Mental Illness & Imprisonment: A Research Proposal Example

Introduction

The concern of mental illness and imprisonment is an upcoming debate that calls for massive research. For instance, there have been issues raised on the adverse effects of incarceration on the victims. Most scholars have attempted to study the same but, much needs to be done. This paper seeks to form a strong proposal in the context having identified the specific research question as; Does incarceration increase mental illness? Consequently, the script formulates its hypothesis as; Incarceration has a positive correlation with mental illness. As a result, the proposal seeks to prove the hypothesis by critically answering the research question using for research designs as below.

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Correlational Research Design

Siedlecki (2020) suggests that in this design, the researcher is to measure and compare the variables under the study to identify whether there exists a statistical linkage between the variables in question. This design will be helpful in this research because the variables, which include mental illness and incarceration will be studied to identify their interconnection if any. The existing literature shows that trauma, stress, loss, separation, and grief among the aged have a tremendous effect on inmates. It has further alluded that traumatic activities even though may vary in intensity, greatly contribute to the consequential physical, and or psychological harm to the aged. Maschi and Koskinen (2015) take statistical data of 667 adults as a population aged 50 years and above from Northeastern state prison. They employ the use of the Life Stressors checklist and turns out that approximately 70% of the population were victims of a stressful life. This is reported to result from violence, loss of loved ones, and family separation, among others.

Pretest-Posttest Control Group

To conduct an effective quantitative experiment, this research will apply the use of the Pretest-Posttest Control group. It will be of great benefit since two groups will be formed, one as an experimental group and the other one in a control group. The experimental group will be the inmates whereas the control group will be the free individuals. In this case, the experimental group will be given treatment, after which the results will be collected. The control group on the other hand will not be given treatment but will be exposed to similar tests (Valente & MacKinnon, 2017). Precisely, the Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms will be computed by the use of the PSTD Checklist to collect the clusters on re-experience, avoidance, and heightened arousal of stress (Maschi & Koskinen, 2015). These findings on the experimental group will be assessed against the control group to find out similarities and distinctions if any.

Grounded Theory

The study will extensively borrow from existing concepts like the Cumulative Disadvantage Theories, Life Course Perspective, and the Stress Process Theory. Such theories will provide a strong ground to determine how notable traumatic personal and historical life events, as well as the social relationships as the evaluative social determinants of health and welfare of the aged inmates (Aldiabat & Le Navenec, 2018). The Cumulative Advantage Theory, for instance, explains life course progressive aftermath of trauma and frustrating life episodes from a diverse point of view like the individual, interpersonal, and social constructional measures. This school of thought gives a parody that the aggregation of stressors increases the possibility of unfavorable physical and mental well-being, criminal justice participation, among others. Some of the primary constituents that will be tested by this theory include but not limited to interpersonal brutality, socioeconomic class, discriminative incidences, employment ranking, and life in poverty-stricken areas. On the other hand, the Life Course and the Stress Process theories illustrate the defensive determinants like the management of resources that advance plasticity to the pessimistic effects of such incidents.

Explanatory Design

The nature of this research will be best handled by an explanatory design. Judging from the theories involved, it will be useful to explain how they relate to mental illness. Additionally, the existing literature has examined the prior factors responsible for the traumatic and stressful life experiences in as far as the children and the middle-aged are concerned. Unfortunately, very minimal has been done to the old aged especially from 50 years and over. As a result, this research will seek to study and explain the effects of such circumstances when subjected to the aged. It will then clarify the relationship of why or how as per the results that will be obtained (Niehaves & Ortbach, 2016). Significantly, this will contribute to the search for knowledge.

Evaluation

The scholars confirm that the stressful life in prison has significant consequences, especially on the aged population. This has been attributed to the traumatic experiences which have seen the inmates involving in violence, losing loved ones, just to mention but a few. Such experiences go a long way making it difficult for them to cope with normal lives and as a result, they lead stressful lives. This greatly contributes to the cases of mental illness among the inmates. By use of the Pretest-Posttest control group, it will enable the identification of any similarities or variations between the experimental group and the control group. To a considerable extent, it will be useful in testing the hypothesis. By using the grounded theory, it will be easier to identify the essence of knowledge, and enhance the description of the traumatic life of individuals when exposed to uncomfortable environments. As such, it will be elementary to deal with confusion and contradictions. The use of explanatory research design will play a crucial role in this study by helping in the provision of an elaborate understanding of the kinds and intensities of trauma and stressful life situations of the aged inmates. It will also traverse the stakeholders’ responses including the government, health professionals, correctional departments, and institutions, among others towards the challenges inmates go through in an attempt to cope up with their new environment.

Paradigms Associated with Methodologies

Correlational research design is viewed as important in defining relationships between variables in three dimensions. These are the direction that either gives a positive or negative relationship, the form for linear and nonlinear relationships and the consistency of the said relationships. For the pretest-posttest control group, the worldviews give two tests where one is done before the intervention and the other one conducted after the intervention for follow-up purposes. The paradigms in the grounded theory take into consideration the concurrent involvement in data assemblage and assessment, use of sustained modified procedures, which incorporate formulation of similarities at all spheres, and modeling of analytic codes and categories from a given data, among others.

On the other hand, the worldviews inherent in explanatory methodology include cost-effectiveness, non-restrictions, and answers the questions of why and how. However, this paper concludes that correlational methodology best suits my worldview because it permits a researcher to assess how variables affect a particular phenomenon being studied. Furthermore, it provides information concerning the degree of relationship between the variables studied. Given the variables in this study, the correlation will be useful in testing their correspondence.

References

Aldiabat, K. M., & Le Navenec, C. L. (2018). Data saturation: The mysterious step in grounded theory methodology. The Qualitative Report, 23(1), 245-261.

Maschi, T., Viola, D., Morgen, K., & Koskinen, L. (2015). Trauma, stress, grief, loss, and separation among older adults in prison: The protective role of coping resources on physical and mental well-being. Journal of Crime and Justice, 38(1), 113-136. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/0735648X.2013.808853?casa_token=GSNX9qSZRiAAAAAA:GM4OO5nhAMVn1pCf_QvvV6E27JcwAENscVhDD8_VSuKeu7A2MGUYQq7kLPHaC3PmBUJsbnpc-3fROuW0

Niehaves, B., & Ortbach, K. (2016). The inner and the outer model in explanatory design theory: the case of designing electronic feedback systems. European Journal of Information Systems, 25(4), 303-316.https://orsociety.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1057/ejis.2016.3

Siedlecki, S. L. (2020). Correlation Designs and Analyses: What the Clinical Nurse Specialist Needs to Know. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 34(4), 143-149. https://journals.lww.com/cns-journal/Citation/2020/07000/Correlation_Designs_and_Analyses__What_the.3.aspx

Valente, M. J., & MacKinnon, D. P. (2017). Comparing models of change to estimate the mediated effect in the pretest-posttest control group design. Structural equation modeling: a multidisciplinary journal, 24(3), 428-450. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10705511.2016.1274657?casa_token=d8soA0YDNg8AAAAA%3AxY-6Sz8josoFMihWe6ALdu-8BS3Lsh_5hhPR9I1hFEJIl0wpXWp1u4LN4JteHdLtIQiZ_5PKu_Dhl4ZU