1. The researchers analyzed the data they collected as though it were at what level of measurement? c. Interval/ratio2. What was the mean posttest empowerment score for the control group? 97.123.
Compare the mean baseline and posttest depression scores of the experimental group. Was this an expected finding? Provide a rationale for your answer. The experimental group had a mean baseline Depression score of 14.00 and posttest depression score of 13.
36. This improvement in the incidence of depression was expected, as because their research hypothesis even stated that ““Patients with ESRD who obtain the empowerment program have higher levels of empowerment and self-care self efficacy and are less depressed than those who do not receive the program.”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 control group had the same Depression scores at baseline and posttest. This strengthens the validity of the results because the experimental group saw an improvement in their depression scores, posttest.5. Which group’s test scores had the least amount of variability or dispersion? Provide a rationale for your answer. The Empowerment posttest scores within the experimental group had the smallest SD of 7.
28, meaning they had the least amount of variability/dispersion.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 scores within the experimental group had the largest SD of 14.88, meaning they had the greatest amount of dispersion.7.
The mean (X) is a measure of central tendency of a distribution while the SD is a measure of dispersion its scores. Both X and SD are descriptive statistics.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 perceived renal disease severity was moderately severe with a mean of 6.
74, SD of 2.97, and range of 0-10. There were no differences in clinical and demographic characteristics, indicating homogeneity of subjects between the groups (as stated within the ‘relevant study results’). This helps to show that the results are valid reflection of the programs influence and not differences in the patients.9. Which variable was least affected by the empowerment program? Provide a rationale for your answer.
The Depression scores appeared to be least affected. The Depression scores decreased (improved) by 0.64 points from the baseline, compared to a 6.44 increase for Self-care self-efficacy and a 6.64 increase for the Empowerment scores.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.No, it was not important to the readers’ understanding to have the total means and SDs for the study variables. The main focus of the table was to describe (using X and SD) the study variables for the experimental and control groups. Although it is interesting to have the total means and SDs, these do not add to the overall understanding of the information presented in this study. These total means and SDs for conducting meta-analyses of several studies’ results.
