Survey Research Strengths

Research Design: Survey Research Strengths

Elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes or any other setting is a delicate topic and the use of a questionnaire can keep the participant and their answers confidential (Leedy & Ormrod, 2013). In addition, a variety of elder abuse research articles that have been read had used some type of survey, questionnaire, telephone or in-person interview (Anetzberger, 2012, Castle, 2012, Castle, Ferguson-Rome, & Teresi, 2015, & Payne & Fletcher, 2005). Therefore, the use of a survey will allow for answers that are more honest from the nursing home administrators and/or authorities on this delicate topic. Consequently, the use of the survey research design will allow the respondents to provide close-ended

As a result, the responses can be content analyzed for similar patterns in the responses that will then have the ability to be quantified (Payne & Fletcher, 2005). Overall, the use of a survey will ensure confidentiality on this delicate topic while shedding light on elder abuse and the laws or policies that are implemented to protect the vulnerable population that reside in nursing homes. After all, the residents and members of their families expect to be safe from harm or neglect while residing in a nursing home. As a result, it is essential that nursing home policies and/or practices assure protection to their residents (Payne & Flecther, 2005). Therefore, the use of the survey research design may not have responses by every administrator or law enforcement within the selected nine counties in Ohio, however, the administrators and/or law enforcement that wish to see changes or provide safe

Therefore, while performing the research two survey tools were found that are available for use at no cost for research or teaching, which are the Attitude Scales on Elder Mistreatment and the Multidimensional Elder Abuse Questionnaire (Daniels et al., 1999 & Almogue et al., 2010). The Attitude Scales on Elder Mistreatment was developed and tested surveying the law officers in Alabama this survey measured the knowledge of law enforcement on elder abuse, the elder abuse laws, and the reporting requirements of elder abuse, and the number of cases observed or reported (Daniels et al., 1999). In addition, this tool is a 25 item questionnaire that measures the knowledge of law enforcement regarding elder abuse, financial exploitation, and neglect with the factor reliabilities after the testing on Alabama police officers ranging from .594 to .924 (Daniels et al., 1999). Overall, the survey tool seems to be a fit to use if law enforcement is surveyed for the envisioned topic, as it should adjust to the state of Ohio instead of Alabama.

The Multidimensional Elder Abuse Questionnaire developed by Almogue et al. (2010) is a 28-item questionnaire that was initially developed in Israel to measure the knowledge of medical and nursing staff toward elder abuse. However, the questionnaire has been retranslated to the