NURS 8201 WEEK 4 DISCUSSION: LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT

Walden University NURS 8201 WEEK 4 DISCUSSION: LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT– Step-By-Step Guide

This guide will demonstrate how to complete the Walden University NURS 8201 WEEK 4 DISCUSSION: LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT assignment based on general principles of academic writing. Here, we will show you the A, B, Cs of completing an academic paper, irrespective of the instructions. After guiding you through what to do, the guide will leave one or two sample essays at the end to highlight the various sections discussed below.

How to Research and Prepare for NURS 8201 WEEK 4 DISCUSSION: LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT

Whether one passes or fails an academic assignment such as the Walden University NURS 8201 WEEK 4 DISCUSSION: LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT depends on the preparation done beforehand. The first thing to do once you receive an assignment is to quickly skim through the requirements. Once that is done, start going through the instructions one by one to clearly understand what the instructor wants. The most important thing here is to understand the required format—whether it is APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.

After understanding the requirements of the paper, the next phase is to gather relevant materials. The first place to start the research process is the weekly resources. Go through the resources provided in the instructions to determine which ones fit the assignment. After reviewing the provided resources, use the university library to search for additional resources. After gathering sufficient and necessary resources, you are now ready to start drafting your paper.

How to Write the Introduction for NURS 8201 WEEK 4 DISCUSSION: LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT

The introduction for the Walden University NURS 8201 WEEK 4 DISCUSSION: LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT is where you tell the instructor what your paper will encompass. In three to four statements, highlight the important points that will form the basis of your paper. Here, you can include statistics to show the importance of the topic you will be discussing. At the end of the introduction, write a clear purpose statement outlining what exactly will be contained in the paper. This statement will start with “The purpose of this paper…” and then proceed to outline the various sections of the instructions.

How to Write the Body for NURS 8201 WEEK 4 DISCUSSION: LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT

After the introduction, move into the main part of the NURS 8201 WEEK 4 DISCUSSION: LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT assignment, which is the body. Given that the paper you will be writing is not experimental, the way you organize the headings and subheadings of your paper is critically important. In some cases, you might have to use more subheadings to properly organize the assignment. The organization will depend on the rubric provided. Carefully examine the rubric, as it will contain all the detailed requirements of the assignment. Sometimes, the rubric will have information that the normal instructions lack.

Another important factor to consider at this point is how to do citations. In-text citations are fundamental as they support the arguments and points you make in the paper. At this point, the resources gathered at the beginning will come in handy. Integrating the ideas of the authors with your own will ensure that you produce a comprehensive paper. Also, follow the given citation format. In most cases, APA 7 is the preferred format for nursing assignments.

How to Write the Conclusion for NURS 8201 WEEK 4 DISCUSSION: LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT

After completing the main sections, write the conclusion of your paper. The conclusion is a summary of the main points you made in your paper. However, you need to rewrite the points and not simply copy and paste them. By restating the points from each subheading, you will provide a nuanced overview of the assignment to the reader.

How to Format the References List for NURS 8201 WEEK 4 DISCUSSION: LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT

The very last part of your paper involves listing the sources used in your paper. These sources should be listed in alphabetical order and double-spaced. Additionally, use a hanging indent for each source that appears in this list. Lastly, only the sources cited within the body of the paper should appear here.

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Sample Answer for NURS 8201 WEEK 4 DISCUSSION: LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT 

A research question, as the name suggests, is the question that a research study or project attempts to answer through its thesis statement (Fandino, 2019). It is also the question concerning a specific problem or issue that is answered in a research study’s conclusion following a concise analysis and data interpretation. A research question is written in a way that outlines the different elements of a project, including the study population, study design, and the variables (Fandino, 2019). The primary goal of a research question is to narrow down a broad topic of interest to a specific area of study. A study design may combine qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method (Fandino, 2019). This discussion will post a research question and describe the independent and dependent variables. It will also identify the level of measurement of both independent and dependent variables and the rationale for classifying each variable.

Research question

The research problem statement developed during week 2 is to study the link between social media usage and adolescent body image disturbance, considering various moderating factors and potential interventions. Therefore, the study’s research question would be: What is the relationship between social media use and adolescent body image disturbance?

The independent and dependent variables

Independent variables are the factors that a researcher can manipulate or control in an experimental study (Andrade, 2021). The name independent is given to mean that other variables do not influence the variables in the study. The independent variables in this research question include the duration of social media use, the type of content viewed, and the diversity of social media platforms visited.

A dependent variable refers to the variable being tested or measured in a scientific experiment (Andrade, 2021). In other words, dependent variables depend on independent variables in a research study. Simply put, it happens due to manipulating the independent variables (Andrade, 2021). The dependent variable in the developed study question is body image disturbance. Body image dissatisfaction is influenced by negative self-perception of one’s body and adherence to societal beauty standards.

The level of measurement of independent and dependent variables

There are various levels of measurement appropriate for the independent variables. For instance, variables such as the diverse social media platforms and the type of content viewed fall under the nominal level of measurement (Allanson & Notar, 2020). The diversity of social media platforms can also fall under the ordinal level of measurement (Allanson & Notar, 2020). The variable duration of social media use in hours per day falls under interval and ratio levels of measurement (Allanson & Notar, 2020).

