Research Proposal: Is Attention Deficit Disorder a Neuropsychological Problem?

Week 5 Discussion

The topic that I have chosen for my research proposal is childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. As I find myself back in an early childhood education setting, I am witnessing more and more children diagnosed with this disorder and prescribed medications that are inaffective or extremely harmful. To better understand the effect ADHD has on children, the scientific question is posed: Is Attention Deficit Disorder a Neuropsychological Problem? It is my hypothesis that, ADHD is linked with heterogeneous neuropsychological properties. As several studies have revealed deficiencies in portions of executive functioning relating to neuropsychology. Such as effortful attention, working memory, inhibitory control, planning or set shifting and delay aversion. Indicated signs of ADHD are proven to be chronic in nature and associated with impairment in multiple areas of functioning. These indicators are apparent in various settings including academic learning, psychological and social functioning.

As research methods both qualitative and quantitative methods would be useful in obtaining data. Tools such as observation and interviews, as well as questionaires and surveys can be utilized to yield results. According to our reading, “to consider incorporating a mixed methods design is complementarity. Complementarity allow the researcher to gain a fuller understanding of the research problem and/or to clarify a given research result (Hess-Biber, 2011). While the mixed method approach is definitely viable for a research study such as this. Researchers should be cautious of disadvantages the mixed method approach may cause to a study such as. One of the main benefits of qualitative research is its in-depth quality and flexibility. Often when utilizing both methods qualitative data loses its advantages. Yardley and Bishop (2015) states, “One problem is influencing the training of psychologists, which does not yet typically succeed in promoting a sophisticated understanding of which methods to use, how, and when. The result is that researchers with insufficient training in how to match research activities to research objectives may try to use qualitative methods inappropriately – for example, attempting to use small qualitative studies in a way that would be more appropriate to quantitative research (e.g., to test for between group comparisons, infer causal relationships or provide evidence confirming theoretical models)” (para, 4).

Based on our course material thus far, qualitative data such as records of individual interviews, focus groups and field notes from observations of behaviors and activities would be greatly beneficial and sufficient in acquiring the information needed to complete this research study. Applying ethical principles would first include informed consent due to the focus of the research is on minors. There is also considered authorizations for medical and psychological records. That will be utilized in further understanding the neuropsychological connection to the disorder and its effect on children.

References:

Hesse-Bibber, S. N. (2010). Mixed methods research: Merging theory with practice. New York, NY: Guilford Press.

Yardley, L. and Bishop, F.L. (2015). Using mixed methods in health research: Benefits and challenges. British Journal of Health Psychology. Retrieved from http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu