Data Analysis Methodology 1
RESEARCH PROPOSAL:
Data Analysis Methodology
Eric Teemer
Liberty University
NURS500
October 3, 2021
Data Analysis Methodology 2
Data Analysis
It is hypothesized that at the end of the study of “If mandatory intense psychotherapy will
have a significant impact on personnel in the military who may or have developed post-traumatic
stress disorder, before, during or after deployment”? The cohort that has had mandatory intense
psychotherapy will have lower GAF scores (0-100) indicating that PTSD will be preventable
giving soldiers more potential to thrive (Andric, et al. 2017). All participants will be monitored
via scatter plot the purpose of this will show any associations between stressful events and
potential drops in GAF scores (Smith, 2021). However, to test the hypothesis the use of the
independent t-test will be implemented. The use of this test will determine the differences
between the two cohort groups and if there is a significant difference. The use of this test will be
able to analyze data by using the mean results of each cohort group and then compared to one
another. The independent t-test with a 95% confidence level will determine if “there is no
difference between service members who have gone under intense psychotherapy” (null
hypothesis), should be rejected or accepted. The rational to use the mean of the groups is due to
the consideration for potential risk to lose 11-14% of soldiers who do not make it past basic
training (Powers, 2019), and any other soldiers who may not make it 4yrs in the military.
Though the intake for both cohort groups will be 2000 we cannot predict the approximate size of
each cohort and it is almost certain that each cohort group will not possess the same number of
participants at the end of the study.
Anticipated Results
Cohort 1 will act as the independent variable because this group will undergo intense
psychotherapy. This therapy will be conducted and monitored at any time when the GAF score
falls to 80-51. It is hoped that at the time of the quarterly reassessment these scores will have
Data Analysis Methodology 3
raised to a score >80. Cohort 2 will act as the dependent variable and this group will not undergo
intense psychotherapy but will be assessed quarterly until the end of the study. The use of the
independent t-test with a 95% confidence after the use of the collected data from each cohort
with the use of the GAF scores should show a significance difference between the two cohorts
with independent cohort that has had intense psychotherapy will show lower presentation of
PTSD, this will allow us to then reject the null hypothesis which is that there is no difference
between the two cohort groups.
Strengths & Weaknesses
This study is well equipped to show where indications of the development of PTSD in
soldiers. As well as seeing if immediate intervention does help with the drop of GAF scores. If
it shows that the rejections of the null hypothesis it could break down the barriers of an often
status quo in the military were going to mental health is not something to do while in the service.
In fact, there has been some proof consequences for seeking treatment such as denied promotions
or being dishonorably discharged for showing signs and symptoms of mental illness (Young,
2016). This study though seems rigorous with the intense intervention there is potential for
adjustment to fully equip soldiers and leadership to tackle this growing issue in the military.
Weaknesses
The draw back to this study is within the sample size, the content of the sample size, and
the use of the mean when conducting the independent t-test. The sample size being 2000 soldiers
does seem like a healthy number to draw a conclusion of the presented hypothesis, even with the
consideration of potential risk to lose 11-14% of soldiers who do not make it past basic training
(Powers, 2019). But with two cohorts of groups there is no way to conclude that this
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approximation as being standard for both groups. In other words, there is potential for significant
difference of cohorts which could lower the confidence of significance of this study.
Another issue lies in the content of the samples to randomly pick participants based on
initial GAF scores does not take into accountability of the future each solider might hold. The
military is vast duties/jobs each person some jobs are not as stressful or pose as dangerous as
other jobs. For example, a common career in the military is that of an infantry soldier whose job
consist of constant deployment to hostile environments (Zach, 2021). While all soldiers have the
potential to deploy to hostile environments all soldiers’ jobs in the military vary. For example,
there are several personal in the military whose job help deal with civil affairs (Powers, 2019).
Naturally soldiers who experience more deployments or whose jobs deals with the constant idea
that deployment is possible those soldiers train for this potential and face their reality often.
These soldiers would have more potential to develop PTSD and will require more intervention
due to the situations during deployment. If a cohort has a population with personnel that has
more jobs that are geared toward combat and deployment this may present lower GAF scores
and could potentially show as if the study does not show significant.
Lastly, while the use of the mean used for the independent t-test is ideal considering that
the GAF is a scale and can be used to gage the GAF scale for a large population like that of the
2000 individuals of the cohorts (Gray & Grove, 2019 p. 655). The issue lies with the use of the
mean and it being sensitive to outliers (Gray & Grove, 2019 p. 655). As I mentioned previously
if a large group of individuals in any of the two cohorts who has a rigorous job, with constant
deployments this will act as an outlier in that group and will skew a normal distribution (Gray,
Grove, 2019).
Recommendations for Future Research
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As mentioned as one of the weaknesses in this study it does seem rigorous and could
impose the duties of the personnel in military. However, we are living in the future and
information systems in healthcare are almost always standard. We have moved towards a future
of technology where your doctor can visit you with a simple phone call, facetime, etc. If this
research should pose effective perhaps there is a future in the development of a branch of the
military healthcare system that develops Information Technology (IT), that allows soldiers more
ways to access mandatory mental health care psychotherapy counseling, groups therapy, that can
be conducted to cater to the soldier (Nelson, R., & Staggers, N., 2018). So future studies could
provide the development of an application where soldiers are to use the application for the
intense psychotherapy to eliminate how rigorous it can be to constantly have to come into an
office for a mental health issue. The development of the application that could be access could
also eliminate the sensitivity of the issue of mental health. Many times, when a soldier is
constantly going into the “doctor’s office”, it is easy to develop the idea that the soldier is trying
to get out of duties, or for others to develop assumptions about the soldier’s health. If the
outcome of this study shows promise the study could further its progress to then provide a
platform that could allow these soldiers to take their mental health into their own hands without
repercussions.
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References
Andric, S., Mihaljevic, M., Mirjanic, T., Maric, N (2017). The split version of Global Assessment
of Functioning scale – application and utility in remitted psychotic patients. European
Psychiatry., 41(S1), S185–S185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.2103
Gray, J. R. & Grove, S. K. (2021). Burns and Grove's the practice of nursing research: Appraisal,
synthesis, and generation of evidence (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders. ISBN:
978-0-323-67317-4.
Powers, R (2019). US Military Basic Training Attrition. Retrieved from US Military Basic
Training Attrition (thebalancecareers.com)
Nelson, R., & Staggers, N. (2018). Health informatics: An interprofessional approach (2nd Ed.)
St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. ISBN: 9780323402316.
Smith, M. (2021). What Is the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale? Retrieved from
Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale (webmd.com)
Young, L. J (2016) Military Mental Health: Understanding the Crisis. Psychology Today.
Retrieved from Military Mental Health | Psychology Today
Zach, B. (2021). Army MOS X11. OMK. Retrieved from Army MOS 11X: 14 Things You
Need To Know About Infantry (operationmilitarykids.org)
