Type II Diabetes, Essay Example

Introduction

As one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States, Type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) affects mostly individuals who are obese (60% to 90%) and over the age of forty but has been known to affect younger individuals. Therefore, the research question for this plan is to determine why Type II diabetes is so prevalent in obese individuals. Medically speaking, this disorder is “primarily a result of a relative or complete lack of insulin secretion” by the pancreas or certain insulin receptors and is often familial (inherited) but can be acquired, such as in Cushing’s Syndrome (Glanze, 2004, p. 361). In order to test the research question, obese individuals or participants with Type II diabetes would be required to fill out a short questionnaire concerning familial links to the disorder. The viability of the research question would be justified if new information is retrieved from the participants.

Purpose Statement and Hypothesis

The basic purpose of this proposed research plan is to determine how and why obese individuals are afflicted with Type II diabetes and depending on what is revealed through this plan how the prevalence of this disorder could be lowered. As to the hypothesis, this research plan will clearly demonstrate that Type II diabetes is mostly inherited and that the affected individuals do have options for lowering their chances of acquiring the disorder.

The Research Plan

• Design–A cohort study or one “conducted over a period of time involving members of a population (obese w/ Type II diabetes) and who are united by some commonality or similarity (Type II diabetes). This design uses a quantitative framework which “makes note of statistical occurrence within a specialized subgroup, united by same or similar characteristics that are relevant to the research problem being investigated” (Types of Research Designs, 2012). Since this is a mixed methods research plan, the design will also include a qualitative framework which as J.W. Creswell describes as a “means for exploring and understanding the meaning individuals ascribe to a social or human problem” (Type II diabetes) and then interpreting the data that emerges from interviews, questionnaires, and other pertinent documents (4).
• Approach–A case study that involves “the intense examination of a small number of entities by the researcher, where neither independent variables are manipulated nor are confounding variables controlled.” This type of approach is appropriate due to typically utilizing questionnaires (Quantitative, Positivist Research Methods in Information Systems, 2001).
• Theoretical Framework–As a quantitative study, the population will be described and all data retrieved from the questionnaires will be used to test the hypothesis.
• Target Population–Obese individuals over the age of forty with Type II diabetes. Recruitment would be done via a private clinic that specializes in diabetes; sample size would depend on the number of respondents.
• Instruments–Participant request survey.
• Data Collection Procedures–All data would be collected from the questionnaires and/or surveys. The appropriateness of this procedure is due to the respondent’s personal experiences with Type II diabetes.
• Quality and Reliability–The quality and reliability of the data would be dependent upon the experiences of the participants.
• Threats to Validity–Maturation or the “natural changes that participants experience during the course of the intervention” that could affect the outcome of the data retrieved from the questionnaires/surveys (Shadish, Cook, & Campbell, 2002).
• Analyzing the Data–Data could be analyzed by comparing it to earlier case studies and/or surveys and by consulting a medical professional that specializes in diabetes.
• Ethical Considerations–None at this time.

References

Creswell, J.W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Glanze, W.D., Ed. (2004). Mosby’s medical and nursing encyclopedia. St. Louis, MO: C.V. Mosby.

Quantitative, positivist research methods in information systems. (2001). Retrieved from http://dstraub.cis.gsu.edu:88/quant/7glossary.asp#CaseStudies

Shadish, W. R., Cook, T. D., & Campbell, D. T. (2002). Experimental and quasi-experimental designs for generalized causal inference. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin.

Types of research design. (2012). Retrieved from http://libguides.usc.edu/content.php?pid=83009&sid=818072