Researching Grad School Students-In Need of Help

[mayachel]

Hello! I am outing myself as a MSer here on PS. I''m working on chapter 2 of my research proposal and really stuck with understanding "framework"

Specifically what I need help with is understanding what I''m to be answering- "The relationship of the theoretical or conceptual framework to your specific topic."

I already have my design, limitations etc...I know there are a bunch of pretty smart folks on these boards so I''m going to be brave and share some of my work thus far.

For the purposes of this study, research has been directed to the use of Central American based Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Massage (MAM). This modality deals directly with the positioning of the uterus, the myofascial structure surrounding the abdominal and pelvic organs and integrity of blood, lymph and nerve flow to the abdominal-pelvic organs.

Problem statement

Primary dysmenorrhea affects a significant number of women, often starting shortly after menarche and continuing through the twenties and thirties. There is a limited amount of research on the efficacy of the MAM technique, though it is frequently used by MAM practitioners, many of whom are midwives, family physicians, nurse practitioners and massage therapists.

Purpose(s) of research

The purpose of this research is to test the efficacy of receiving weekly MAM sessions as an effective, non-pharmacological treatment for the reduction of symptoms in women who suffer from dysmenorrhea.


Research question(s)
Are the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Massage (ATMAM) over the course of three menstrual cycles efficacious in reducing symptoms of dysmenorrhea?

Hypothesis(es)

Women who receive weekly sessions of (MAM) will experience a decrease in the severity or occurrence of symptoms of dysmenorrhea in comparison to the symptoms they experienced prior to receiving treatment.

 

[mayachel]

From my instructor:

The framework is a way of thinking that informs your study. For example, if you are studying something like family interaction, you might apply systems theory to it. Systems theory explains how component parts work together as a unified whole--hence, it applies to family interaction. For your study, you might want to look at how the mind and body work together, or another theory that might explain why massage might help dysmenorrhea. It''s definitely more difficult to find a theory for purely physiological events as opposed to social events, but there are theories that talk about pain.

 

[neatfreak]

Basically your conceptual framework would be prior work that others have done that inform your research question and hypothesis. So who has done the best work in the field? And what do THEY say about your thesis topic? Did their research make you think about your research from a certain perspective?

It's basically the groundwork for your topic-the theory and ideas that underly why you "frame" your research questions the way that you did.

Does that make sense?

 

[kama_s]

Hi Mayachel,

I recently completed my MSc., so I'm going to try and help. I find the jargon used for some scientific writing to be very confusing as well, so from my understanding I feel they're asking you to provide a lit search, and tell them how it ties in with your topic.

So in this case (if I'm understanding correctly), it would be something like to decribe the MAM technique, what sort of receptors it targets, the pathway leading to possible efficacy and basing your hypothesis on previous literature.

ETA: Neatfreak posted as I was typing my response, but she's spot on.

 

[mayachel]

Thank you both NeatFreak and Kama_S. Your comments are helping me wrap my head around it. Slowly I feel like things are clicking into place but I haven't had that "ah ha" moment. But what happens when there isn't other research on MAM work? So far, I've been using dysmenorrhea and complimentary/alternative medicine as my guides on other studies done. Should I just continue to do so? Is it as simple as saying...this is valid because this study did it?

You are correct that the rest of this chapter is a critical review of the literature.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 5/11/2009 5:08:34 PM
Author: mayachel
Is it as simple as saying...this is valid because this study did it?


You are correct that the rest of this chapter is a critical review of the literature.

Not quite...you want to build a background story really for WHY it might work. So prior research on everything possible to lay groundwork for the WHY-things about how the body works, things about dysmenorrhea, things about similar techniques, etc. It'll be lit review-but you also need to connect the literature to WHY you decided to research this specific topic. What about dysmenorrhea makes it a good candidate for MAM? Are there other similar techniques that work for dysmenorrhea? Or similarly-are there other massage techniques that are similar to MAM that treat dysmenorrhea well? You can't just say "Mayachel thinks MAM is cool and that is why it will work to treat dysmenorrhea." So you need to back up what YOU think with past research and theory that justifies your reasoning.

It's providing explanation for why you think this massage technique will work for it's intended purpose. What else has been published/done that would support your idea that MAM is effective for dysmenorrhea? Even if it isn't exact-anything relating to this topic that can provide support for your thesis is what you want. Think of it like building a pyramid of reasons/theories/explanations culminating in your research question at the top.

 

[mayachel]

Thanks Neatfreak. This has really helped me start to organize my thoughts a bit better. I am in awe of your knowledge and generosity.