Week 4 Discussion Question: Statistical Tests

Week 4 Discussion Question Statistical Testsdiscussion Topictop Of

Select one of the more common statistical tests used in nursing research. State which statistic you selected. What level of measurement is required for using your selected statistical test? Provide an example of how your selected statistical test could be used in a nursing research study.

Expectations

Initial Post: APA format with in-text citations. Word count minimum of 250. References: 2 high-level scholarly references within the last 5 years in APA format. Plagiarism free. Turnitin receipt.

Paper For Above instruction

In nursing research, statistical tests are fundamental tools that facilitate the analysis of data and support evidence-based practice. One of the most commonly used statistical tests in nursing research is the t-test, specifically the independent samples t-test. This statistical test is essential for comparing the means of two independent groups to determine whether there is a statistically significant difference between them (Polit & Beck, 2020).

The independent samples t-test requires that the data be measured at the interval or ratio level. This means that the variables being compared should have meaningful numerical differences and a true zero point (Gravetter & Wallnau, 2017). For example, in a nursing study assessing the effectiveness of two different pain management interventions, the pain levels could be measured using a numeric pain rating scale (e.g., 0-10). The t-test would then compare the mean pain scores between the two groups to assess if one intervention provides significantly better pain relief.

An illustrative example of the use of an independent samples t-test in nursing research involves investigating the impact of a new educational program on patient compliance with prescribed treatment regimens. Suppose one group of patients receives standard education, and another group receives an enhanced, tailored educational intervention. After a designated period, patient compliance could be quantified through adherence scores. An independent samples t-test could analyze whether there is a statistically significant difference in compliance scores between the two groups, thereby providing evidence on the effectiveness of the educational intervention (Polit & Beck, 2020).

In conclusion, the independent samples t-test is an invaluable statistical tool in nursing research, especially for comparing groups on continuous variables where the data meet measurement level assumptions. Its application enables researchers to derive meaningful inferences that can inform clinical practice and enhance patient outcomes.

References

Gravetter, F. J., & Wallnau, L. B. (2017). Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2020). Nursing Research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice (11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.

References

  • Gravetter, F. J., & Wallnau, L. B. (2017). Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
  • Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2020). Nursing Research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice (11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.

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