Contents

Introduction. 2

Maternal Experiences and Challenges in Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Study. 3

Strengths and Weakness of Design and Data Collection Methods. 4

Strengths: 4

Weaknesses. 4

Factors of Reliability, Trustworthiness and Validity. 5

A Longitudinal Investigation into the Mental Health Trajectories of Autistic Children and Adolescents and Their Parents in the Context of COVID-19 Lockdown: Part 1, Quantitative Findings. 6

Strengths and Weakness of Design and Data Collection Methods. 7

Strengths. 7

Weaknesses. 8

Factors of Reliability, Trusthworthiness and Validity. 10

Conclusion. 10

References. 11

Introduction

We have conducted a thorough evaluation of two distinct research studies for our project, each focusing on a different methodology and subject matter. In one study, Dimitrios Papadopoulos conducted a qualitative exploration titled “Maternal Experiences and Challenges in Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A qualitative study” This research delved into the lived experiences of mothers caring for children with ASD in Greece, employing qualitative research methods to unveil the intricate aspects of their caregiving journeys. In contrast, Umar Toseeb and Kathryn Asbury adopted a quantitative approach in their research, titled “A Longitudinal Investigation into the Mental Health Trajectories of Autistic Children and Adolescents and Their Parents in the Context of COVID-19 Lockdown: Part 1, Quantitative Findings.” This research examined the mental health patterns of autistic children and adolescents before, during, and after the initial COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom.

Maternal Experiences and Challenges in Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Study

Strengths and Weakness of Design and Data Collection Methods

Strengths:

1. Robust Qualitative Approach: This paper leveraged interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) and other qualitative research methods to conduct a thorough exploration of mothers’ experiences. Such techniques excel in unravelling intricate insights and nuances within participants’ perspectives.
2. Diverse Participant Pool: The paper included mothers from various backgrounds, encompassing Greek and Albanian participants, thereby enhancing the sample’s diversity. This diversity enriches our understanding of the experiences of mothers caring for children with ASD (Papadopoulos, 2021).
3. Ethical Adherence: The study maintained strict ethical standards, including obtaining informed consent from participants and safeguarding their anonymity. This is crucial, especially when researching sensitive topics like caregiver experiences (Papadopoulos, 2021).
4. Ecologically Valid Setting: Data collection occurred within a typical child and adolescent mental health facility, enhancing ecological validity. This means the research took place in a context closely resembling real-world situations, thus increasing the relevance of the findings.

Weaknesses

1. Limited Sample Size: The convenience sample consisted of only nine mothers. While qualitative research often employs smaller samples for in-depth exploration, the diminutive sample size may limit the generalizability of the findings to a broader population (Papadopoulos, 2021).
2. Exclusion of Paternal Perspective: The research exclusively focused on maternal experiences, neglecting the valuable insights that fathers could provide. Incorporating both maternal and paternal viewpoints would offer a more comprehensive understanding of family dynamics and challenges (Papadopoulos, 2021).
3. Unaddressed Researcher Bias: The potential influence of the interviewer’s background on the study was not acknowledged, introducing the possibility of bias. Researchers conducting qualitative interviews should be mindful of their personal biases and their potential impact on data collection and analysis.
4. Limited Generalizability: As typical in qualitative research, extrapolating the findings to all mothers of children with ASD, especially those from diverse cultural or historical backgrounds, may be challenging (Papadopoulos, 2021).

In summary, the research selected provides valuable qualitative insights into the experiences of Greek mothers raising children with ASD. However, it is essential to consider the study’s limitations, including the small sample size and the absence of paternal perspectives. To build upon and validate these findings, future research should involve more extensive and diverse samples, encompassing both parents’ viewpoints.

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Factors of Reliability, Trustworthiness and Validity

In Papadopoulos, (2021), researchers employed a methodology designed to enhance data validity, reliability, and dependability. They adopted standardized measurement tools tailored specifically for the autistic community, ensuring precise recording of mental health outcomes. A diverse and representative sample was achieved through systematic and random sampling, coupled with ethical approvals and informed consent. The longitudinal nature of the study enabled the examination of changes over time, mitigating the impact of short-term fluctuations. Furthermore, the use of statistical analysis methods tailored for longitudinal data bolstered the study’s validity. The research’s credibility and applicability were further reinforced by transparent reporting, acknowledgment of its limitations, and community engagement. Collectively, these elements fortified the study’s conclusions, enhancing both its reliability and validity. The substantial sample size of the research facilitated the extrapolation of findings to a broader autistic community, reducing the risk of drawing sweeping conclusions from a small or unrepresentative sample.

Papadopoulos, (2021) focus on the unique experiences of autistic individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic also contributed to result validity. By concentrating on this specific and often overlooked group, the researchers uncovered insights that might have been overlooked in more extensive studies. The distinct challenges related to mental health faced by autistic individuals during the pandemic could be better understood due to this targeted approach.

To establish causal relationships whenever feasible and account for potential confounding variables, the researchers employed appropriate statistical methodologies. This analytical rigor minimized the likelihood of erroneous correlations or misinterpretations of the data, reinforcing the study’s internal validity. Lastly, the researchers’ commitment to transparency was evident in their acknowledgment of potential biases, such as recall bias or self-reporting bias. This transparency allowed readers to critically assess the study’s results and consider how these biases might impact the findings. Their openness to scrutiny and encouragement of further research on the subject underscored the reliability of their research.

