Qualitative Research Article Review

Qualitative Research Article Review

Article

Wood, A., Brooks, R., & Beynon-Pindar, C. (2015). The experience of sleep for women with borderline personality disorder: An occupational perspective. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 78(12), 750-756.

Introduction

Individuals are faced with different healthcare conditions that influence their normal lives. The development of these conditions was essential in defining a highly structured emphasis based on individual behavior and social development. Sleep forms an integral part of an individual’s wellbeing, considering that it helps in relaxation and improves cognitive performance. Individuals who are deprived of sleep tend to suffer from numerous cognitive challenges. Different mental and personality disorders have different influences on the lives of individuals. One of the common personality disorders is a borderline personality disorder. The borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition that has a significant influence on an individual’s ability to think as well as how they feel about themselves. An individual, in this case, can form relationships, but they become unstable throughout their development. An individual is unable to trust their judgment which distorts their self-image. The frequent mood swings prevent the formation of long-term positive relationships. This paper provides a critique of an article that assessed the experience of sleep for women with a borderline personality disorder.  Therefore this paper will assess the qualitative research methods that were included in the study and help determine the reliability of the study findings.

Qualitative methodology

Qualitative research methods focus on explaining the experiences and decisions that are made based on an issue that is being assessed. It helps understand important developmental aspects that are essential in improving the level of change. There is a need to define a robust change approach, which helps in creating a highly structured system that can be considered in improving the current knowledge on the issue that is being investigated. The use of statements in qualitative research provides the basis that helps inform decision making as well as policy development.  The study focused on describing sleep patterns among women with a borderline personality disorder.

Borderline personality disorder has been associated with increased sleep difficulties, which have created a different context where it is easier to understand the different processes, especially cognitive development. The researcher identified a gap in clinical practice focusing on determining the association between sleep patterns and borderline personality among women. The study integrated semi-structured interviews where four women with borderline personality disorder were investigated based on the inpatient setting. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcription in qualitative research plays a critical role in defining a highly strategic system for change where there is a need to focus on different approaches that define change development. The transcription was done verbatim to preserve the meaning of each statement as spoken by the participants.

The analysis of the transcribed data was based on thematic analysis. The thematic analysis presents a platform where the transcribed data is assessed with a key focus on getting the meaning of each statement and help in the formulation of themes. Four themes were identified in the study, which helps create a well-structured system for change. The identified themes included lack of a proper sleeping pattern, sleep is getting away before the admission, work-life balance was highly chaotic, and I know the routine, but it does not affect me. Every individual performance is influenced by different elements that help in creating a highly structured approach that helps in maintaining a certain level of focus.

Qualitative approach

The study employed the use of a case study approach to analysis.  The identification of better outcomes in research is based on a specific understanding of better approaches that help in defining a given issue in a more detailed manner. The researcher in the study has focused on understanding sleep patterns among women with a borderline personality disorder. The researcher has identified the issue, which is sleeping pattern experiences among women with a specific condition, which is a borderline personality disorder. This helps in creating a highly structured system that helps in improving the level of study development. The researcher sought to have a deep understanding of sleep patterns among women with a personality disorder.  From previous researches, it has already been identified that borderline personality disorder causes severe sleep difficulties, although there is no essential information regarding the condition among women.

Strengths and limitations of qualitative research

A major strength of qualitative data is that it provides a detailed understanding of specific issues that help in maintaining a greater emphasis on essential processes that help in improving knowledge level based on the issue that is being investigated. It helps in understanding a detailed description of events in an open manner, which is essential in improving the level of commitment and individual development.

Qualitative research is easy to analyze, considering that it involves different approaches that can be adequately assessed and help improve the level of engagement. The analysis consists of a review of statements with a critical focus on the development of themes.

Limitations

Making inferences using qualitative data is difficult, considering that the research does not include any limits. The participants have the freedom to discuss a wide array of issues making it difficult to make a strong, informed decision that defines improved outcomes. Implementing a substantial platform help in creating a highly structured system that improves the level of performance.

