Based on the PICOT question, the population of interest to draw a conclusion will be children with ADHD who have been treated with medication and alternative non-pharmaceutical methods. To answer the PICOT question during research, it would be essential to choose a sample once the population of interest has been developed. According to Gray (2021), choosing a sample from the population understudy will require using relevant sampling techniques to extract a sample for inclusion in the research study. Sampling will make it easier to gather data from each population member. Thus, choosing a sample in the population of interest will require following certain steps, as discussed below.
The initial step will involve deciding on population parameters to estimate. Decisions that justify inclusion and exclusion criteria will be made clear. In the case of children with ADHD, the decision that will be made might involve including participants treated with medication and alternative non-pharmaceutical methods. Secondly, Gray (2021) postulates that it will be important to often assume a margin of error with results since it will be rare to understand any certainty the sample size. In addition, another step will require knowing the variables of the interested population. Recognizing that populations vary in size makes it easier to gather information during research.
Lastly, when choosing a sample, it will require taking into account the response rate. According to Majid (2018) and Schreier (2018), recognizing that a substantial portion of the sample will not respond to the study despite the efforts and incentives put in place will allow the researcher to consider increasing the sample size. As a result, it will accommodate high refusal levels and increase the study’s credibility. The response rate impacts the research outcome, such that a high response rate will imply the potential of having more data to compare and draw conclusions than a low response rate.
References
Gray, J. (2021). Quantitative methodology: Noninterventional designs and methods. Burns & Grove’s The Practice of Nursing Research: Appraisal, Synthesis, and Generation of Evidence, 234-260.
Majid, U. (2018). Research fundamentals: Study design, population, and sample size. Undergraduate Research in Natural and Clinical Science and Technology Journal, 2, 1-7.
Schreier, M. (2018). Sampling and generalization. The SAGE Handbook of qualitative Data Collection, 84-97.