Sampling, Reliability, and Validity of the Research Proposal

Introduction

The nursing profession’s governing bodies collaborate with healthcare institutions to promote the wellbeing and health of nurses through therapeutic programs and interventions. The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program trains nurses to focus their attention without judgment on their physical sensations, emotions, and ideas in the current moment, for eight weeks. To research the impact of MBSR on nurses’ job burnout and satisfaction, study design and methodology are critical factors to consider. A sample is a subset of participants drawn from a specific target population to aid in making conclusions about the population. Generalizability also depends on the validity of research techniques applied in collecting, measuring, and analyzing data. The paper evaluates the sampling aspects, reliability, and validity of a research proposal on the impact of MBSR on nurses’ burnout and job satisfaction.

Sampling Basic Information

The research evaluate how MBSR intervention influences nurses’ stress levels, burnout rates, and job satisfaction. The research will utilize a probabilistic, simple random sampling technique to select study participants who fit various parameters like age and gender. My research will use participants aged between 25-50, to consider years of experience and the duration of working as a nurse. The study is a mixed-gender study where females and males will be randomly selected from nurses in two healthcare facilities. The selection criteria for the two hospitals where the participants will be drawn is the period that the facility has been in operation (the facility has been operational for more than 15 years) and the total number of nurses in the facilities should be more than 100 (Kriakous et al., 2021). Eligibility for participating in the study is based on completion of the MBSR course and experience of more than 2 years as a nurse. Nurses who fail to meet the criteria are excluded from the study.

Sample Size

The study applies random sampling to select participants from two hospitals in different locations. The initial study sample is estimated to be (N=150). After evaluating years of experience and completion of the MBSR course for each participant, the sample size is approximated to reduce to (N=120). Thus, the study hopes to use a sample of 120 participants (females representing 58.3% of the total (n=70) and males representing 41.7% of the total (n=50). My sample is appropriate for the study due to several reasons. First, a sample size of 120 participants has statistical power to facilitate the generalizability of the target population. Moreover, the use of a mixed-gender sample gives representativeness of nurses and ignores the gender aspects that influence burnout and job satisfaction. The evaluation of the sample size from the initial 150 to 120 accounts for attrition, thus making the sample appropriate for use in this study (Kriakous et al., 2021). Conducting research in two different hospitals in different locations leads to issues of resource constraints, hence our study sample of 120 makes the study feasible and reliable to conduct.

Reliability

Data collection methods are crucial in providing quality findings and making informed conclusions on a study aspect. The study utilizes qualitative research methods (interviews, questionnaires, and focus groups) to collect data on the effectiveness of the MBSR program on burnout and job satisfaction. Semi-structured interviews are conducted with 20 participants (10 males and 10 females), and questionnaires with open-ended questions are administered to 70 participants. The open-ended questions seek to capture the experiences, morale, and satisfaction levels upon undertaking MBSR interventions. 30 participants are divided into two groups of 15 each to form focus groups for assessing the program’s impact on their work and life balance. Using qualitative techniques makes the data collection process consistent in obtaining personal experiences regarding burnout, stress levels, and job satisfaction (Lyons, 2020). Using a pre-and post-intervention method is reliable for measuring how MBSR interventions impact nurses over time, making the data scope and analysis thorough and encompassing. Open-ended questions will provide answers to “how, when, and why” to gather rich and dimensional perspectives of nurses about the mindfulness program.

Validity

To ensure the validity of my sample, I will apply randomized sampling to minimize biasness in selecting participants. The sample also incorporates gender representation due to the use of a mixed-gender approach of 58.3% females and 41.7% males. This will facilitate appropriate generalizability and decision-making by limiting gender bias issues. The completion of the MBSR course and an experience of more than 2 years as a nurse eligibility criterion provide a valid sample to use in the study. The measurement tools applied in the study are the Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The FFMQ is valid because of its ability to effectively quantify the impact of different types of mindfulness training (Lyons, 2020). The PSS has been acknowledged as a legitimate and dependable instrument. Multiple studies have indicated that the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) has shown concurrent validity, with a reliability coefficient ranging from .84 to .86, making it the most commonly utilized tool for measuring the feeling of stress.

Conclusion

The study on the impact of MBSR programs on nurses’ burnout and job satisfaction applies a gender-mixed study sample of 120 participants. The probabilistic random sampling method creates representativeness and minimizes attrition and other biases. The data collection methods enable the identification of experiences in the nursing practice context, thus enhancing their reliability and appropriateness for use in my study. Sampling, validity, and reliability are crucial factors that influence the generalizability and accuracy of findings for the whole population.

References

Kriakous, S. A., Elliott, K. A., Lamers, C., & Owen, R. (2021). The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction on the psychological functioning of healthcare professionals: A systematic review. Mindfulness, 12, 1-28. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12671-020-01500-9

Lyons, A. (2020). Reducing perceived stress, burnout, and improving joy in work for nurse leaders: A wellness initiative. https://sigma.nursingrepository.org/bitstream/handle/10755/20037/Paper.pdf?sequence=3/1000