“EXERCISE 16 Mean and Standard Deviation” “Name:” ______________________________ “1. The researchers analyzed the data they collected as though it were at what level of measurement? (Your choices are: Nominal, Ordinal, Interval/ratio, or Experimental)” The researchers analyzed the data as if it were an interval/ratio scale. Nominal is a naming variable, experimental is a group not a variable and ordinal is numbers that are in an order, like 1st, 2nd , 3rd etc. “2. What was the mean posttest empowerment score for the control group?” 97.12 “3. Compare the mean baseline and posttest depression scores of the experimental group. Was this an expected finding? Provide a rationale for your answer.” The mean baseline depression score was 14.00. The posttest depression score was 13.36. This was an improvement and was an expected finding. The results suggested that there were less people with depression after the 6 week posttest. “4. Compare the mean baseline and posttest depression scores of the control group. Do these scores strengthen or weaken the validity of the research results? Provide a rationale for your answer.” The mean baseline and posttest depression scores of the control group were both 10.40, showing no change from the baseline score. I do believe these scores weaken the validity of the research specific to the control group due to the fact there was no improvement from the baseline to the 6 week posttest. The total results imply the mean shows overall improvement which is misrepresented, in that the total, includes the depression scores of the control group and there was no improvement at all. “EXERCISE 16 Mean and Standard Deviation” “5. Which group’s test scores had the least amount of variability or dispersion? Provide a The depression control group had no variability or dispersion as there was no standard deviation because the baseline score did not change from 10.40 at the 6 week posttest. rationale for your answer.” “6. Did the empowerment variable or self-­‐care self-­‐efficacy variable demonstrate the greatest amount of dispersion? Provide a rationale for your answer.” The self-­‐care self-­‐efficacy variable demonstrated the greatest amount of dispersion when compared to the mean’s standard deviation score in the empowerment group. The self-­‐care self-­‐efficacy SD was 1.78 which demonstrates the greatest amount of dispersion compared to 0.11 which was the SD of the empowerment group. “7. The mean (
Central tendency is a measure of ___________________________ a distribution while the SD Dispersion is a measure of _______________________ its scores. Both and SD are _____________________ statistics.” Descriptive “8. What was the mean severity for renal disease for the research subjects? What was the dispersion or variability of the renal disease severity scores? Did the severity scores vary significantly between the control and the experimental groups? Is this important? Provide a rationale for your answer.” The mean severity for renal disease for the research subjects was 6.74. The dispersion or variability of the renal disease severity scores was 2.97. The research showed that there were significant differences in improvements in the experimental groups than the control groups. The SD for the experimental groups = 4.0, whereas the SD for the control groups = 3.32. This is important data as this information can be used to improve and create more empowerment programs to help people cope with ESRD. “EXERCISE 16 Mean and Standard Deviation” “9. Which variable was least affected by the empowerment program? Provide a rationale for your answer.” The depression variable was least affected by the empowerment program. The depression SD= 0.76 in the Experiment group and the depression SD= 0.00 in the Control group. Compared to the other variables depression had the lowest SD. “10. Was it important for the researchers to include the total means and SDs for the study variables in Table 2 to promote the readers’ understanding of the study results? Provide a rationale for your answer. ” Yes, it was very important to include the total means and SDs in the report as the reader can have a clearer picture of what the mean represents by using the SD the reader can have a better understanding of how far or close the mean the research actually represents. In this study the SD shows how effective the research was from the baseline to the 6 week posttest. “EXERCISE 16 Mean and Standard Deviation” “Comments for the Instructor:” “Instructor’s Comments:” “Score: / 8:” “Grading Rubric:”