The data collected using qualitative research methods might not be robust enough to help in explaining any complex issues that are integrated within the study. Understanding the underlying association between individuals is influenced differently, which is a necessary process that helps in improving the outcomes.

The sampling procedure

The study used a purposeful sampling method to recruit study participants. The purposeful sampling technique is a nonprobability technique where individuals are recruited based on the similarity of their characteristics. The common characteristics that were assessed in the study include the female gender and admitted with a borderline personality disorder. This method is crucial when seeking to have an in-depth understanding of a given case based on a structured manner. However, the limitation of this method is that the study findings are likely to be biased because the participants might be influenced based on a similar approach. An error in judgment by the researcher is likely to affect the overall research outcomes.

The difference in a study sampling

The researcher in the study focused on only four individuals who were recruited. However, I would have focused on reaching a saturation point based on in-depth interviews conducted, considering that having a small sample is likely to have negative implications on the research outcomes. There is a higher chance of all the four participants having the same effects as compared to a study where there is a focus on saturation before determining the total number of participants. This would be essential in controlling bias and misinformation.

Data collection and ethical consideration

The researcher employed the use of in-depth interviews in data collection based on a semi-structured questionnaire.  The use of in-depth interviews is the most appropriate, considering the small sample population. It provides exhaustive responses based on the issues that were being investigated. It provides a better platform where opinions, experiences, and outcomes based on sleep patterns among the respondents can be effectively identified. Each of the interviews took approximately 20 to 45 minutes, which is the appropriate time to understand the key aspects that were being investigated in the study. Open-ended questions were used to ensure that the data collected was valid and informative based on the research problem investigated. All of the interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim.  The researcher also used pseudonyms to maintain the confidentiality of the participants. The researcher maintained a high level of ethical consideration. The identity of the participants was not used while the institution approved the study. The participants also consented to the study, which provides a better focus on scientific research development.

The difference in data collection

The researcher has utilized efficient research methods that help in providing a sharper focus on outcomes. I would have limited the interview time to approximately between 20 and 25 minutes. More extended interviews tend to deviate from the research issue hence making it challenging to obtain meaning from many statements that were provided by the participants. I would have also included another group of participants to undertake a focus group discussion. Focus group discussion offers a more interactive approach to data collection, where individuals with similar characteristics are engaged.

Credibility and dependability in qualitative research

Trustworthiness has been a significant issue in qualitative research, considering that the findings are developed based on opinions and experiences of the participants where it is possible to help in improving the outcomes. Maintaining a more substantial level of performance presents a highly structured format that helps in enhancing the findings. Credibility provides the link between the study findings and actual outcomes, especially from past studies. Dependability is the ability of research outcomes having a meaning where they can be depended upon in making decisions. The findings from the study must help in informing the research objective.

Credibility and dependability of this study

The findings from the study have been effectively interlinked with other studies that found similar outcomes. Ensuring that there is an adequate understanding of the improved level of development presents a highly structured system that helps in maintaining an improved level of development. The findings from the study are informative. The researchers conclude that women with borderline personality traits experience varied sleep patterns based on the four themes identified in the study.

The design of the study

The study was well outlined with clear and distinct sections, which make it easier to follow and understand how the conclusion was made. The introduction was well outlined, considering that it is easier to make an informed decision as to why the study was carried out and what it sought to achieve. Improving the level of performance presents a highly structured understanding of the underlying gap involving the varied sleep patterns among women with a borderline personality disorder. The methodology section has been well outlined with distinct subheadings, which make it easier to follow and replicate the study.

Conclusion

The study was developed, aiming to determine sleep pattern experiences among women with a borderline personality disorder. The researcher provided a well-structured research plan, including data collection, where four different themes were identified, addressing the main research problems. The conclusion was made based on the results of the study, which offers a better understanding of different processes that help in defining improved outcomes. The research was well conducted, which ensured that the results are informative and form the basis of other researchers, which can utilize the limitation of the study, such as the use of a small sample size of four inpatient women with a borderline personality disorder.