Evaluating the role of motivation in interventions aiming to help people stop smoking.
Write a research plan outlining how one would plan to conduct a mixed method study (using quantitative AND qualitative methods) aimed at evaluating the role of motivation in interventions aiming to help people stop smoking.
Tobacco dependence is a global epidemic. It has been estimated that cigarette smoking will claim the lives of 500 million people alive today and as many as one billion people in the 21st century (World Health Organization, 2008). Although clinical interventions for smoking cessation are promising, long-term abstinence rates remain low (Brandon, Vidrine, & Litvin, 2007). Hence, it is essential that research continues to explore possible clinical and other treatments for tobacco dependence. Motivational interviewing (MI), for instance, is an innovative therapeutic approach for promoting behavioral change that is being increasingly applied to smoking cessation. Helping smokers to quit involves 2 processes–motivating smokers to attempt to quit and helping them to stop once they try. At any given time, only about 10% of smokers are planning to quit in the next month, 30% are contemplating to quit in the next 6 months, 30% plan to quit at some unknown time, and 30% have no plans to quit; thus, the large majority of clinician interventions involve motivating smokers to try to stop.
The use of empirical psychological research evidence to support arguments made, and key discussion points, is an important requirement for this essay. Such evidence should come from primary sources (i.e.: peer reviewed journal articles) and referenced accurately using the APA system of referencing.
Literature Review/Introduction
Be clear and concise as this sets the scene for the report. At the beginning of this section, give a high-level overview/rationale of what is being investigated (the research question) and why it is important and novel (i.e., rationale of the study) and state the aims and hypotheses of the study. Present a review of the literature that is most in scope to the topic. Include a good sample of the most relevant references. show evidence of critical reviewing. The introduction should also clearly explain and define relevant terms and set the scene for the main points for discussion. This section should end with a brief summary of how the literature reviewed relates to the rationale.
Research Methodology and Method
Explain how to undertake the research project. Position the research by discussing the methodology that informs the design. You may wish to use subheadings in this section (e.g. Design, Participants, Materials, Procedures, Ethics, Analysis). This section must describe the following:
• The design of the study
• The selection, sampling and recruitment of appropriate participants for the study
• The methods used to collect quantitative and qualitative research data and why these have been chosen over other methods
• Any ethical considerations arising from the research
• General descriptions of how data would be analyzed. demonstrate understanding of the key processes involved in research.
For each aspect of the research plan, justify the decisions you make and refer to methodological literature to demonstrate knowledge of the topic.
Introduction & Literature Review
• Sets out key background information for the reader and discussion of the relevant literature
• Clear evidence of linking key literature (empirical studies, theory, etc.) to the research question, rationale, aims, and hypotheses
Research Question, Rationale, Aims, and Hypotheses
• Includes a clear rationale, aims and hypotheses
• Clear rationale for the research design that is grounded in some ‘key’ previous and relevant literature
Research Method
Section presented with clear sub-headings (below) with a concise description of the proposed:
• Participant sample and recruitment procedure(s)
• Apparatus and Materials
• Design of the study
• Procedure
• Clear and concise consideration of ethical issues relating to the proposed research project