Suicide Rates in Aboriginal Communities in Labrador, Canada

Running head: RESEARCH APPRAISAL
RESEARCH APPRAISAL
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

RESEARCH APPRAISAL1
Pollock, N. J., Mulay, S., Valcour, J., & Jong, M. (2016). Suicide rates in Aboriginal
communities in Labrador, Canada. American journal of public health, 106(7), 1309-1315.
1. What is the purpose of the
research study?
The aim of the study is to conduct a comparison study on the suicide
rate in Aboriginal communities in Labrador that included Innu,
Southern Inuit and Inuit, which was compared with the general
population of Newfoundland in Canada.
2. Conduct an initial critical appraisal
of the research report (Refer to
Grove and Gray p. 55 or 64)
What type of quantitative or
qualitative study was conducted?
Provide a rationale or evidence from
the study.
Identify the sections of the report.
(Introduction, Methods, Results and
Discussion)
Note any missing sections or issues
Was the study design appropriate for
the study?
Provide rationale as to why or why
not
In this study, a quantitative method was used for conducting it with
optimal efficiency. Hammersley (2017) opined that the quantitative
method involves the scientific method of observation that involve
numeric data that is used for testing with the help of statistical tools.
From the research, it was found that during the initial planning phase,
consultations with youth, elderly, mental health and community
workers, government decision-makers and primary care clinicians for
gaining the in-depth knowledge. Data from Canada’s Vital Statistics
Death Database was used.
The article contains all the vital sections that are Introduction,
Methods, Results and Discussion that were detailed and provided
sufficient information for the audience to an understanding of the
suicide rate among the indigenous people of Canada.
The study design was appropriate as the trial methodology and
statistical analysis were organised in nature and, thus, ensure that the
objective of the study was achieved (Kooijman et al., 2016).

RESEARCH APPRAISAL2
Identify the steps in the research
study? (Research problem and
purpose, review of relevant literature,
study framework, research
objectives, questions or hypothesis,
study variables, study design,
population and sample, measurement
methods, data collection, data
analysis, discussion of research
outcomes)
Note any missing steps of the
research process.
The primary step that was used in this study was to offer a
generalised background about suicide that leads to the formulation of
the purpose of the study and identification of the research problem.
The research provided a great depth in terms of Literature review that
helped in gaining background information about the topic and its
impact on society. The study was conducted in collaboration with
Aboriginal communities; thus, a population-based study was initiated
for understanding the suicide mortality in Labrador. The quantitative
data were obtained from the Vital Statistics Death Database and
community-engagement. Results and discussion sections that
effectively highlighted the results without any bias followed this
(Fletcher, 2017). Thus, it can be stated that it is a valid and reliable
study based on the suicide rate of the Aboriginal communities in
Canada. There were no missing steps in the process. Therefore, it can
be stated that systematic and scientific methods were applied in
conducting the research in a sequential manner focusing on gaining
maximum outputs (Colorafi & Evans, 2016). However, an in-depth
Literature Review section, which is found in some of the studies, is
missing.
3. Describe the methods used in the
research study.
A population-based study on understanding the pattern of suicide
mortality was conducted from the response of communities on the
local context. During the planning process, the consultation was done
upon various people that included young people, older people, care
workers, clinicians and policymakers to understand the priorities of
stakeholders. In the institutional review, the quantitative data