Analyzing a Health Care Data Set

For this assessment, you will determine the relevant statistical tests to apply to the analysis of a data set, and then write a 3–4 page interpretation of the results of your analysis.

This assessment will ask you to select, apply, and interpret the results of a variety of statistical tests on a health care data set. This may include tests you have learned about or applied previously in the course, or the new nonparametic t-Test which is presented in the resources for this assessment. The challenge is using what you have learned to determine the best course of action to complete the interpretative tasks the assessment lays out for you. This attempts to mirror real-world situations where the data or statistical analysis could be approached in a variety of different ways. To decide which statistical test to use for the various dependent variables to be analyzed, one must first know more about the data type (measurement level) within those variables.

Overview

Public health researchers are often involved in collaborating in the design, development, and analysis of community initiatives of varying complexity. While this course alone will not provide sufficient training for you to act as a statistical consultant, it does offer a broad and practice-based analytic foundation that can position you to better understand and more fully contribute to real-world project teams. Building on the basic statistical concepts and analytical techniques of the previous units, this assessment is an opportunity to use your cumulative quantitative-analysis skills to address a broad set of real-world research questions.

Demonstration of Proficiency

By successfully completing this assessment you will address the following scoring guide criteria, which align to the indicated course competencies.

• Competency 2: Apply appropriate statistical methods using common software tools in the collection and evaluation of health care data.
  • Perform the most appropriate parametric or nonparametric test to answer each question.
• Competency 3: Interpret the results and practical significance of statistical health care data analyses.
  • Assess the assumption of normal distribution prior to analysis.
  • Appropriately interpret the statistical output (such as estimate, p-value, confidence interval, and effect size) resulting from each statistical test.
  • Summarize the clinical implications, significance, and potential limitations of the study data and outcomes.
• Competency 4: Assess the quality of quantitative research methods reported in peer-reviewed health care literature.
  • Describe the practical significance of the results of statistical tests.
• Competency 5: Address assignment purpose in a well-organized text, incorporating appropriate evidence and tone in grammatically sound sentences.
  • Articulate meaning relevant to the main topic, scope, and purpose of the prompt.
  • Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references.

Instructions

Complete the following for this two-part assessment.

Software

The following statistical analysis software is required to complete your assessments in this course:

• IBM SPSS Statistics Standard or Premium GradPack, version 22 or higher, for PC or Mac.

You have access to the more robust IBM SPSS Statistics Premium GradPack.

Please refer to the Statistical Software page on Campus for general information on SPSS software, including the most recent version made available to Capella learners.

Part 1: Yoga and Stress Study Statistical Tests

1. Use the Yoga Stress (PSS) Study Data Set [XLSX] to determine the measurement level of data of the dependent or outcome variable (Psychological Stress Score) you are analyzing.
   • Is the data categorical, ordinal, or interval or ratio?
2. Before performing any statistical tests, you must determine which tests would be most appropriate for your data type.
   • Perform a preevaluation of the data for outliers (all variables) and normal distribution (only dependent variables) as you have done previously.
   • Use How to Choose a Statistical Test [PPTX] as general guidance in helping you to decide which test to use.
   • Use the readings, media, resources, and textbook as guides to perform an analysis of the selected variables.
3. Perform and interpret an appropriate series of statistical tests (including preanalytical testing for outliers and normal distribution of data) that answer the following research questions:
   • How would you quantitatively describe the study population?
     • Summarize the primary demographic data using descriptive statistics.
   • Is there any association between gender and race in this military study?
     • Perform an appropriate chi-square analysis.
4. Perform preliminary assessment of the data, then compare pretest to post-test scores.
   • In total population being studied, what was the effect of the yoga intervention on stress?
5. Provide the SPSS “.sav” output file that shows your programming and results for this assessment.

Part 2: Interpretive Report

1. Summarize the clinical implications related to the statistical outcomes for each of the questions above.
2. Describe potential limitations of the study (Part 1, number 3).

Additional Requirements

• Length: Your paper will be 3–4 typed, double-spaced pages of content plus title and reference pages.
• Font: Times New Roman, 12 points.
• APA Format: Your title and reference pages must conform to APA format and style guidelines. See the APA Module for more information. The body of your paper does not need to conform to APA guidelines. Do make sure that it is clear, persuasive, organized, and well written, without grammatical, punctuation, or spelling errors. You also must cite your sources according to APA guidelines.

Refer to the helpful links in Resources as you prepare your assessment.

Please review the assessment scoring guide before completing your submission. The requirements outlined above correspond to the grading criteria in the scoring guide, so be sure to address each point. In addition, you may want to review the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed.