Descriptive Statistics
Assignment 2: Descriptive Statistics
This week, you explore key statistical concepts related to data and problem solving through the completion of the following exercises using SPSS and the information found in your Statistics and Data Analysis for Nursing Research textbook. The focus of this assignment is to become familiar with the SPSS data analysis software and to develop an understanding of how to calculate descriptive statistics and make conclusions based on those calculations. As you formulate your responses, keep in mind that descriptive statistics only allow you to make conclusions and recommendations for the sample at hand—not for the larger population to which that sample may belong.
To prepare:
· Review the Statistics and Data Analysis for Nursing Research chapters assigned in this week’s Learning Resources. Pay close attention to the examples presented, as they provide information that will be useful when you complete the software exercise this week. You may also wish to review the Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice video resources to familiarize yourself with the software.
· Refer to the Week 4 Descriptive Statistics Assignment page and follow the directions to calculate descriptive statistics for the data provided using SPSS software. If you run into any difficulties or problems, post them to the Week 4 Discussion 2 area.
· Download and save the Polit2SetA.sav data set. You will open the data file in SPSS.
· Compare your data output against the tables presented in the Week 4 Descriptive Statistics SPSS Output document . This will enable you to become comfortable with defining variables, entering data, and creating tables and graphs.
· Formulate an initial interpretation of the meaning or implication of your calculations.
To complete:
· Complete the Part I, Part II, and Part III steps and Assignment as outlined in the Week 4 Descriptive Statistics Assignment page .
Learning Resources
Required Media
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Research methods for evidence-based practice: Quantitative research: Data analysis. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 10 minutes.
In this week’s video, the presenter describes challenges to collecting and utilizing quantitative data and offers suggestions for assessing and improving data quality. The strategic use of quantitative data by health care organizations is also considered.
0:00 / 9:46
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Research By Design. (2017, November 30). 01 SPSS for Beginners – How to use SPSS introduction [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zFBUfZEBWQ
Laureate Education (Producer). (2016). Descriptive statistics [Video File]. Baltimore, MD: Author. Retrieved from http://studyhall.laureate.net/research/quantitative-reasoning-and-analysis-resources-rsch-8210/
0:00 / 7:20
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Required Readings
Gray, J.R., Grove, S.K., & Sutherland, S. (2017). Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier.
· Chapter 21, “Introduction to Statistical Analysis” This chapter discusses the concepts of statistical analysis with regard to hypothesis testing. The chapter also identifies and defines common statistical terminology.
· Chapter 1, “Introduction to Data Analysis in an Evidence-Based Practice Environment” This chapter provides an introduction to quantitative and qualitative data in evidence-based practice. The chapter introduces levels of measurement and types of statistical analyses relevant to different types of research studies.
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· Chapter 2, “Frequency Distributions: Tabulating and Displaying Data” Chapter 2 discusses frequency distributions as well as the different methods of presenting data, especially when data are very extensive. The chapter includes information on the use of bar charts, pie charts, histograms, and frequency polygons.
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· Chapter 3, “Central Tendency, Variability, and Relative Standing” This chapter examines the many ways data distribution for a quantitative variable can be described through shape, central tendency, and variability.
Software
IBM SPSS Statistics Standard GradPack (current version). Available in Windows and Macintosh versions. Please refer to the IBM SPSS Software area in the Course Overview section on the left navigation bar for more information on how to install, register, and license this software.
Optional Resources
Bilheimer, L. T., & Klein, R. J. (2010). Data and measurement issues in the analysis of health disparities. Health Services Research, 45(5), 1489–1507. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6773.2010.01143.x
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
Granberg-Rademacker, J. S. (2010). An algorithm for converting ordinal scale measurement data to interval/ratio scale. Educational & Psychological Measurement, 70(1), 74–90.
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
Statistics Help for Students. (2008). Retrieved from http://statistics-help-for-students.com/
This site provides step-by-step procedures and screenshots for working with SPSS.
Walden University. (n.d.). Descriptive statistics. Retrieved August 1, 2011, from http://streaming.waldenu.edu/hdp/researchtutorials/educ8106_player/educ8106_descriptive_stats.html