NURS 3150 Week 3 Discussion – Sampling Methods
The reliability and validity of a research methodology are based on adequate and appropriate sample(s) selected. Sampling consists of choosing a group of individuals, traits, events, qualities, or other elements to conduct a study or experiment. The strengths and weaknesses of various sampling methods are evaluated using the following concepts; population, representativeness, elements, randomization, sampling criteria, sampling frames, sampling errors, and sampling plans (Gray et al., 2017). With reference to the article for this discussion, I was able to discover some strengths and weaknesses of the sampling method employed in this study.
On account of strengths, the study employed a series of eligibility requirements for selecting the participants. They were expected to: be adults (18 years and above), be prepared to undergo gynecologic surgery, an impaired hearing, have no pre-surgical temporary or permanent disability, and sign a consent form (Labrague et al., 2016). These criteria helped in selecting appropriate samples for the study. More so, the study employed the use of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to measure pre- operative anxiety of all participants. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) is widely recognized for measuring trait and state anxiety (Spielberger et al., 1983). Finally, the use of headphones by the experimental group in order to avoid distractions or to block environmental noise when listening to the music played is also a strength of the sampling method; the participants have the option of adjusting the best volume that suits them.
NURS 3150 Week 3 Discussion – Sampling Methods
Some of the weaknesses I observed in the sampling method of this study include; the extent to which a sample is representative of the population increases by random sampling (Gray et al., 2017). But according to the study, 97 women undergoing gynecologic surgery were selected for the study; 49 were allocated to the control group, and 48 were allocated to the experimental group by the researchers. This method of allocation by the researchers is rather subjective, prone to biasedness, and thereby reduces the extent to which the samples are representative of the population. More so, the responses or results obtained may have been influenced by the awareness of the participants regarding the study protocol prior to the commencement of the study. The participants were made to acknowledge a consent form which provided them with all the necessary information about the study. Furthermore, a participant’s music preference must be taken into account if music must be effective in stress reduction and inducing relaxation (D. Lee et al., 2004). Subjecting the participants to only three genres of music (classical, country, and nature sounds with slow and flowing tempos) without knowing their preferences can negatively influence the outcome of the study. Finally, the 97 participants in the study were all selected from a single hospital facility (Labrague et al., 2016). Selecting participants from only one hospital as well as having a mean age of 42.10 and 42.31 years, is a weakness in the sampling method. It doesn’t cover a comprehensive age margin of all women. It will be difficult for the researchers to make generalizations based on the results obtained that music does influence the anxiety levels of all women about to undergo gynecologic surgery. In order to improve the sampling process, I would suggest that the researchers consider selecting participants from more than one hospital, and the participants should be randomly allocated to the control and experimental group; in order for the sample to be representative of the population. Finally, the researchers should take into account the participants’ favorite genre of music for relaxing and reducing anxiety.
References
Gray, J. R, Grove, S. K., & Sutherland, S. (2017). The practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
Labrague, L. & McEnroe-Petitte, D. (2016). Influence of music on Preoperative anxiety and physiological parameters in women undergoing gynecologic surgery. Clinical Nursing Research, 25(2), 157-173.
Laureate Education (Producer). (2015c). Quantitative research designs [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Lee, D., Henderson, A., & Shum, D. (2004). The effect of music on pre-procedure anxiety in Hong Kong Chinese day patients. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 13, 297-303. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2702.2003.00888.
Spielberger, C. D., Gorsuch, R. L., Lushene, R., Vagg, P. R., & Jacobs, G. A. (1983). Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
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NURS 3150 Week 3 Discussion – Sampling Methods
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