessment methods. Www.samhsa.gov. https://www.samhsa.gov/workplace/employer-resources/assessment-methods

Shah, H. S., & Bohlen, J. (2023, March 4). Implicit bias. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK589697/

Velasco, D. R., Marc, M. S., Trail, D., Pescaru, C. C., Hogea, P., Suppini, N., Crisan, A. F., Wellmann, N., & Oancea, C. (2024). A narrative review of self-reported scales to evaluate depression and anxiety symptoms in adult obstructive sleep apnea patients. Medicina, 60(2), 261. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60020261

Zelčāne, E., & Pipere, A. (2023). Finding a path in a methodological jungle: A qualitative research of resilience. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2164948

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Question 

Overview

In the Module Five discussion, you stated your proposed design for your capstone project research proposal. This included your chosen method, design, and data-collection instruments along with the reason behind each. For Milestone Three, you will build on your proposed design to develop a complete paper that discusses all aspects of the method, design, and data for your proposal. Research design is a major section of the capstone research proposal. Completing this milestone will provide you with a solid foundation for your capstone project. Refer to the Module Five and Six resources for more detailed information on research design. Review the Final Project Guidelines and Rubric and the Final Project and Milestone Alignment Guide to see how the critical elements in this milestone prepare you to meet the final project requirements and course outcomes used to evaluate your final capstone project.

Methodology, Design, and Data Management

Methodology, Design, and Data Management

The final project is meant for you to propose a hypothetical study. You are not and should not be conducting human-subject research for this project. It is not necessary for this assignment. All human-subject research requires written approval from the SNHU COCE Institutional

Review Board to protect the welfare and ensure ethical treatment of the subjects.

Prompt

Write a five- to seven-page paper in which you describe the methodology, design, and data management tools you plan to use in your research proposal. Define the process from the selection of participants (and stakeholders, as applicable) through data collection to data analysis, including any limitations and assumptions. Provide a detailed plan to collect and analyze data and disseminate findings.

Include all ethical considerations. Your paper should give a complete description of the entire process used to conduct the study. If your proposal involves implementation of interventions, then include a program evaluation component that describes your research design.

In your submission, be sure to include the following critical elements:

PROMPT: Submit your Milestone Three paper on the methodology, design, and data management to be used in your research proposal.

PLEASE REFER TO RUBRIC AND GUIDLINES AND INSTRUCTIONS I HAVE ATTACHED, AS WELL AS THE TEACHERS ANNOUNCEMENT

*****MY TOPIC: “Mental Health Impact of Mass Shootings on Young Survivors.”****

******PLEASE ALSO REVIEW PREVIOUS WORK I HAVE TURNED IN TO HELP YOU, ALSO THERE IS NO READING RESOURCES, YOU WILL HAVE TO FIND YOUR OWN THROUGH SHAPIRO LIBRARY OR THE WEBSITES I HAVE LISTED BELOW***

https://methods-sagepub-com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/project-planner/research-design

https://www.researchprospect.com/research-methodology/

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https://web.p.ebscohost.com/ehost/search/basic?vid=0&sid=4dcb4fd2-c6bd-4bcc-a341-e5f0990188eb%40redis

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