SCS 502 Project: Analyzing Research Articles in Healthcare

This project analyzes three research articles: Kelly et al. (2015), Conn & Marks (2014), and Martins et al. (2015), focusing on prescription drug misuse among young adults. The analysis compares the research methodologies used, including time-space sampling and secondary data analysis, explaining ...Read More

Running Head: ANALYZING RESEARCH ARTICLES 1
Analyzing Research Articles
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ANALYZING RESEARCH ARTICLES 2
Analyzing Research Articles
This analysis involves three articles by Kelly, et al. 2015; Conn, & Marks, 2014; and
Martins, et al. 2015). In the study by Kelly, Rendina, Vuolo, Wells, & Parsons, (2015), the
researchers used time-space sampling in a larger part of its targeted population because it could
capture data from population that was hardly accessible and also great in generating samples of
young people from different race and color actively involved in the nightlife. In order to get the
an accurate sample from the venue based population the researcher captured sample from
different and random venues that comprised of people of color, people of different sexual
orientation and also randomized the time and days (Noble, & Smith, 2015).
Due to lack of information about non-medical usage of prescribed drugs among the
young adults who do not attend colleges in the USA a research about the above subject was
conducted. The research team chose to analyze a huge amount of data from the years 2008 to
2010 to have the sample sizes increased. It also gave an estimate of the use of drugs among the
population between the age of 12 years and above in the country.
In order explain the difference that exists in different race, ethnic groups in terms of
misusing drug prescription among the adolescents in the US and to also identify if there exists a
social cultural influence, a research was done to find out what has caused cases of misuse and
abusing of prescribed drugs. The research team used secondary data analysis of the year 2010 of
a target population between the ages of 12 and17 years across many races (Conn, & Marks,
2014).
Validity and Reliability
In the study by Kelly, et al. 2015), the population was first divided into clusters that the
research team termed as venue based and then went ahead to take a random sample from each

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venue. This approach gave the research its validity as people who have interested on the subject
were equally and fairly represented in the research sample that the team came up with. It would
be fair to generalize the character and the data collected from the sample as a generalization of
the entire population.
The research design employed by the second research team that was up to the standard
that provides reliable data and by offering 30USD as an incentive compensation they tried to
make the data more accurate and detailed as possible (Martins, Kim, Chen, Levin, Keyes, Cerdá,
& Storr, 2015). The team also availed means that would not compromise the integrity and
privacy of the data while collected. Different variables that included sex, race, and place of
residence were well selected. There was no generalization of a sub group as others since it would
have prohibit the research team from exploring prevalence causes that might exist. The results
that were derived from the data showed a degree of consistency in the findings (Cope, 2014).
The research design opted to focus on sociocultural factors in order for them to explain
radical characteristics in the development of health related issues. Hence using the 2010 National
Survey the research team took into consideration the various variables environments and
conditions that the various groups of teens were exposed too. Each group the whites and the
different minority groups were taken into consideration and their individual sociocultural
difference were taken into account giving the research its reliability and validity.
Credibility
In all the three research the team adhered to the set guidelines in order for the results and the
whole research to be credible. In the first research Kelly et al. (2015) drug misuse among young
adults was a serious issue. The research sought to highlight what role the motivational context
played in influencing drug misuse. It was observed that the findings provided great insight on

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prevention, intervention and treatment efforts. The conclusion and discussion were founded on
the grounds of the data that was derived from the research. From the findings and conclusion it is
well to conclude that the research was credible as the both findings and conclusion indicated that
the key driver of misusing and abuse of prescription drugs was a key driver.
In the second research the team drew data from three years on young adults of ages
between 18 and 22 years (Martins, et al. 2015). The data derived painted a picture that adults
who have no high school degree are more prone to use of prescription. Across different groups
and ethnics there was a negligible across educational attainment groups. The conclusion drawn
was in line with the data that there was an urgent need to roll out a preventive and put in place
intervening measures that target nonmedical drug use beyond college campus.
During the research, Conn, & Marks, (2014) saw the demographic of NMUPD
distribution and prevalence across the different race, ethnics, gender and for each ethnic group
the conducted series of poison and logistic regression in order for the them to predict any chance
about NMUPD depending on parental peer substance usage perceived. The findings and
conclusions were aligned with what was observed before (Denscombe, 2014). It provided a
great deal of new information into how attitudes of close peers and guardians influence substance
usage and abuse.

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References
Conn, B. M., & Marks, A. K. (2014). Ethnic/racial differences in peer and parent influence on
adolescent prescription drug misuse. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral
Pediatrics, 35(4), 257-265.
Cope, D. G. (2014, January). Methods and meanings: credibility and trustworthiness of
qualitative research. In Oncology nursing forum (Vol. 41, No. 1).
Denscombe, M. (2014). The good research guide: for small-scale social research projects.
McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Kelly, B. C., Rendina, H. J., Vuolo, M., Wells, B. E., & Parsons, J. T. (2015). Influences of
motivational contexts on prescription drug misuse and related drug problems. Journal of
substance abuse treatment, 48(1), 49-55.
Martins, S. S., Kim, J. H., Chen, L. Y., Levin, D., Keyes, K. M., Cerdá, M., & Storr, C. L.
(2015). Nonmedical prescription drug use among US young adults by educational
attainment. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 50(5), 713-724.
Noble, H., & Smith, J. (2015). Issues of validity and reliability in qualitative research. Evidence-
based nursing, 18(2), 34-35.