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A Longitudinal Investigation into the Mental Health Trajectories of Autistic Children and Adolescents and Their Parents in the Context of COVID-19 Lockdown: Part 1, Quantitative Findings.

Strengths and Weakness of Design and Data Collection Methods

Strengths

1. Longitudinal Approach: The research design stands out for its longitudinal methodology. Data collection occurred at multiple time points spanning from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to six months after schools fully reopened. This allowed researchers to track changes in mental health over time, offering a dynamic perspective on how the mental well-being of autistic youth and their parents evolved during and after the lockdown. This longitudinal aspect significantly enhances the study’s capacity to derive meaningful insights regarding the pandemic’s impact.
2. Tailored Measurement Tools: The study employed specialized and validated measurement tools designed to assess mental health, including indicators of depression and anxiety specifically tailored for autistic youth. This approach acknowledges the unique challenges and experiences of this population, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of the collected data by aligning with their characteristics.
3. Representative Sample: The study’s sample appears to be reflective of the broader UK population, featuring diverse participants with varying income levels, educational placements, and other demographic factors. Additionally, targeted oversampling of specific groups, such as those from low-income households and alternative school arrangements, ensures that the study encompasses the experiences of individuals who may be more vulnerable or disproportionately affected by the pandemic. This diversity amplifies the applicability of the paper’s findings (Toseeb & Asbury, 2022).

Weaknesses

1. Attrition and Missing Data: A notable drawback pertains to attrition and missing data, particularly among families with alternative school placements and low-income backgrounds. The research recognizes that individuals facing greater mental health challenges may have been less inclined to participate in multiple surveys. This could introduce bias, potentially underrepresenting or excluding those confronting the most significant mental health difficulties from the analysis. It is crucial to scrutinize whether the findings accurately portray the experiences of all autistic young people (Toseeb & Asbury, 2022).
2. Exclusion Criteria: The study excluded non-verbal children, deeming the measurement tools unsuitable for this subgroup. This exclusion narrows the generalizability of findings to verbal children and young people exclusively. It is essential to acknowledge that autistic individuals with limited verbal communication skills may have distinct mental health requirements and experiences not represented in this study.
3. Lack of Pre-Pandemic Comparison: The study lacks a comparison to pre-pandemic mental health, making it challenging to precisely assess the pandemic’s impact. A baseline evaluation of mental health before the pandemic would have enabled a more robust analysis of changes during and after the lockdown (Toseeb & Asbury, 2022).
4. Opportunity Sampling: The study utilized an opportunity sample, which could introduce bias. Participants voluntarily engaging in online surveys may not fully represent the entire population of autistic children and adolescents. Combining these findings with data from other sources, such as administrative records or population cohort studies, would enhance the study’s conclusions and address some limitations associated with opportunity sampling (Toseeb & Asbury, 2022).

In summary, Toseeb & Asbury, (2022) offers valuable insights into the mental health of autistic young people and their parents during and after the initial COVID-19 lockdown in the UK, it is essential to interpret the findings while considering both its strengths and weaknesses. Researchers should explore strategies to mitigate the impact of missing data and aim for more comprehensive assessments that encompass multiple perspectives and a broader spectrum of autistic individuals, including those with limited verbal communication skills. Furthermore, future studies should investigate a pre-pandemic baseline to gain a deeper understanding of the specific effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health within this population.

Factors of Reliability, Trustworthiness and Validity

Toseeb & Asbury, (2022) meticulous steps were taken by the researchers to ensure the data’s reliability, validity, and credibility. Ethical approval was diligently obtained, and informed consent was secured from all participants, underscoring a steadfast commitment to ethical research practices. The recruitment strategy was intentionally diversified, encompassing a range of channels and institutions, with the purpose of minimizing selection bias and augmenting the sample’s representativeness.

The adoption of a longitudinal research design proved pivotal in examining the evolution of mental health outcomes across multiple time points, providing a comprehensive view of the pandemic’s effects. To bolster data validity, the study employed standardized questionnaires meticulously tailored to the unique experiences of autistic individuals (Toseeb & Asbury, 2022).

Furthermore, the study candidly acknowledged its limitations, such as potential attrition bias and the exclusion of non-verbal children. This transparency allowed readers to assess the study’s applicability with full awareness of its constraints. These collective efforts collectively fortified the data’s reliability, validity, and credibility, ultimately elevating the overall quality of the research.Top of Form

Conclusion

To summarize, both studies demonstrated commendable efforts to ensure the reliability, validity, and credibility of their data, although operating within the confines of their chosen research approaches. The qualitative study yielded valuable qualitative insights into the experiences of mothers but was constrained by limitations in sample size and scope. In contrast, Toseeb & Asbury, (2022) longitudinal design and specialized measurement tools produced robust quantitative findings yet contended with attrition and missing data issues. These analyses highlight the significance of selecting appropriate research methodologies and upholding ethical considerations while recognizing the inherent challenges associated with investigating intricate topics such as autism and mental health amidst a global pandemic.

References

Papadopoulos, D. (2021). Mothers’ Experiences and Challenges Raising a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Study. Brain Sciences, 11(3), 309. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11030309

Toseeb, U., & Asbury, K. (2022). A longitudinal study of the mental health of autistic children and adolescents and their parents during COVID-19: Part 1, quantitative findings. Autism, 27(1), 136236132210827. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221082715