When investigating a scientific issue, various research questions need to be addressed from the point of view of an appropriate methodology. Correct and consistent utilisation of research technique will guarantee valid findings and will contribute to the accuracy of a study. The research question chosen for this paper is “Do vitamins improve IQ?” and it will be discussed from the perspective of the most applicable research methodology within the biopsychosocial approach. It is claimed that experimental research is the best method to answer the chosen research question due to its capability to analyse the interrelations between different variables.
An appropriate method for addressing this research question would be experimental research. This methodology is thought to be the best for investigating the influence of vitamin consumption on IQ level. An experimental design will include two groups of people: an experimental and a control group (“Weekly lecture notes, week 3 – Part 1,” 2014). One group will be consuming vitamins, and another one will not. The Participants will be exposed to regular IQ tests to examine any changes. Such a design will allow for accurate identification of the variables and will provide researchers with an opportunity to control the process. Since “micronutrients are essential for optimal physiological and neurological functioning,” the influence of vitamins on cognitive abilities should not be examined solely in a biological, psychological or social context (Kennedy, 2016, p. 1). A complex biopsychosocial approach needs to be utilised to bring valid findings (Engel, 1981). This perspective helps to obtain data in several dimension simultaneously (“The biopsychosocial perspective of related health behaviour,” n.d.). Thus, biopsychosocial experimental research is the best to address the identified research question.
Quantitative survey research could be presented as an inappropriate research methodology for the investigation of the effect of vitamins on IQ level. This method is highly exposed to sampling bias, as well as the overall intolerance of findings due to the subjective judgments of the Participants about their IQ level and the extent to which vitamins could affect it (“Weekly lecture notes, week 3 – Part 2,” 2014). Also, it would be limited to social or psychological dimensions only, omitting an important social determinant. Therefore, psychological or biological reductionism will decrease the accuracy of the research (“Week 7: The biopsychosocial Perspective,” n.d.).
Nevertheless, the chosen research methodology has its strengths and limitations. An example of a drawback of experimental research is its inability to provide absolute validity of the results. This methodology does not guarantee that the results “generalise beyond the limited setting in which they occur” (“Weekly lecture notes, week 3 – Part 2,” 2014, p. 1). However, the strong side of this technique is its capability to analyse the effect of vitamins on IQ, thus ensuring the investigation of the influence of one variable on another (“Weekly lecture notes, week 3 – Part 2,” 2014).
In conclusion, as the provided explanation shows, the choice of a research methodology is crucial when addressing a specific research question. It is essential to analyse the context of the occurrence of the scientific issue and the influential factors which might be decisive for research to enhance the validity of the study. To answer the research question “Do vitamins improve IQ?”, one should utilise experimental research developed from the biopsychosocial perspective to ensure the diversity of variables and the complexity of their effect. Failing to find the right approach will result in insufficient data collection and incapability to answer a research question.
References
The biopsychosocial perspective of related health behavior. (n.d.). The Biopsychosocial Perspective, 1-7.
Engel, G. L. (1981). The clinical application of the biopsychosocial model. Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, 6(2), 101-124.
Kennedy, D. O. (2016). B vitamins and the brain: Mechanisms, dose and efficacy – A review. Nutrients, 8(68), 1-29.
Week 7: The biopsychosocial perspective. (n.d.). Online Programmes. 1-7.
Weekly lecture notes, week 3 – Part 1. (2014). Laurette Education, Inc., 1-5.
Weekly lecture notes, week 3 – Part 2. (2014). Laurette Education, Inc., 1-5.