Strongly Disagrestrongly Agree O Euthanasia example essay topic

A Report To Show Differing Attitudes To Euthanasia "Everyone's right to life shall be protected by law. No one shall be deprived of his life intentionally save in the execution of a sentence of a court following his conviction of a crime for which the penalty is provided by law" quoted by the Secretary-General, Council of Europe, Strasbourg (p 16 The unfinished debate on Euthanasia.) Background and Justification Literature Review An increasing number of research papers have shown, that there is a changing attitude in favour of euthanasia. (e.g. In 1987, the British Section of the World Federation of Doctors Who Respect Human Life, who do not agree with voluntary euthanasia because of their religious beliefs, carried out a MORI poll. Overall, 72% of those surveyed said that voluntary euthanasia should be made legal.) Euthanasia is defined in the oxford English dictionary as "The act or practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, as by lethal injection or the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment". The modern debate on euthanasia started in 1873 when a discussion in the magazine the Fortnightly review, contained an article entitled 'The New Cure for Incurables, inn which it showed support for Euthanasia. The Spectator criticised these proposals, which would restrict euthanasia to those able to ask for it, but would deny it to the worst sufferers, those who were too ill to make their request known. Media polls regularly record huge majorities of people who support legal ising voluntary euthanasia for the incurably ill.

In October 1997, out of nearly 3,000 people who took part in a Sun newspaper telephone opinion poll, an amazing 97% said terminally ill people should have the right to die with dignity. (Dennison. D, Bryson. C, University of Glasgow, Euthanasia in British Social Attitudes. the 13th Report, edited by Roger Jo well and others. Dartmouth, 1996) Several investigators have found this situation to be realistic for their subjects.

Surveys of public opinion are notoriously fickle, but in this area they have been remarkably consistent, both over time and as between themselves. Although the precise numbers have varied somewhat, nationwide polls have been unanimous in showing a majority to be in favour of legalised voluntary euthanasia, with highly respected sources showing support as high as 82% (British Social Attitudes Report, 1996). The strongest support (86%) was in the case of the individual who has an incurable illness leaving him dependent upon a life support machine, unable to make a decision about his own future - as in the case of a permanent coma. This outweighed even the support in cases of persons suffering from a terminal, painful and incurable illness (80%). (British Social Attitudes Report, 1996). Aims and Objectives Research has shown increasing percentages of people in favour of euthanasia, in this study I am attempting to identify qualitive data showing that this trend is still on the increase within the U.K. Investigative questions are questions that you need to answer in order to address satisfactorily each research question and to meet each objective (Cooper & Schindler, 1998).

When considering the main aim of the project the following questions must be asked: 1) Under what circumstances do you think Euthanasia is acceptable? 2) Do you think it is moral for doctors to perform Euthanasia? 3) Should the family have the right to choose? Research Strategy The main objectives, which are derived from this research project, are to obtain what views people in Scarborough have on Euthanasia and whether they are for or against it. These results would then be passed onto the client, which in this case is Scarborough NHS Trust.

These results could then be distributed nationally, in order for other Trusts to benefit from the findings. The main limitations on the study as defined by Graziano, 1993 are time, money, access to data and location. The study has a budget, which in turn will cause a restriction to time and access to data. All the restrictions will have to be controlled and carefully monitored as they can cause biases on the report. The benefits from the data will be that the client may use the data in corroboration with other sources and to show that attitudes towards euthanasia are changing with the public either moving more in favour or against the idea. The research approach that will be used will be empirical, in that the data will be specifically collected for the research, and also a positivist approach shall be used which, through the use of questionnaires will allow the researcher to gain a large amount of respondents as suggested by Saunders, Thornhill, Lewis 1993.

The empirical primary research will show qua native results (Reason, 1988), this approach as been selected for its ability to discover unbiased data. Simple random sampling is ideal for the use of Euthanasia, as it's accurate and easily implemented. Random sampling is also best suited to face to face interviews and is relatively cost free as no complex computer systems are needed to interpret the data (Saunders et al., 2000). But one downside of random sampling is that its relatively difficult to explain to people who have no experience with it.

Which in the case of Euthanasia could cause a subject error or bias. The Quantitative research deals in numbers, logic and the objective, while qualitative research deals in words, images and the subjective. The research proposal shows that both quantitive and qualitive research methods would be useful when looking at the data on the subject of Euthanasia. Although the data that is collected will mainly by quantitive. Quantitive data will give the client a highly specific and precise set of data to interpret while being highly reliable due to it's statistical nature. But in using some qualitive data the client will find more rich and subjective data.

