Alcoholism Within the Native American

¶ … alcoholism within the Native American community and determining whether currently standard methods (12-step programs) of treatment are effective or if it is time to design a recovery program specific to Native American socioeconomic and cultural needs. There was one source used to complete this paper.

METHODOLGY study is only as reliable as the data and analysis that has been collected for its purpose, therefore it is important when designing a study to evaluate several methods of data collection and choose the one that is most appropriate for the current needs. For this study several methods were examined and discarded before the case study method was chosen.

Methods of research that are currently popular and accepted as standard practice include survey methods, case studies, experimentations and literature reviews.

Survey methods are extremely useful in many study arenas because they permit a broad-based geographic area to be examined if the surveys are mailed out. In addition, regardless of the geographic area covered the use of surveys helps to insure that the results are pure and not biased by the preconceived beliefs and ideas formed by the research team.

Surveys allow the participant to have some measure of anonymity with their use as they are not required to reveal their identities beyond basic demographic information. The survey method also allows the information gathered to be categorized in many different ways for future use. The survey method has limitations in that it does not allow for open conversation which in turn provides a more in depth look into the answer and the problem. In addition it removes any visual observation of body language and examination of demeanor because there is not a researcher present to gauge such actions.

While a survey method can be a useful method for the collection of data for analysis, for the purposes of this project it was rejected.

Another method that is often employed for the purpose of research is a literature review. This method involves the use of already published studies and examines their results. The use of a literature review can be successful when the topic being studied has already been examined quite thoroughly and the research team wants to validate its findings. Literature studies are particularly useful in that they often employ experts in the field for the purpose of study, thereby helping to insure validity of the previously published findings.

For the purpose of this study however, a literature review did would not offer what is needed and that is a suggestion for future treatments of Native Americans who have alcohol addiction and literature review as a study method was rejected.

Case studies are also valid and popular methods of research. A case study allows the researcher to gather more in depth information about the topic being studied. Case studies that use interviews, questionnaires and history taking provide a well rounded and comprehensive method by which all sides and levels of an issues can be examined for the purpose of study.

Case studies provide the opportunity to gather and categorize data in a variety of methods and settings so that it can be extracted for use in later studies as well. The allow the participant to feel less of a participant and more of a casual conversation team member which in turn may open the lines of communication and provide a more thorough examination of the issue being studied. For the purpose of this study the researcher believes that a case study method is the most valuable tool to use.

POPULATION

The sampling of participants will be derived from Native Americans between the ages of 16 and 45. The participants will be located through their entrance and admittance to local health care facilities with alcohol being listed as an issue in their lives or health needs.

The population will be Native Americans entering health care facilities while the participant group will be those who have documented alcohol consumption in excess of once a week, or said that they participate in binge drinking.

Incoming patients who meet this criteria and agree to become part of a case study examination will make up the participant group of study.

The case study will seek to discover what if any the most effective treatment is for alcoholism among the Native American population. In addition it will address the question about current treatment modalities and seek to determine whether current methods of treatment for alcoholism are effective.

DATA COLLECTION

The data will be collected through interviews, questionnaires and document examination. The interviews will be set up with the participant and will take approximately one hour of time. The interview will be a question and answer period surrounding the use of alcohol and any previously attempted methods of treatment. The participant will be asked to sign a waiver of release for previous medical records so that the researcher can locate previous attempts at medical treatment for alcohol abuse. In addition to the question and answer period during the interview the participant will be engaged in relaxed conversation for the purpose of gaining additional insight to the alcohol issue and the participants views about traditional treatment methods.