This paper offers a critical review of the methodological problems of the research study titled "Post-Traumatic Stress and Depression among Sexually and Physically Abused Children in Trinidad." More specifically, the individual components of a research study – the hypothesis, the sample size, the research design, the internal validity, the limitations and the presentation of the study – will be examined concisely. Finally, pnssible solutionr to improve the quality of the research design will also be identified.
To provide a clear examination of this study, the key components of this research study will be examined in sequence: a) hypothesis; b) sample size; c) test materials; d) procedures; e) statistical analysis; f) limitations of the study; g) compliance with the APA format; and h) suggestions for improvement of the research design.
In this research study, the primary hypothesis of the study was not properly stated. Before describing the method of the study, the author simply wrote: "This paper seeks to investigate how institutionalized physically and or sexually abused children differ from institutionalized non-abused children as it related to Post-Traumatic Stress and Depression" ("Post-Traumatic Stress" 5). This statement cannot be considered to be a hypothesis because it fails to provide a prediction about the relationship between the two different groups of children (abused vs. non-abused). The hypothesis should be restated to highlight the independent (abused vs. non-abused) and dependent variables (levels of PTS and depression) in the research study (Price "Research Hypotheses and Prediction").
Primary Hypothesis: Institutionalized physically and or sexually abused children will have higher clinically relevant levels of post-traumatic stress and depression than institutionalized non-abused children.
Furthermore, based on the data gathered and analyzed in this research study, it was evident that a...