Quantitative Study: Faith and Science
Due Date: Aug 30, 2014 23:59:59 Max Points: 150 Details: Write a critical analysis of a quantitative study that demonstrates comprehension of the research study conducted. Each study analysis will be 750-1,000 words and submitted in one document. Questions under each heading should be addressed as a narrative, in the structure of a formal paper. Include the following: I. An introduction to the article. II. Protection of human participants, including: Assessing study tools. Addressing ethical issues. III. Data collection methods, their critique, potential biases and ethical issues thereof. IV. Problem statement: Problem statement is clearly stated. Provides justification for the study. Topic is significant to nursing. Topic of study is researchable. V. Data analysis and data management: Critique of data and its link to research question. Significance and insignificance of analysis explained and implication to nursing practiced reviewed. VI. Conclusions linked back to purpose of study and literature review. VII. Quality of study discussion. VIII. Interpretation of findings and specific suggestions offered. IX. Conclusion that summarizes the utility of research and its importance to nursing practice. Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required. This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion. You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center. Submit the assignment along with an electronic version of the article used for the analysis. If an electronic version is not available, submit a clean unmarked copy of the article.
Faith and Science
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Introduction
Believing is one of the aspects that is said to have some very subtle effects on the persons that are involved. There are many types of believes, all of which change the way people perceive different aspects in their lives (Sciencemuseum.org.uk, 2014). Evidence has shown that, patients that have religious beliefs tend to cope with their stress and anxiety much better. In the past studies such as the ones conducted by Durkheim and Freud, they suggest that the religious believers tend to have better ways of connecting with other like minded believers, while at the same time giving them meaning and comfort. Recent studies also indicate as mentioned earlier that, beliefs tend to alleviate stress, compensate for self control loss and reduce levels of anxiety. What is not clear is whether this only relates to the religious beliefs and whether it would have an effect on the science or any other general fields (Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project, 2009). There have been a few suggestions that religious beliefs can be replaced with political ideologies and humanism related ideologies. This way the human life and the related events can be given meaning.
Recent studies also indicated that in the UK most of the people no longer have religious preference and thus have embraced other belief systems. There have also been quite a number of controversies associated with scientists and philosophers embracing their beliefs in science in a rather fanatical manner (Farias, Newheiser, Kahane & de Toledo, 2013). In this study, two experiments were conducted with a background of stressful conditions and anxiety, to assess if people leaned more on their supernatural beliefs or scientific beliefs and the effects thereof. In the two experiments rowers were used, and the level of stress and anxiety were controlled. At the same time there was a control group that had normal conditions.
Protection of the Human Participants on Ethical Grounds
The first experiment was composed of 100 participants (Farias, Newheiser, Kahane & de Toledo, 2013). They were divided into two groups, where one of the groups was to take part in a rowing training in readiness for the competitions, while the other group was composed of persons that were just taking training sessions. This means that the firs group was under more stress due to the requirement for competition. While the participants are said to have been tested on their faith in science and at the same time in religious beliefs, there is no mention of the ethical issues involved. At the same time there is no mention of the various strategies implemented to solve any ethical issues that may have come up during the study. In most cases, the studies of this nature given that they are investigating sensitive matters will have a provision explaining the steps taken to take care of the ethical issues.
Data Collection
Data collection in the study is largely through the use of questionnaires. During the sessions in training and competitions, the participants would be asked to take part in answering questions listed out in the questionnaires as part of establishing the beliefs they held most passionately. In the method section of the study report, there is a table that stipulates the 10 item scale used in the measure of beliefs in the participants (Farias, Newheiser, Kahane & de Toledo, 2013). The items rated from 1 that signifies strong disagreement to number 6 rated strong agreement...