NURS 8201 Week 4 Discussion: Levels of Measurement
Week 4 Discussion: Levels of Measurement
Formulating a good research question requires that a researcher first identifies the research problem, forming the basis of inquiry. Therefore, a problem was identified in the previous week: central line-associated bloodstream infections. The problem negatively impacts patients (Almalki et al.,2023). Therefore, it is important to explore the knowledge and compliance to preventing central line-associated bloodstream infections among registered nurses in the ICU settings. Therefore, based on the identified problem, the research question is as shown below.
Research Question: What are the levels of understanding of the central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) preventive guidelines among nurses in the ICU setting?
The independent variables are knowledge and compliance, while the dependent variable is CLABSI prevention. It is important to identify the levels of measurements of the chosen variables. Knowledge is an interval or ordinal level of measurement (Allanson & Notar, 2020). It can be interval if a validated assessment tool is applied in knowledge measurement. In addition, it can be ordinal if the knowledge levels are classified using terms such as excellent, good, fair, and poor. Compliance is an ordinal level of measurement since the participating nurses’ compliance can be classified as high compliance, moderate compliance, or low compliance. Prevention of CLABSI can be regarded as a nominal level of measurement since it will be classified quantitatively.
It is important to explore data analysis considerations for data related to each variable, depending on the level of measurement. For knowledge, non-parametric tests such as Spearman’s rank correlation or Mann-Whitney U test can be used when the ordinal level is considered. When treated as interval level, parametric tests like ANOVA or t-tests can be used. For compliance, non-parametric tests such as Spearman’s rank correlation or Mann-Whitney U test can be used since it is the ordinal level measurement (Gray & Grove, 2020). Analysis of CLABSI prevention can be performed using Fisher’s exact tests or chi-square tests if they are considered nominal.
The advantage of analyzing knowledge as a variable is that non-parametric tests have a higher flexibility since they can handle non-normal and skewed distributions. However, they possess less statistical power as opposed to parametric tests (Orcan, 2020). Their interpretation may also be subjective. Categorical analysis, like the chi-square test, offers more direct interpretations and is hence appropriate when analyzing variables such as CLABSI prevention. However, it can mask important variations within categories.
References
Almalki, A. I., Alghamdi, H. A., Tashkandy, N. A., & Tashkandy, N. (2023). Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Adherence to National Guidelines for Preventing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections Among ICU Nurses of Adult Patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Cureus, 15(7). Doi: 10.7759/cureus.42304
Allanson, P. E., & Notar, C. E. (2020). Statistics as measurement: 4 scales/levels of measurement. Education Quarterly Reviews, 3(3).
Gray, J. R., & Grove, S. K. (2020). Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (9th ed.). Elsevier.
Orcan, F. (2020). Parametric or non-parametric: Skewness to test normality for mean comparison. International Journal of Assessment Tools in Education, 7(2), 255–265. https://doi.org/10.21449/ijate.656077
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Week 4 Discussion: Levels of Measurement
What is the incidence of blood clots from COVID-19 in females over the age of 35?
The above question is an example of a research question. A research question consists of three parts and guides the methods and approaches in which you will study the question to find answers. The research question includes: the question, the topic, and the population or variables. In the example provided above, the question is examining the prevalence of blood clots from severe COVID-19 in a selected population. From this question, the variables can be assessed, considerations can be analyzed, and populations can be sampled in order to guide the research.
During Week 2, you developed a research problem statement based on a topic of interest to you or your specific area of practice. Using this research problem statement, you will develop a research question. “A research question is a concise, interrogative statement that is worded in the present tense and includes one or more of a study’s principal concepts or variables” (Gray & Grove, 2020). These questions typically point to the type of study that will be conducted and serves as a guide for the research.
For this Discussion, reflect on your research problem statement. Consider the independent and dependent variables of your research problem through the construction of a research question. Reflect on the potential levels of measurement for your variables and the rationale for the labels, as well as consider the advantages and challenges that you might experience in the statistical analysis of your proposed variables.
Reference: Gray, J. R., & Grove, S. K. (2020). Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (9th ed.). Elsevier.
Resources
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
Week 4: Learning Resources
Required Readings
- Gray, J. R., & Grove, S. K. (2020). Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (9th ed.). Elsevier.
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- Chapter 21, “Introduction to Statistical Analysis” (pp. 635–651)
- Chapter 22, “Using Statistics to Describe Variables” (pp. 652–662)
- Chapter 26, “Interpreting Research Outcomes” (pp. 699–716)
- Gholami, S., Mojen, L. K., Rassouli, M., Pahlavanzade, B., & Farahani, A. S. (2020). The predictors of postoperative pain among children based on the theory of unpleasant symptoms: A descriptive-correlational study
- Links to an external site.. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 55, 141–146. doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2020.08.006
- Huang, J., Qi, H., Lv, K., Chen, X., Zhuang, Y., & Yang, L. (2020). Emergence delirium in elderly patients as a potential predictor of subsequent postoperative delirium: A descriptive correlational study
- Links to an external site.. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, 35(5), 478–483. doi:10.1016/j.jopan.2019.11.009
- Document: Week 4 Descriptive Statistics SPSS Output
- Download Week 4 Descriptive Statistics SPSS Output (PDF)
- Document: CITI Program Learner Registration Guide
To Prepare:
- Review your research problem statement from Week 2 to develop your research question.
- Review the Learning Resources on how to describe variables.
- Consider the levels of measurement for your variables: nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio.
- After reviewing your research question and considering the levels of measurement, analyze your classification for each variable. What was behind your reasoning for labeling the variables? How might the data be analyzed based on these labels?
- Consider advantages and challenges that you might encounter in the statistical analysis of your proposed variables.
By Day 3 of Week 4
Post your research question and describe the independent and dependent variables. Then, identify the level of measurement of both your independent and dependent variables. Provide a brief rationale for your classification of each variable. Be specific. Explain considerations of analyzing data related to each variable based on its level of measurement. Be sure to include any advantages or challenges that you might encounter in your statistical analysis of each variable and explain why.
By Day 6 of Week 4
Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses and respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days by noting any discrepancies and/or suggesting alternatives in the levels of measurement and statistical analyses described.