The quality and usage of nursing statistic methods in the article

The quality and usage of nursing statistic methods in the article
Data types
The article is a qualitative study that uses qualitative data to establish the objective which is to examine the “association between alleles of FTO known to increase obesity risk and measures of habitual appetitive behavior” (Wardle et al., 2008). The use of the concept of qualitative data in this study is relevant in achieving this objective since appetitive behavior is not something tangible or countable, but can be measured on a scale. The researchers managed to apply this concept appropriately and completely during the study through incorporation of relevant tools of data collection. This includes the Satiety Responsiveness Scale and the Enjoyment of Food Scale, generated from the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire.

Sample selection methodology

In this research, purposive sampling has been used to recruit the study participants. The participants were recruited purposively from Twins Early Development Study (TEDS), where the anthropometric characteristics that were desired for the study had been established previously (Wardle et al., 2008). The anthropometric characteristics considered included children’s height, weight, and waist circumference which had been taken by their parents (Wardle et al., 2008). The researchers further confirmed the measurements in a subsample. The use of nonrandom sampling method allows the researcher have a general representation of the overall population. This method of sampling is appropriate for this study as it an explorative study seeking to establish the “association between alleles of FTO known to increase obesity risk and measures of habitual appetitive behavior” (Wardle et al., 2008). The method was applied completely in the study as it was the only way through which every study participant was enrolled for the research.

Validity and reliability

Several factors have been put in place to increase the validity and reliability of the study. Regarding validity, the researchers selected the most suitable sample, with the desired characteristics. A sample of 3337 children between eight and eleven years old were recruited (Wardle et al., 2008). The common characteristics that the study participants had was being obese, basing the definition of obesity/ being overweight on the International Obesity Task Force (Wardle et al., 2008). While this characteristic increases the study validity, it decreases the study reliability. By choosing a sample with the desired characteristics nonrandomly, the researchers adopt a subjective approach to the study, which increases bias, hence compromising reliability.

The use of reliable scales in the measurement of the qualitative data has also contributed significantly to the study validity. The researchers used the Satiety Responsiveness Scale and the Enjoyment of Food Scale, generated from the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire to confirm their hypotheses (Wardle et al., 2008). Additionally, the study participants who were answering the questionnaires were not coerced in any way, or forced to respond to the questionnaire. This increases the study validity, in that, the researchers have not influenced the responses in any way, thus there is minimal bias.

Hypotheses

The study hypothesis was that “children carrying the higher-risk FTO alleles have altered appetite in the sample population, which was 3337 unrelated children, aged between eight and eleven years” (Wardle et al., 2008). The research aimed to test this hypothesis by using the relevant research methods in order to establish the degree at which statistical evidence favor the hypothesis. Previous data indicated that adiposity is significantly associated with this study populations. Another factors that contributed to testing the hypothesis is the use of psychometric measure for evaluating appetite, which was validated and completed by the parents. The researchers completely and appropriately applied these measures in their establishment of the objective. The results ultimately confirmed that that “the A allele was associated with increased adiposity in this cohort and in an independent case-control replication study of the United Kingdom children of similar age” (Wardle et al., 2008).

Data analysis selection

Data analysis was done using ANOVA and it indicated the P value to 0.008 for AA homozygotes which had a notably reduced Satiety Responsiveness scores. The researchers utilized mediation analysis method to establish “the effects of Satiety Responsiveness as the association of the AA genotype with increased adiposity” (Wardle et al., 2008). The two analysis methods are used in qualitative studies to analyze qualitative data. in this study, the researchers used the methods to analyses responses from Child Eating Behavior Questionnaires filled by the parents of the study participants (Wardle et al., 2008). These methods were applied in this research appropriately and completely to accomplish the objective of the research.

Power analysis

The article does not provide a section for power analysis. However, it is noteworthy that statistical power in this study is significantly affected by the sample size. The larger the sample size, the higher the statistical power. In this case, a sample size of 3337 children recruited purposively, increases the statistical power of the study (Wardle et al., 2008). The article does not indicate the application of the use of power analysis; therefore, its appropriateness cannot be determined.

Reference

Wardle, J., Carnell, S., Haworth, C. M., Farooqi, I. S., O’Rahilly, S., & Plomin, R. (2008). Obesity associated genetic variation in FTO is associated with diminished satiety. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 93(9), 3640-3643.

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