PSY 326 Assignment wk1
Depression Prevention During Pregnancy
Saida Cabrera
PSY 326: Research Methods
Instructor: Jessica Wayman
August 11, 2014
Depression Prevention During Pregnancy
There are many studies that have addressed pregnant women’s preferences and perception of help-seeking barriers for perinatal depression prevention interventions and they have showed that African American women are less likely to seek professional help than white pregnant women. Because there are no studies to date that have focused specifically on ethnic or racial minority women’s attitudes toward depression prevention during pregnancy, this study explores three main aspects of the attitude that pregnant African American with depression have. The authors aims to help us understand the preferences, perception of the three approaches of depression intervention available for pregnant women and accessibility of mental health care among low-income African American women. (2013) This research also helps us understand the association of past and current depression and how they would influence their decision on which approach they would choose.
There are two main research methods that researchers use to conduct studies. Quantitative research and qualitative research method and terminology differ in various ways. “Quantitative research seeks explanatory laws; qualitative research aims at in-depth description.” (Anderson, 2006) In other words, quantitative research focuses on more general aspects while qualitative research aims to find a deeper understanding of a particular case or context. In this specific study both method were used, as our textbook mentions, “we can best understand depression if we both study statistical trends and conduct in-depth interviews with depressed people.” (Newman, 2011) The sample size that was used in this study was of 60 pregnant African American seeking routine prenatal care in DeKalb County, Georgia. The participants were asked to complete a survey. The
Saida Cabrera
PSY 326: Research Methods
Instructor: Jessica Wayman
August 11, 2014
Depression Prevention During Pregnancy
There are many studies that have addressed pregnant women’s preferences and perception of help-seeking barriers for perinatal depression prevention interventions and they have showed that African American women are less likely to seek professional help than white pregnant women. Because there are no studies to date that have focused specifically on ethnic or racial minority women’s attitudes toward depression prevention during pregnancy, this study explores three main aspects of the attitude that pregnant African American with depression have. The authors aims to help us understand the preferences, perception of the three approaches of depression intervention available for pregnant women and accessibility of mental health care among low-income African American women. (2013) This research also helps us understand the association of past and current depression and how they would influence their decision on which approach they would choose.
There are two main research methods that researchers use to conduct studies. Quantitative research and qualitative research method and terminology differ in various ways. “Quantitative research seeks explanatory laws; qualitative research aims at in-depth description.” (Anderson, 2006) In other words, quantitative research focuses on more general aspects while qualitative research aims to find a deeper understanding of a particular case or context. In this specific study both method were used, as our textbook mentions, “we can best understand depression if we both study statistical trends and conduct in-depth interviews with depressed people.” (Newman, 2011) The sample size that was used in this study was of 60 pregnant African American seeking routine prenatal care in DeKalb County, Georgia. The participants were asked to complete a survey. The