Quantitative Research Methods: Assessing Smoking's Impact on Health

This report employs quantitative research methods to assess the impact of smoking on health within the UK. It includes a literature review covering the negative impacts of smoking, factors promoting smoking among young people, and strategies for reduction. The methodology involves quantitative techniques, sampling of 20 individuals from diverse backgrounds, and SPSS coding for data analysis, ensuring ethical considerations. Results from descriptive statistics indicate that respondents generally agree smoking is harmful and favor banning it in public places, while cross-tabulation reveals a significant relationship between smoking and gender, but not consistently with age. The discussion highlights that smoking habits are more influenced by gender than age, correlating with factors like stress and habitualness. The study concludes that smoking is a harmful practice significantly influenced by gender, advocating for continued efforts to reduce smoking prevalence.

Quantitative Research
Methods for Social Scientists

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................3
Background.................................................................................................................................3
Rationale.....................................................................................................................................3
Aim and objectives......................................................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................3
METHODOLGOY..........................................................................................................................4
Methods used..............................................................................................................................4
Sampling.....................................................................................................................................4
Research process.........................................................................................................................5
Ethical consideration...................................................................................................................5
Reflexivity ..................................................................................................................................5
RESULTS .......................................................................................................................................5
Descriptive statistics...................................................................................................................5
Cross tabulation...........................................................................................................................5
DISCUSSION..................................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
APPENDIX......................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Background
Smoking is being defined as the act of inhaling and exhaling the different fumes which
comes from burning plant material. The use of cigarette smoking is very harmful and this can
affect the health of the person to a great extent. the current research is based on the fact that
whether cigarette smoking is bad for health of the person or not. This is particularly because of
the reason that smoking affects the health of the person to a great extent.
Rationale
In the current environment the people mostly gets attracted towards the bad habits more.
The reason underlying this fact is that when the people get used to bad habits then this can affect
the health of the person to a great extent. this affects the efficiency and health of the person.
Thus, the present research will enhance the knowledge of people that they must not smoke and
deteriorate their health.
Aim and objectives
“To assess the impact of smoking over the health of the person. A study in context to UK.”
Objectives
 To articulate understanding relating to smoking and its negative impact.
 To evaluate the different factors that promote smoking among young people.
 To examine the impact which smoking causes over the health of the person.
 To recommend strategies through which smoking can be reduced among people.
Research question
1. What is smoking and its negative effects?
2. What are the different factors which promotes smoking among young people?
3. What is the impact of smoking over the health of the person?
4. What are the strategies through which smoking can be reduced among people?
LITERATURE REVIEW
In accordance to the views of Mersha and et.al., (2021) the habit of smoking affects the
health and efficiency of the person to a great extent. This is particularly because of the reason

that smoking affects the health in negative manner and this involves causing heart diseases, lung
diseases, cancer, diabetes and many other diseases.
On the other hand, Kim and et.al., (2019) stated that there are many different factors
which promotes the habit of smoking among the people and particularly young generation. The
most common factor is peer pressure. This is particularly because of the reason that when people
study together then there is a pressure on other that other are smoking then they must also start
smoking. In addition to this another factor included is the lifestyle within which the person
belongs. This is particularly because of the reason that in order to maintain the lifestyle many a
times person has to adopt some of the changes.
On the other side, Mendoza-Romero and et.al., (2019) argues that there is always
negative impact being created by smoking over the person. The different negative factor involves
breathing problem, heart disease, diabetes, infection, vision and hearing loss, chronic respiratory
condition and many other different negative impacts.
In against of this Jiang and et.al., (2020) states that when a person quit smoking then this
will be beneficial for the health of the person. This is pertaining to the fact that after quitting
smoking the positive impact was breath diseases coming to an end. Also the risk of heart disease
and coronary diseases is also less which is beneficial for the person.
On the basis of this, it can be interpreted that smoking is harmful practice which is
required to be controlled in order to get the healthy life style in turn long term positive living
with facing any complications.
METHODOLGOY
Methods used
The method used in the present research is the quantitative technique because the
outcome of research based on quantitative research is more precise and accurate. Hence, the
current study will be providing better outcome and will improve the attainment of research
questions.
Sampling
The sample is being defined as the selection of some people from the whole population in
order to gather the data. In the present research 20 people have been selected belonging to the
different age category and ethnic background.

Research process
The research process involves the collection of the data from the sample and then coding
it in SPSS (Lê and Schmid, 2022). Then the different statistical tools are being applied to the
data and objectives are being met.
Ethical consideration
With respect to the ethical consideration all the data has been collected after the consent
of participants. Also, the data was kept safe and confidential and was discarded after the research
was completed so that it cannot be misused.
Reflexivity
The part which I played was analysing the data as it is the most important aspect for the
completion of the research. For this I analysed the different statistical tools and applied it to the
data and results were found.
RESULTS
Descriptive statistics
Attached in appendix
With the help of the analysis of descriptive statistics it was analysed that on an average
the respondent included within the research was young people and particularly included males
more. Also, when it was asked that whether smoking is harmful then majority of the people
stated that they strongly agree that smoking is harmful for their health. Also when it was asked
that whether they are in favour of banning majority of people strongly agreed to this fact. In
addition to this, most of the people have tried to receive help from others then maximum of
people stated that they strongly agree to it.
Cross tabulation
H0- There is not any significant relation being present within smoking and age and gender.
H1- There is a significant relation present in smoking based on age and gender.
Output attached in appendix
With the help of the cross tabulation it is clear that the people mostly people have tried
smoking and on the basis of the age and gender the hypothesis is proved as the significance value
is 0.013 for age and 0.001 for gender. Thus, this is less than the standard and it implies that the
alternate hypothesis is proved. Also, when asked for the fact that whether smoking is harmful

