Cannabis Study Design Paper
Cannabis Study Design Paper
A well-planned study design is crucial in ensuring that the research methods utilized are aligned with the study objective, hence promoting appropriate data collection and representation of results in answering the research question. This also allows the researcher to draw a valid, relevant, and trustworthy conclusion. Several aspects must however be considered when deciding on which study design to use for certain medical research, given the significance of the result in promoting the safety and quality of care provided. The purpose of this discussion is to illustrate how researchers’ decisions on which research design to utilize affects the study results and consensus messaging as demonstrated in the study conducted by Landrum et al. (2021).
The study by Landrum et al. (2021) focuses on broadening the readers’ understanding of the efficacy of consensus messaging by assessing the impact of the researchers’ decision about study design on the study results while using medicinal cannabis as the context. The study initially examined the direct experimental effects on all the outcome variables such as the belief of participants on the effectiveness of cannabis in the treatment of chronic pain and their perception regarding the negative effects associated with the use of medicinal and recreational cannabis, in addition to their support for policies which promote legalization of cannabis use. Afterward, they examined how researchers decided on which design to use in carrying out such a study. Some of the factors which were considered include whether the data collected is cross-sectional or pretest/posttest, how the variables will be operationalized, and how consensus will be approached. Finally, the researchers tested two models intending to conceptually replicate the Gateway Belief Model for determining if the predicted indirect path from consensus messaging to policy support is present.
ORDER A PLAGIARISM FREE-PAPER HERE
Based on results from Landrum et al. (2021), it is clear that descriptive norms or authority approach is more influential as compared to the description of the significance of evidence. For instance, prior sensitization of participants with knowledge of the number of scientists who agreeswith the great effectiveness of the use of medicinal cannabis in the management of chronic pain can greatly undermine the study outcome. While at the same time, scientific consensus messaging has been proven to be effective in reinforcing the significance of a study design. The Gateway Belief Model (GBM), on the other hand, brings out the idea that communicating about a given scientific consensus to the general population can indirectly influence a change in the way people have previously supported a certain policy, by initially increasing their perceptions of the scientific consensus and then matching their attitudes to that of the scientists (Landrum et al., 2021). As such, it is very important for researchers to take keen measures, to be able to decide on the most applicable study design to promote the utilization of a methodology that will assure the validity and relevance of the collected results.
References
Landrum, A. R., Davis, B., Huxster, J., & Carrasco, H. (2021). Influences of study design on the effectiveness of consensus messaging: The case of medicinal cannabis. PLOS ONE, 16(11), e0260342. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260342
Struggling to meet your deadline ?
Get assistance on
Cannabis Study Design Paper
done on time by medical experts. Don’t wait – ORDER NOW!
ORDER A PLAGIARISM FREE-PAPER HERE
Based on the assigned Landrum et al. (2021) article, discuss how researchers decisions about study design influence study results and consensus messaging (scientific consensus messaging vs evidence messaging). Article link is here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34843557/