The Sample
In conducting our research, we plan to use a random sample of occupational therapists practicing in Tennessee. A sample of n=75 will be drawn from members of the Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association. Randomization provides a greater likelihood that our sample will be representative of the population of occupational therapists in Tennessee.
In surveying our sample, we will include close and open-ended questions that will garner information from all occupational therapists regarding their attitudes and involvement in the treatment of cancer patients. The members of the sample will receive a questionnaire via mail including a return envelope to encourage response. Approximately two weeks after the initial survey is sent, a follow-up letter and duplicate questionnaire will be mailed to all members of the random sample.
The Measures
In developing our questionnaire, we will have experienced occupational therapists critique the content. Questionnaires received within six weeks of initial mailing will serve as our sample. In organizing our qualitative data, we will look for themes evident in attitudes among therapists. In doing so, we will examine such variables as practice settings, age, experience, and gender.
According to Maxwell (1996), “the main threat to valid interpretation is imposing one’s own framework or meaning, rather than understanding the perspective of the people studied and the meanings they attach to their words and actions” (p. 89-90). We will reduce the chance of this threat in two ways. First, the questionnaire will contain open-ended questions to allow for expression of individual opinions. Second, four researchers will interpret the information gathered.
The Hypotheses
In evaluating the available literature, we found limited references to the use of occupational therapists in the treatment of cancer in the United States. Therefore, we hypothesize that occupational therapists are underutilized in cancer treatment. In addition, we further hypothesize that through the use of relaxation and guided imagery a patient can maximize his or her quality of life.
Data Analysis
In order to categorize our data, we will utilize a coding strategy. The goal of coding, according to Maxwell (1996), is to break the data into smaller pieces and “rearrange it into categories that facilitate the comparison of data within and between these categories and that aid in the development of theoretical concepts” (p. 78). We plan to use this strategy for better understanding by breaking the data into main themes and analyzing particular interactions.
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