Sample, Range and Standard Deviation

Homogenous (Measure of Dispersion)

Occurs when the scores are similiar

Heterogeneous (Measure of Dispersion)

Occurs when there is a variation within the scores (more spread out)

What is the simplest measure of dispersion?

Range

What measure of dispersion do you use for ordinal data?

Range

How do you calculate range?

Lowest Score - Highest Score

Standard Deviation

Average # that shows the distribution of scores and how they vary from the mean (average)

Small Standard Deviation

Most values are close to the mean (small spread)

Large Standard Deviation

Most values are further from the mean (large spread)

What is Mean a measure of?

Central Tendency

What is Standard Deviation a measure of?

Dispersion

Central Tendency

Data distribution is symmetrical and normally distributed (can be ordinal but it must be normally distributed)

PSQ

Strongly disagree/agree with high scores corresponding to positive perceptions

CNPISS

Almost never/always with high scores corresponding to higher frequency of performing caring practices

Sample Characteristics

Description of participants who comprise the study sample (ex: characteristics to understand who the people are)

Descriptive Statistics

Calculated to generate sample characteristics (type of statistic conducted dependents on level of measurement)

Nominal can be described with

Frequency and Percent

Normal Interval/Ratio/Ordinal can be described with

Mean and Standard Deviation

Demographic Variables

Variables that are gathered in demographic research (age/sex/income level/employment/location): makes generalizations about groups

Clinical Variables

Specific physical/emotional/cognitive variables that we are looking to analyze and collect to describe the specific clinical characteristics of the study sample

In a study that sought to identify the specific age (ratio) of the participants what methods can be used to describe this variable?

Mean / Standard Deviation

Non-Normal Ordinal/Interval/Ratio can be described as

Median and Range