then on the basis of age it is not proved but on the basis of gender it is proved as the significance
value is 0.004. also, on the basis of gender the hypothesis is proved that people are in favour of
banning smoking in public place but not on basis of gender.
DISCUSSION
From the evaluation of the study it can be interpreted that the smoking is one of the
adverse practice that tend impact the health. This is identified that smoking practices are based
on the gender aspects rather than age group. This statement can be supported by Kondo and
et.al., (2019) that there are different types of the reason which are taken into the consideration
which includes stress, depression, habitualness, etc. It is articulated that number of reasons are
taken into the consideration that arise due to the gender basis not s the age group.
Smoking is one of the adverse situation that tend to affect the body and creates number
of health issues. In this respect it can be identified that smoking basically found by the all the age
group possessing people as they tend to utilize the smoking activities. In college, workforce, etc.
places the smoking is found which indicates that there is no defined age group that reflects
higher or lower consumption of such hazardous goods this is basically found that on the gender
basis higher or lower consuming of the practices like the smoking can be identified. In addition
to this, it can be justified that in the current era, larger people irrespective of age group tend to
provide the emphasis on using smoking activities which has adverse impact on the health
condition of people. This is recognized that all the people irrespective of age group are having
the stress for which tend to use smoking as the stress buster. This type of the tendency can be
differentiated on the basis of gender and not on the base of age group.
On the basis of the provided information it can be specified that there are different types
of aspect such as gender and age group that aids in assessing about the smoking cigarettes. It is
found that smoking is based on the gender differentiation and not on the age group.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it can be concluded that smoking one of the negative habit that
affect the functioning of adversely by dividing the hazardous practices. In addition to this,
current study has given emphasis on offering the literature review so that has given the
information regarding its significance, factors affecting and impact of smoking practices. The
current investigation has paid attention on offering the research methodology which involves the

quantitative research type, using of SPSS for coding and ethical consideration in turn
accomplishing the objective of continuing the research in effective. The current investigation
has involved results and discussion which is indicating that smoking depends on the gender and
not on age group. On the basis of this, it can be specified that smoking is injurious practice and
based on gender.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Jiang, Y. and et.al., 2020. The impact of smoking on subgingival microflora: From periodontal
health to disease. Frontiers in microbiology, p.66.
Kim, S. J. and et.al., 2019. The impact of smoking cessation attempts on stress levels. BMC
Public Health. 19(1). pp.1-9.
Kondo, T. and et.al., 2019. Effects of tobacco smoking on cardiovascular disease. Circulation
Journal. 83(10). pp.1980-1985.
Lê, J. K. and Schmid, T., 2022. The practice of innovating research methods. Organizational
Research Methods. 25(2). pp.308-336.
Mendoza-Romero, D. and et.al., 2019. Impact of smoking and physical inactivity on self-rated
health in women in Colombia. Preventive medicine reports. 16. p.100976.
Mersha, A. G. and et.al., 2021. Evaluating level of adherence to nicotine replacement therapy
and its impact on smoking cessation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of
Public Health. 79(1). pp.1-14.

APPENDIX
Statistics
age gender ethnicity Tried
smoking
Home
smoke
Smoking
harmful
Favor of
banning
smoking
in
public
place
Want to
stop
smoking
Received
help to
stop
smoking
See
cigarette
commercial
N Valid 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
Missing 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Mean 1.7000 1.7500 1.4500 1.4500 1.4500 3.7000 3.9000 3.8000 3.7500 1.4500
Median 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 4.0000 4.5000 4.0000 4.5000 1.0000
Mode 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 1.00
Std.
Deviation .92338 1.06992 .51042 .51042 .51042 1.45458 1.41049 1.39925 1.48235 .51042
Range 3.00 3.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 1.00
Frequency Table
age
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative
Percent
Valid
Young (0- 35) 11 47.8 55.0 55.0
Middle aged (36- 64) 5 21.7 25.0 80.0
Old (65 upwords) 3 13.0 15.0 95.0
4.00 1 4.3 5.0 100.0
Total 20 87.0 100.0
Missing System 3 13.0
Total 23 100.0

gender
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative
Percent
Valid
Male 12 52.2 60.0 60.0
Female 3 13.0 15.0 75.0
Non-binary 3 13.0 15.0 90.0
Prefer not to say 2 8.7 10.0 100.0
Total 20 87.0 100.0
Missing System 3 13.0
Total 23 100.0

ethnicity
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative
Percent
Valid
White 11 47.8 55.0 55.0
Black / African / Caribbean
/ Black British 9 39.1 45.0 100.0
Total 20 87.0 100.0
Missing System 3 13.0
Total 23 100.0

Tried smoking
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative
Percent
Valid
Yes 11 47.8 55.0 55.0
No 9 39.1 45.0 100.0
Total 20 87.0 100.0
Missing System 3 13.0
Total 23 100.0