Important Research Terms

Page 1

1 Important Research Terms A confidence interval is a statistical range in which an estimate of the true value of a measured item will fall within to give the described certainty. Thus, in using or stating the confidence interval, the researcher implies the confidence they have that the statistic is as indicated. Therefore, an observer or reviewer can determine the precision of the reported findings. Another critical term in research is 'standard deviation. Scholars will cite it in many of their findings and will use it as part of descriptive statistics. It implies a measure's spread or dispersion based on the identified data points. For instance, the average age of boys can be said to be 14 for attending swimming classes. Then, a standard deviation figure is added to show that while 14 is the average, there can be a few points over/under, as noted by the standard deviation. Understanding the standard deviation is crucial for assessing the variability of responses or behaviors.

Buy this excellently written paper or order a fresh one from acemyhomework.com


2 Additionally, there is the phrase 'level of significance.' It implies the threshold below which the researcher will not consider the results to be of statistical sense. The researcher can only confirm that the measured variables are responsible for the reported variation in outcome if the results of a significance test show the findings below the acceptable maximum threshold (Privitera, 2020). When reporting their findings, the researcher may also use reliability, which can be presented as internal consistency or Cronbach's Alpha. In such a situation, the measure will indicate the consistency and stability of the tools used to measure. If these tools find use elsewhere, they will yield similar outcomes (Kim & Mallory, 2014). Meanwhile, validity is an assessment of the accuracy of the concept captured. In mental health, valid assessments are meaningful and relevant to the discipline. Lastly, human subject testing refers to using humans in research (Fowler et al., 2021). This ethical concept requires that humans give informed consent and receive ethical treatment when participating in a study. Their rights, safety, and comfort are central to the health research concerns.


3 References Maltby, J., Day, L., & Williams, G. (2014). Introduction to statistics for nurses. Routledge. Kim, M., & Mallory, C. (2014). Statistics for evidence-based practice in nursing. Jones and Bartlett. Fowler, J., Jarvis, P., & Chevannes, M. (2021). Practical statistics for nursing and health care (2nd ed.). Wiley. Privitera, G. J. (2020). Research methods for the behavioral sciences (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.