For consideration of the article, the study “Physical and Psycho-Social Predictors of Adolescents’ Suicide Behaviors” by Kim et al. was chosen. The analysis of this article, based on such criteria as a research question, research conversation, search strategy, and research challenges, will reveal the tools used during its conduct and its positive and negative sides. The research described in this article is relevant and timely.
Research Question
I will explore the question regarding the relationship between suicidal behaviors and physical and psycho-social predictors. The components I will discuss are body image, weight control, and behaviors. The study will be conducted among Asian, African American, Caucasian, and Hispanic adolescents.
The question about the relationship between physical and psycho-social predictors and suicidal behaviors needs to be asked because suicide is a critical and increasing problem among adolescents. According to Kim et al., “in 2006 in the U.S., 1,270 adolescents committed suicide among 12–18-year-olds, making suicide the third leading cause of death among adolescents” (421). Research on this issue is critically significant to identify tools to reduce suicide cases.
From this project, I hope to learn how to conduct such research time, which instruments should be used to achieve profound results, and what time of literature one should read to study different sides of the research problem. Moreover, the tools regarding research of demographic variables were presented in the article. The opportunity to acquire knowledge related to working with demographic data is one of the main reasons for me to consider the article.
Research Conversation
I will enter a specific research conversation about choosing the correct demographic groups to receive the most appropriate outcomes for the study. In the article, some failures connected to that question were discussed. For example, according to Kim et al., “they failed to include diverse minority ethnic groups, often because their sample size was too small, causing them to, at times, combine minority ethnic groups” (424). I have learned that the correct approach to choosing the focus groups for conducting the research may give results that will be significantly different from those that were obtained due to the wrong choice of focused groups.
For the entry point to offer my own insights and ideas, I have found the Paragraph about the theoretical framework in the article. It describes the impact of depression on young people’s negative and distorted perceptions. My ideas are based on the fact that depression occurs for specific reasons, and to conduct qualitative research, these reasons must be initially studied.
Search Strategy
For sources that I will use to explore the question, I have chosen appropriate literature and data from various institutes that are aimed at studying my research question. Among them, particular attention might be paid to the National Institute of Mental Health. Using its data, I will discover essential statistics regarding the research question. As Kim et al. state, “over 90% of the people who commit suicide have depression” (422). This data provides a qualitative scientific basis for research.
Research Challenges
It is worth emphasizing that managing the project is the most challenging research stage for me. Working with focus groups is a critical component in getting significant results. Working with young people who are depressed requires careful preparation and attention to their psychological state. Correct management of the project described in the article implies competent communication with teenagers, considering their current sensitivity.
In conclusion, it might be essential to emphasize that the study described in the article “Physical and Psycho-Social Predictors of Adolescents’ Suicide Behaviors” is relevant and focused on an acute problem in society. In the article, the methods and tools that were used during the research were described. The issue of suicide among adolescents needs to be studied more profoundly, and this research is a step toward this idea.
Work Cited
Kim Yi, Moon Sung, Kim Min. “Physical and Psycho-Social Predictors of Adolescents’ Suicide Behaviors.” Child Adolesc Soc Work J, vol. 28, 2011, pp. 421–438. Web.