Research Method
Method
Type 2 Diabetes was once considered an adult disease. In recent times, children under the age of 18 years, are consistently being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Alarmingly, the CDC (2019) reports that the numbers of children diagnosed with the disease have more than double in the recent decade. Obesity is identified as a contributory factor to the development of Type 2 diabetes in children. 12.7 million children in America are diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and obesity (CDC, 2019). From a biological point of view, Type 2 Diabetes is an insulin hormone-based illness. Insulin is produced in the pancreas and is crucial to the regulation of blood sugar (Galuska et al., 2018). For Type 2 Diabetes, the body resists to insulin therefore, control of blood sugar is no longer conducted. Eventually, the pancreas can no longer keep up with the production of insulin due to the high levels in the bloodstream (Galuska et al., 2018). High blood sugar levels can result in more chronic illnesses including heart disease, vision loss, and kidney loss. Further research reveals the prevalence of diabetes and Type 2 diabetes transcends across socio-economic lines, racial lines, and gender among children. Galuska et al. (2018) identify the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes along racial and ethnic lines are more rampant among African Americans and Hispanic communities whereas, in socio-economic lines, the low-income families are more likely to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and obesity compared to high-income and middle-income families. What is more challenging is that individuals who are not eligible or do not have access to Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance may have high levels of type 2 diabetes and obesity. It is important to identify the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and obesity among children in America. Limited studies have consolidated research on this frontier. The present research aims to conduct a qualitative study that seeks to identify the prevalence of obesity and diabetes in America concerning racial or ethnic lines and socioeconomic status as well.
Research Method and Design Appropriateness
Research is a crucial process in the study process. It allows the researcher to formulate their problem and objective as well as present their results from the information gathered. There are two primary methods used in research: qualitative and quantitative research methods (Park and Park, 2016). Qualitative research explores the human experiences to comprehend the reasons behind the behavior and meaning within the experiences (Jilcha, 2019). Quantitative research involves formal objective information gathering through the use of measurement tools including valid questionnaires (Park and Park, 2016). Qualitative research embarks on a more subjective information-based process with no statistical tests, whereas, quantitative research is statistical-based and is more objective (Park and Park, 2016). The present research will be a qualitative based study. Qualitative research utilizes an inductive process on a hypothesis formulated whereas, quantitative research utilizes a deductive process to test on the pre-specified concepts.
The research design will take on a descriptive-based perspective. The goal of descriptive research is to describe the phenomenon as well as the characteristics of the objective of a study. In line with this, the present study seeks to identify the phenomenon of occurrence of Type 2 Diabetes and obesity among American children from an ethnic or racial and socioeconomic status. Data will be collected from secondary sources and literature reviews on the specific problem addressed. The research questions have been drafted to address the research topics to be done. The qualitative research process will involve an inductive exploration of the data retrieved. Aspects of recurring themes, patterns, and concepts shall be addressed. The research design shall address the population, data collection process, data analysis, and sampling frame.
Population
The main scope of the present research is to identify the prevalence of obesity and Type 2 diabetes among children in America. There are nearly 73.7 million children younger than 18 years in America (Child Trends, 2019). Out of this, more than 12 million are diagnosed with obesity and Type 2 diabetes. The first level of population analysis will include children across America. The statistics shall include data on socio-economic and racial differences. The second level of data will be based in Florida. In Florida, there are more than 3 million children with those living in low-income status accounting for 49%. 35% are white, 68% are African American, 59% are Hispanic, 33% are Asian and 43% are American Indians (NCCP, 2019). The population on both state-level and country-level is crucial to analyze the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and obesity. Comparison statistical description is pivotal to the study to identify whether state-level differences are worse or not compared to national levels.
The specific comparison agenda will include a comparison of the rates of obesity and the rates of Type 2 diabetes on both state-level and country-level. Further, the analysis will define the differences in socioeconomic status and racial lines on the occurrence of Type 2 diabetes and obesity. It is evident the differences in income status and socio-economic status in Florida are alarming and worse still, the numbers in racial differences are shocking. It is vital to address whether insurance coverage affects how well the children can access healthcare coverage on the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The literature on the population may also provide an inductive description of why the prevalence may be rampant either national-level or state-level.
Sampling Frame
Given the scope of the research, it is evident that the study relies on reported data. Specifically, data on the CDC, child diabetes prevalence, and state-level statistics were used. The sampling frame was conducted in two-fold. The first is the inclusion of national-level statistics including socioeconomic status and prevalence of type 2 diabetes and obesity among children in addition to the assessment of prevalence along ethnic lines. Similarly, the same research frame was used in state-level research. The sampling frame comprised of websites including the CDC, Diabetes Website, and peer-reviewed journals and articles published within the last five years (from 2015-2020). The data retrieved was analyzed to determine the reliability of each source and compounded for the present research.
Data Collection
I conducted the data collection used for the present study includes quantifiable data from the websites and peer-reviewed journals and articles. Evidence regarding secondary data was crucial to the collection process (Jilcha, 2019). Secondary data collection methods provide insight into the research area under current scenarios. Literature review from the peer-reviewed sources was analyzed and documented appropriately (Jilcha, 2019). The literature review provides a comprehensive content analysis of both quantitative and qualitative aspects. To achieve the literature review process, the inclusion-exclusion criteria were used. The inclusion criteria only required peer-reviewed sources, published in the last five years, and sourced from reputable search engines including MEDLINE, Emerald, Taylor and Francis, EMBASE, Diabetes Journal America, and Google Scholar. The exclusion criteria did not include sources that were published more than six years ago, review based research, and global based. Only American-based research was used. A total of five peer-reviewed sources were identified from an initial search result of 1 004 peer-reviewed journals and articles. Additionally, the websites of the CDC and diabetes journal were also incorporated.
Data Analysis
I conducted the data analysis incorporated qualitative data analysis which incorporates the thorough analysis of qualitative and quantitative data presented in the sources used. Data were analyzed to determine the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and obesity among children in America based on socio-economic (low-income) and racial differences. Comparison from state-level and country-level was done using the peer-reviewed sources. Supposition on insurance coverage was not ignored given that literature review for the present study identified that lack of access to insurance affects treatment and prevalence of type 2 diabetes among children.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2019). Type 2 diabetes. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html
Child Trends. (2019). Number of Children. Child Trends. https://www.childtrends.org/indicators/number-of-children
Galuska, D. A., Gunn, J. P., O’Connor, A. E., & Petersen, R. (2018). Addressing childhood obesity for Type 2 diabetes prevention: Challenges and opportunities. Diabetes Spectrum, 31(4), 330–335.
Jilcha, K. (2019). Research Design and Methodology (p. 27). https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85731
NCCP. (2019). NCCP | Florida: Demographics of Low-Income Children. http://www.nccp.org/profiles/FL_profile_6.html
Park, J., & Park, M. (2016). Qualitative versus quantitative research methods: Discovery or justification? Journal of Marketing Thought, 3(1), 1-8.