Depression is a deeply personal issue that many people battle with each year. Persistnt depression categorized as dysthymia can be another more treacherous kind of monster that plagues those suffering from mental illness. While quantitative data can be helpful in determining accuracy in things like treatment and performing studies on medication efficacy, because depression is so personal and pertaining to a persons individual experience and perspective, qualitative research should be included. There can be named several reasons for this, but the main reason is because qualitative research for an examination of a persons unique experience and perspective and identification of underlying themes that can help paint a better picture of the mental disorder. Although there are various kinds of qualitative research designs, the phenomenological study fits with what is needed, which is exploration and discussion of underlying themes through interviews, watching videos, examining research and then making comparisons and deriving meaning from everything. The aim of this kind of study is to understand the meaning of dysthymia and how it can affect people in a way that is universal, but also personal. For example, Alzheimers patients are more likely to develop dysthymia. The research qtuestion would then be: Can functional and cognitive deficits...

The study would be simple and would consist of a literature review on dysthymia and Alzheimers patients. Then Alzheimers patients with dysthymia would be interviewed. These answered would be analyzed and compared to the results from the literature review to identify any underlying themes. Then the discussion would include potential effective treatment options. Dysthymia is the selected research topic and the research question relies on understanding how cognitive and functional deficit can lead to development of dysthymia in Alzheimers patients. While the qualitative aspect is good for understanding and identifying underlying themes, there is also the need to collect data to compare and contrast findings. This is where quantitative research and even data collection can come in handy. Quantitative methods like surveys allow researchers to collect data and focus on protecting privacy.
For example, surveys can allow for anonymous responses so respondents do not have to be identified. They would only be identified through gender and…