Lin Article Critique

The purpose of this article is to critique the title and introduction of the Wei-Len Lin (2004) article titled “Effects of Forgiveness Therapy on Anger, Mood, and Vulnerability to Substance Use Among Inpatient Substance-Dependent Clients”. The study demonstrated the importance of substance dependent inpatients confronting resentments from the past as an aid to emotional recovery (Wei-Lin, 2004). All participants were from a drug rehabilitation center that provided residential treatment to individuals who suffer from alcohol and other drug dependencies. The researcher will critique the article by analyzing components of population and sampling, procedures, and measurements.

The Lin Article was examined with emphasis directed upon the title and introduction. The journal article by Wei-Fen Lin targeted the effects of forgiveness therapy to substance abuse on particular issues such as anger, mood, and vulnerability. The study took place in a residential treatment facility. In the study fourteen substance dependent patients were randomly selected to complete twelve forgiveness therapy sessions or twelve alternate individual treatment sessions based upon routine drug and alcohol therapy topics. Results indicated that the participants that completed forgiveness therapy showed improvement overall. Results also indicated that forgiveness therapy could be an effective new model for residential drug rehabilitation (Lin, 2004). The researcher will critique the following components within the Lin article in the direct order of population and sampling, procedures, and measurements. Population and sampling. In the Lin article, the researcher used random sampling. Using random sampling yields an unbiased sample which means researchers are likely to make sound generalizations (Pyrczak, 2008). Random sampling stratification was used according to participant drug treatment. The sample size was adequate.

There was no participants who refused to participate in the study therefore the rate of participation was reasonably high. The response rate was high as well. There was reason to believe that the participants shared similarities on relevant variables but results showed significant differences in treatment. Procedures. The Lin article did not randomly assigned two groups. However, there was present evidence that the participants were equal in important ways. Altered treatments were designed for the single group of participants. The treatments were described in sufficient detail. Properly trained individuals administered and monitored treatments. The researcher tried to eliminate personal effect by using designated individuals for each treatment. All conditions were the same in the experimental and control group. The setting used for the experiment group was residential and natural. Measurements. The Lin article provided actual items for measurement. There were no specialized response restrictions described in detail. The researcher use multiple methods to collect data. Accurate data was obtained for sensitive matters. In the case of data collection and coding of observations, evidence of interobserver reliability was present. There was evidence of temporal stability and empirical validity as well.

References

Lin, W.-F., Mack, D., Enright, R. D., Krahn, D., & Baskin, T. W. (2004). Effects of Forgiveness Therapy on Anger, Mood, and Vulnerability to Substance Use Among Inpatient Substance-Dependent Clients. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72(6), 1114-1121. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.72.6.1114

Pyrczak, F. (2008). Evaluating research in academic journals. Glendale, CA: Pyrczak Publishing. ISBN: 1-884585-78-7.