In this proposal I have chosen to combine the two as it gives the client a broader perspective on the subject and the data found. Methods Data Requirements An introductory passage at the beginning of the questionnaire was used to inform the subjects, what the questionnaire was hoping to achieve. The passage was approximately 40 words long and was constructed using a guide from within "Research Methods, A Process of Inquiry, 1993" The introduction and questionnaire can both be seen on the appendix section listed as item number 1. Fifty graduate and PhD students were chosen at random from The University of Hull (Scarborough Campus), they all served as voluntary participants as did another one hundred and fifty people chosen from the town centre. All participants were right handed as determined by the Literacy Assessment Inventory (Sherman & Kulhany, 1976), and were treated in accordance with the "Ethical Principals of Psychologists" (AMA, 2001). Twenty-five of the students were female and Twenty-five were male.

Seventy-five of the town centre sample were female and the final seventy-five were female. The total number of subjects was two hundred. The subject's age varied from 15 to 64 as there were no controls placed on age. The questionnaire was constructed in October 2002 and was conducted on two separate days, which were one week apart. The first survey was conducted within university on the 5th April 2003 and the second survey was conducted on the 12th April 2003 in the centre of town. Only subjects who were by themselves were chosen to take part in the survey in order to ensure reliability.

There was no time limit placed on the conduction of the survey. No questions were asked in relation to their identities in accordance with their statutory rights, but at the end of the survey all subjects were asked to identify their ethnicity. Sampling Size The sampling size of 200 people was required. The estimated response rate was 30% From this the actual sample size of 833 was found using: 833 = 200 100 30 As shown by Saunders et al. 2000. Because of the time constraints involved the number is rounded down to 800 subjects that will be asked.

The higher the number of subjects asked the more accurate the results are. Sampling method The method of sampling that I have chosen is simple random sampling. This method selects a sample from a target population, where every member has an equal chance of being selected for the sample, and the selections are all independent. With random sampling Graziano 1993 states that there are no systematic biases that result in some members of the population having a greater chance than others of being selected. Reliability and validity of data The reliability and validity of the data can have a great influence on the accuracy of the project. There are two main threats to the reliability of the research subject bias and subject error (Robson, 1993).

In terms of subject error the questionnaires were both conducted on a Sunday so that the subjects within the university and in the town were neither on a high or low. To ensure no subject bias occurred the research team was separated into two groups and both of the surveys were conducted at the same time. There are also going to be threats to the validity of the research (Robson, 1993). Validity is concerned with statistical results of the questionnaire (Graziano et al., 1996). Graziano et al states that examples of threats to statistical validity are the use of unreliable dependant measures and the violations of the assumptions of statistical test.

Within this research assignment the validity of the project has been ensured through two different ways. Firstly general control procedures such as ensuring the sampling methods were correct. Secondly ensuring the control over subject and experimenter effects, through not effecting their statutory rights by not asking them any questions regarding their identities. TimeTable Gann t Chart Resource Histogram The primary research for the project will be quantitive, and will be based around a questionnaire which will take one to two days to construct, print and post.

This approach has been selected for it's ability to show data at the unconscious and conscious level (Reason, 1988). The review of the literature will be developed as the case study progresses, and more previous case study examples are found either through the internet, journals or other books. After the data is collated and analysed, a series or enquiry groups will be established in order to develop a shared meaning of the data and research programme. The focus groups will provide the opportunity for comparisons with other case studies. Budget Direct Costs Total Equipment Materials & Supplies lb 105 Office Supplies lb 25 Program Materials lb 201 Travel @ 19 pence / min lb 23 Telephone Local 4 p min Long Distance 37 p min Fax 8 p per one sheet Telephone Total lb 35 Personnel Project Supervisor @lb 22.00 per hour 36 hours lb 792 Fieldworkers @ (lb 4.20 per hour 20 hours) x 2 lb 168 Analysis @lb 35 per day for 8 days lb 280 Total Project Costs lb 1629 (Direct and Indirect) Outline of Final Report The final report will take the form of a more in depth account of, the research strategy, results from the data analysis along with a conclusion, evaluation and progress report. The client will be able to interpret the findings in order to provide a credible answer to the research question.

