Essay Sample on Same-Sex Infidelity: Reviewing Emotional, Relational & Communicative Responses

Introduction

Healthcare practitioners are required to understand and support evidence-based practice and thus are obliged to identify and critique research studies pertinent to their professional activities (Priest 91). The critical analysis allows the professionals to assess evidence obtained within qualitative and quantitative contexts. This paper critically reviews the article, "Same-sex infidelity in heterosexual romantic relationships: Investigating emotional, relational, and communicative responses" by Denes et al. (2015). Precisely, it appraises research problem, literature review and methodology. It also establishes the validity of the conclusion.

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A research problem refers to the challenging issue that the study examines (Priest 91). The study problem highlights issues or concepts being explored, and the significance and relevance of such topics (Priest 91). In this article, the authors have stated the research problem in the introduction section that although different sex infidelity in a heterosexual relationship is painful relational transgression, no one knows how people relationally, emotionally, and communicatively react to same sex infidelity. The authors have also stated that although many studies on jealous reactions to different-sex infidelity have adopted an evolutionary framework, such assumptions do not apply to same-sex infidelity (Denes 414). The problem is significant to relational practitioners and scholars, as well as, evolutionary theory as it helps scholars to carry out studies with different methodologies to explain, describe, and predict how individuals can respond to same-sex infidelity.

The background information of the study is comprehensively presented in the introduction section of the article. Study background identifies the research problem and explains the need for further research (Cronin et al. 38). In this article, the authors have explicitly stated that same-sex sexual behaviours are spreading rapidly across the globe and that people engage in such activities to experiment with same-sex desire, due to peer influence, and to gain female or male attention (Denes et al. 414). According to the authors, past studies on jealous responses to different-sex cheating have adopted an evolutionary framework, and therefore, it is wrong to use the same concept in same-sex relationships. Although the researchers have presented detailed information on the study background, they have not separated the section from the introduction. Therefore, it would have been better for them to put it on its section to attract readers' attention and make them have an interest in reading the article.

A literature review is critical to the research topic when it is done A perfect literature comprehensively often starts with an introduction that outlines the keywords used to carry out the search and information about specific databases used (Cronin 38). The authors of this article have not included an introduction in the literature review but have related findings from previous studies to help identify gaps in the literature. For instance, they have stated that studies have reported that men are more distressed when reacting to infidelity in different-sex sexual encounters as opposed to females, but the two genders have almost the same response to same-sex sexual infidelity (Denes 414). Further, they have identified the need for the present research to be conducted for both men and women to establish their response to the same sex and different-sex sexual infidelity. The documentation of sources used in this article especially in the literature review is perfect and complete in the reference section. Further, in-text citations of sources are apparent as the authors have strictly followed the APA referencing style. More importantly, the relationship between the stated problem with past studies is evident and apparent. The authors have identified the literature by stating that previous studies have established relationships between anger, fear and sexual stimulation, emotional responses, as well as, communication response to jealous but no study has examined the connection between upset and hurt emotional responses and communication response to jealousy (Denes 414). Further, no study has linked jealousy and emotions expressed in the pre-text of same-sex cheating.

The study adopted a 2x2 factorial design to evaluate the infidelity condition of two males and two females. This design is appropriate because it enables researchers to give all subjects the pre-test and post-test. The authors have not provided reasons for selecting and using this research design. Personally, the authors could have adopted experimental research design for this study in case they wanted to establish the relationship between upset and hurt emotional responses and communication response to jealousy, as well as, a linkage between jealousy and emotions expression in the pre-text of same-sex cheating. Principally, using experimental research design would have guaranteed randomization of participants into the intervention and control group and would have yielded an increased level of evidence.

The target population is well explained in the article. The article also explains the exclusion and inclusion criteria that the authors used to recruit the participants. Although the authors have not specified the sampling technique that they adopted, it is clear from the description that they used a convenience sampling technique. It would have been better for the authors to explain the nature and reasons for convenience sampling to ensure that the study is more understandable to readers who are less conversant with research concepts and terms. Precisely, the sample size is explicitly explained and ways through which participants were recruited. This allows the reader to appraise the recruiting process and determine its appropriateness.

In terms of instruments, the authors have not explained the specific tools they used to collect data. Further, they have not offered a detailed explanation of the data collection procedures. Principally, this would be an excellent challenge for rigour and replication. Further, the authors had not indicated who administered the questionnaires, whether or not the participants were allowed to answer them at their convenience and time, as well as, whether the authors were available when participants completed the questionnaires. These can be viewed as a significant weakness in the methodology of this study.

The choice for data analysis technique was appropriate as authors used inferential and descriptive statistics to deduce determine the study findings. Principally, the quantitative data is usually analyzed by statistics that encompass any calculations (Priest 91). The authors have used ANCOVA to establish differences between the findings of various groups. The authors have also shared probability p<0.05 that is essential. More importantly, they have adopted a statistical website to analyze data that is indeed an essential component of the study. On the same note, the authors have used tables to display almost all the comparable findings. Personally, the authors would have used graphs in this study for a clearer and better understanding.

Conclusion

The conclusion supports the findings obtained from the research although it is a short summation of the complexity of the results. Indeed, it is valid because it highlights specific themes that support and those that contradict results obtained from the study. Besides, it is provided in a more precise and transparent manner that makes it more valid and easy for readers to understand the concepts described in the study.

Works Cited

Cronin, Patricia, et al. "Undertaking a literature review: a step-by-step approach." British Journal of Nursing, vol. 17, no. 1, 2008, pp. 38-43. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5454130_Undertaking_a_literature_review_A_step-by-step_approach

Denes, Amanda, et al. "Same-sex infidelity in heterosexual romantic relationships: Investigating emotional, relational, and communicative responses." Personal Relationships, vol. 22, no. 3, 2015, pp. 414-430. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/pere.12087\

Priest, Helena M. "Essentials of nursing research: methods, appraisal, and utilization: Essentials of nursing research: methods, appraisal, and utilization." Nurse Researcher, vol. 13, no. 4, 2006, pp. 91-92. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27702222