Adhd Research Critique
ADHD Research Critique The study titled “Illicit use of Prescription ADHD Medications on College campuses, by DeSantis, Webb, & Noar, (2008) from the Journal of American College Health,” is both quantitative and qualitative in design, because the authors used mass surveys to gather statistics and in-depth interviews to collect personal information.
The researchers used a multimethodological approach in order to gain the data that was needed to form the conclusion and other studies were referenced in order to add to the findings of this study. From the very beginning of the research, the authors were very detailed with background information about the ADHD prescription phenomenon reporting that the rise in the number of diagnoses and subsequent treatment of American children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been well documented since the mid-1990s. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 4.4 million children aged 4 to 17 years (a national prevalence rate of 7.8%) have been diagnosed with ADHD. Of these, doctors have prescribed stimulants to 2.5 million to treat the disorder. The research problem is the rise in illegal use of ADHD medications specifically on college campuses. Building off the rise in the number of children being diagnosed for ADHD and the number of prescriptions being written for the stimulant drugs. Specifically, Adderall, but also Ritalin and Dexedrine, leads one to believe that the study of these prescriptions on college campuses is relevant and justified. Strengths and Limitations There were a number of limitations in the study that should be taken into account when interpreting the results. As the researchers discussed throughout this paper, the quantitative sample was a convenience sample that exhibited many characteristics of the campus as a whole; however, given that it was a convenience sample, there was no guarantee
The researchers used a multimethodological approach in order to gain the data that was needed to form the conclusion and other studies were referenced in order to add to the findings of this study. From the very beginning of the research, the authors were very detailed with background information about the ADHD prescription phenomenon reporting that the rise in the number of diagnoses and subsequent treatment of American children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been well documented since the mid-1990s. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 4.4 million children aged 4 to 17 years (a national prevalence rate of 7.8%) have been diagnosed with ADHD. Of these, doctors have prescribed stimulants to 2.5 million to treat the disorder. The research problem is the rise in illegal use of ADHD medications specifically on college campuses. Building off the rise in the number of children being diagnosed for ADHD and the number of prescriptions being written for the stimulant drugs. Specifically, Adderall, but also Ritalin and Dexedrine, leads one to believe that the study of these prescriptions on college campuses is relevant and justified. Strengths and Limitations There were a number of limitations in the study that should be taken into account when interpreting the results. As the researchers discussed throughout this paper, the quantitative sample was a convenience sample that exhibited many characteristics of the campus as a whole; however, given that it was a convenience sample, there was no guarantee