Resources Available Information Technology Data analysis software such as CAQDAS (computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software) is at the publics disposal, disposal, allows the efficient coding and retrieval of data as well as hypothesis building and theorising (Saunders et al, 2000). Fielding and Lee, 1995 states that computer-assisted quantitative data analysis software systems such as CAQDAS potentially offers a number of advantages in relation to analytical approaches such as Euthanasia. It does this buy organising data quick and effectively. The use of information technological applications provides competitive advantage as is stated by Seti and King (1994) Human Resources Researchers and assistants could be drawn from the hospitals own staff or local council offices. But the most likely place to find the most ideal researchers and assistants would be from the local University of Hull. So the human resources can remain either in house or be outsourced.

This is up to the client's discretion. If this method was implemented then the need to draw on external expertise will be nullified. Currently the University's staff have undergone a number of previous research projects, these include- 1. Research for N AHT into performance for primary schools 2. Research into the key factors relating to the characteristics of students attaining a 'First Class Honours' degree. Time Resources As time is one of the factors that can affect a projects error or biased you can use a time series analyses to transform previous survey results into forecasts of future events.

The series of values of a variable over a period of time is used this is known as a time series (R&J Hussey, 1997). Researcher C. V Name: J.D. Breeden Address: 15 Albemarle Crescent, Scarborough, YO 11 1 XS Date Of Birth: 01/12/1966 Company Currently Employed By: JOB Researchers 13 Victoria Square York YO 1 2 WE Brief About the Person: B.A. (Hons.) Manchester University in Business Management, was an assistant researcher at Bristol University from Oct 1989-2001. Then followed eight years research consultancy for MH Associates studying an insight into students needs, which involved interaction between small and major companies. Research Interests: Reporting on stakeholders to stakeholders on the impact of regulatory framework on financial reporting. Will soon become a leading authority on communicating financial information. References: Name Mike Hassel Name Roberta Dewsbury Position Junior Researcher Position Assistant Researcher Name of Company MH Associates Name of Company FC&G Address 1 2 a Flat Road Address 1 120 Milford House Address 2 Bloomers Address 2 Sutton C'Field Address 3 Address 3 Postcode B 79 2 RF Postcode B 76 YT Appendix Questionnaire The following set of 20 questions is regarding your attitude to euthanasia.

Please answer them as honestly as possible. All questionnaires are confidential so please do not use your name anywhere. o I would like to live in a nursing home. Strongly DisagreStrongly Agree o I would like to become dependant on my family. Strongly DisagreStrongly Agree o I would rather die than live with a painful, chronic, non-terminal illness.

Strongly DisagreStrongly Agree o How much contact do you have with physically disabled people? Non lot o If I knew from early prognosis that I was going to be the parent of a severely mentally handicapped child, I would want: 1 A miscarriage 2 An Abortion 3 To give the child up for adoption 4 To care for the child 5 To put the child in an institution 6 Other o If I knew from early prognosis that I was going to be the parent of a severely physically handicapped child, I would want: 1 A miscarriage 2 An Abortion 3 To give the child up for adoption 4 To care for the child 5 To put the child in an institution 6 Other o Abortion is Ethical: 1 Never 2 In the case of rape 3 In the case of incest 4 If the woman wants one 5 If the man wants one 6 If the pregnancy puts the woman's life at risk o I would help a friend fight for the right to die with dignity if that was their choice. Strongly DisagreStrongly Agree o Doctor assisted suicide should be legalised Strongly DisagreStrongly Agree o I believe it's unethical for doctors to withhold a life-prolonging drug from a terminally ill newborn baby. Strongly DisagreStrongly Agree o I would withhold a life-prolonging drug from a terminally ill individual who is suffering greatly, with their consent. Strongly DisagreStrongly Agree o I would be in favour of discontinuing life support for a comatose individual if this was all that was keeping that person alive. Strongly DisagreStrongly Agree o I could personally remove life support for a comatose individual if this was all that was keeping that person alive.

Strongly DisagreStrongly Agree o I would be in favour of giving a lethal injection to a terminally ill individual, if requested by the person. Strongly DisagreStrongly Agree o I would refuse to turn off a life support system for a terminally ill person, if they requested the action. Strongly DisagreStrongly Agree o Allowing someone to die is not killing Strongly DisagreStrongly Agree o Euthanasia is wrong under all circumstances? Strongly DisagreStrongly Agree o I am: 1 Male 2 Female o What age bracket do you fall under? An Essay to show effective research methods.