The following study questions will assist you in determining whether appropriate statistical tests have been applied to the data collected in a particular study. Some graphs and visual interpretations of data are described in Chapter 19 to give an understanding of data distribution, central tendency, dispersion, and correlation..
- Describe the process of inferring from a sample to a population.
- How can Type I errors be reduced? Type II?
- What does the discussion of clinical significance add to the discussion of research findings that are statistically significant? of findings that are not statistically significant?
- Why is it important to examine measures of central tendency and descriptive/summary statistics before further analysis of data?
- Describe how the level of measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio) of your study varibles influences your choice of statistical analysis.
- Look at the diagrams of skewed distributions on page 458 (P & B). Where would the mean, median, and mode be in the positive skew? in the negative skew? How are the two skews different from the normal curve?
- Note Table 20-10 (P & B, pages 506-507) and Table 21-8 (P & B, page 542), as useful resources in determining appropriate statistical tools to fit the purpose and level of measurement for variables in specific research situations.
- Describe how the audit trail is used to ensure credibility of qualitative data.
- Review the examples of qualitative studies on pages 578-588 (P & B). Use Items 1 and 7, Box 26.16 (P & B, page 666), to examine the data anlyses.
- What evidence is examined in the interpretation of results in quantitative studies? in qualitative studies?
- Compare and contrast findings, conclusions, and implications of a study.
- How are new studies identified?