practical investigation Flashcards
Describe the results and/or conclusions of your clinical practical investigation
The Chinese journal articles focused more on identifying the positive associated factors of depression (9) compared to the negative associated factors (2) while the UK newspapers focused on identifying both the positive and negative associated factors (34 and 21 respectively). This indicated that not only identifying the causes of depression was important in the UK but managing/treating mental illness was more important to the British than the Chinese.
Explain two improvements you could make to your practical investigation. (4)- mark scheme answer
We could collect more than two sources for analysis from a wider range of media outlets for a larger sample (1). This would increase the representativeness of our findings to show how other sources of media, such as television, represent attitudes to mental health (1).
We could ask individuals not involved in the practical to select the articles we would use for analysis (1). This means the source selection will not be influenced by our own understanding of mental health so increases the objectivity of source selection (1).
State one aim of your practical investigation
to investigate how online newspaper articles from the UK compare to online journal articles from China with regards to positive and negative associated factors of depression that have arisen as a result of COVID-19.
Describe the results of your practical investigation
Through summative content analysis, both Chinese and UK articles identified positive and negative associated factors of depression due to COVID-19. The Chinese journal articles identified a much smaller total amount of both positive and negative associated factors compared to the UK (11 and 55 respectively). However, one of the Chinese journals identified data prior to COVID-19 to make a direct comparison of an increase/decrease in depression within the Chinese population, which meant one Chinese journal article was compared to two UK newspapers when identifying associated factors of depression. This was possibly an unfair comparison which could have affected the reliability of the results.
One strength of the methodology used in your practical investigation (2)
One strength of a content analysis is that it has high ecological validity because the articles gathered are real life reports (1). The medical and media reports had been published for the public domain which provides an accurate picture of how mental health issues are portrayed to the public
(1).
State one conclusion you made in your practical investigation
To conclude, analysis supports the hypothesis ‘There will be a difference in how positive and negative associated factors of depression due to COVID-19 are identified by journal articles in China compared to newspaper articles published in the UK’ as it has been shown that Chinese research focuses more on identifying the positive factors associated with depression as a consequence of the pandemic COVID-19, while newspaper articles in the UK identify both positive and negative factors.
Describe the procedure used in your practical investigation
- The two Chinese journal articles and two UK newspaper articles were identified by using key words of “newspaper”, “COVID”, “research”, and “mental illness” in the search engine Google.
- All Sixth Form psychology students used highlighter pens to identify the key words and phrases relating to the positive and negative associated factors of depression identified in the articles. Only words/phrases that were identified by two or more students were used (inter-rater reliability).
- Words that were similar in meaning were grouped together
- A table to record words/phrases, i.e., codes, was created and students filled it out individually. Results were then collated into one table where a comparison could be made between the different sources. A total of the number of instances of each word/phrase for positive and negative associated factors was calculated
- The key focal point of each type of article was identified, i.e., whether the focus was on positive and/or negative associated factors of depression. Sources were then compared to determine similarities and differences.
Describe the procedure used in your practical investigation
- The two Chinese journal articles and two UK newspaper articles were identified by using key words of “newspaper”, “COVID”, “research”, and “mental illness” in the search engine Google.
- All Sixth Form psychology students used highlighter pens to identify the key words and phrases relating to the positive and negative associated factors of depression identified in the articles. Only words/phrases that were identified by two or more students were used (inter-rater reliability).
- Words that were similar in meaning were grouped together
- A table to record words/phrases, i.e., codes, was created and students filled it out individually. Results were then collated into one table where a comparison could be made between the different sources. A total of the number of instances of each word/phrase for positive and negative associated factors was calculated
- The key focal point of each type of article was identified, i.e., whether the focus was on positive and/or negative associated factors of depression. Sources were then compared to determine similarities and differences.
Explain one weakness of the sources you gathered for your practical investigation
Two newspapers and two journal articles were chosen, which means many were not included in the sample, showing a lack of credibility in the results.