Several levels of measurement apply for the dependent variable body image disturbance. For instance, the body image disturbance could be high, low, or moderate, which qualifies it under the nominal level of measurement (Allanson & Notar, 2020). Similarly, the body image disturbance measured using a Likert scale falls under the ordinal level of measurement (Allanson & Notar, 2020). Also, the interval level becomes the most appropriate when a numerical scale measures body image disturbance (Allanson & Notar, 2020).

The considerations of analyzing data related to each variable

The study must consider significant considerations on the relationship between social media use and adolescent body image disturbance. The first issue is confidentiality, as the analysis may interfere with the adolescent’s private and sensitive information (Nakalega et al., 2021). Also, the issue of informed consent may be at play in the analysis of data relating to the body image disturbance variable (Nakalega et al., 2021). This is because the participants are minors and may need help understanding the various aspects of the research. This also means they may be unable to make informed decisions about participating in the study. The issue of beneficence may also be considered in this variable as it emphasizes the need to prioritize the well-being of patients and cause no harm (Nakalega et al., 2021). Moreover, the investigating team should pay much attention to the issue of veracity, provide truthful information, and be honest while interacting with participants (Nakalega et al., 2021).

Advantages or challenges that might be encountered in statistical analysis of each variable

The variable duration of social media use may have significant advantages. For instance, it may help provide insight into the amount of time spent on social media platforms that negatively impacts adolescents’ body image. However, the challenge is that the accuracy of the information presented may be subject to participants’ memory and misreporting. Examining diverse media platforms accessed may also be advantageous because it helps compare how each media platform affects the user’s body image. The challenge here is that categorizing the impact of every media platform may be a complex process.

In conclusion, the research study focusing on the relationship between social media use and adolescent body image disturbance provides a comprehensive understanding of the variables involved and their respective levels of measurement. Independent variables like the duration of social media use, the type of content viewed, and the diversity of social media platforms demonstrate a range of measurement levels from nominal to ratio, offering a detailed perspective on the factors influencing adolescent body image. The dependent variable, body image disturbance, measured through various scales, highlights the complexity and multifaceted nature of this psychological phenomenon. The study also emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations such as confidentiality and informed consent, particularly when dealing with sensitive data from minors. While the statistical analysis of these variables presents both advantages and challenges, such as insights into the impact of social media and the difficulties in accurately categorizing this impact, the research holds significant potential for understanding and addressing body image disturbances among adolescents in the context of their social media usage. This understanding is crucial for developing effective interventions and promoting healthier social media practices among this vulnerable age group.

References

Allanson, P. E., & Notar, C. E. (2020). Statistics as measurement: 4 scales/levels of measurement. Education Quarterly Reviews, 3(3).

Andrade C. (2021). A Student’s Guide to the Classification and Operationalization of Variables in the Conceptualization and Design of a Clinical Study: Part 1. Indian journal of psychological medicine, 43(2), 177–179. https://doi.org/10.1177/0253717621994334

Fandino, W. (2019). Formulating a good research question: Pearls and pitfalls. Indian Journal of Anaesthesia, 63(8), 611.

Sample Answer 2 for NURS 8201 WEEK 4 DISCUSSION: LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT 

Practice Problem (Wk2)

In mental health and substance abuse treatment centers it is expected to encounter highly complex patients due to the nature of the disease of addiction. Patients with mental illness face an enormous amount of challenges due to stigma, lack of resources, and poor coping skills. The combination of mental illness and substance use disorder is understandably more challenging than mental illness alone. The concern of how patients are being treated continues to be evident in practice. It is not often understood fully that patients who struggle from addiction will present with co- occurring mental illnesses and difficult behaviors. These mental illnesses often include personality disorders, mood disorders, depression, anxiety, and adhd. The proper response to this problem is to ask questions that will result in answers that will provide ways to improve the care of dual diagnosis patients, ultimately preventing relapse, overdose, and death.

Research Question 

“Can an improvement in ethical and compassionate practices from healthcare workers reduce relapse and death for dual diagnosis patients in addiction treatment centers ?

The independent variable is the improvement of ethical and compassionate practices of healthcare workers. In order to create a more measurable independent variable I could potentially state variables that are specific to improved compassion and ethics such as one to one attention, being present, assurance of patient rights, or special privileges based on need. I am not sure why I find the concept challenging, I do not feel confident that I have it laid out correctly because I continue to switch my dependent and independent variables. I attempted to make it more precise because I do know, from nursing school and my experience, that having a measurable research question is very important to avoid confusion and increase accurate results. The dependent variable is the reduction in relapse and death for the dual diagnosis patients in addiction treatment centers. Gray & Grove (2020) state that the value of the dependent variable, in this case percentage in reduction of relapse and death, a final equation should be presented that explains the change in the variables. 

Levels of measurement for the independent variables (one to one attention, being present, assurance of patient rights, or special privileges based on need) would be nominal and ordinal. Nominal because the list of these four variables would be assigned a classification of V1, V2, V3, V4 and ordinal because for each of these four categories would be present as well as ranked as rarely/sometimes/frequently related to occurrence. 

For example:

V1- frequent 

V2-frequent 

V3-rarely 

V4-sometimes 

Result in 4% reduction overall relapse and death rates over 

considerations of analyzing this data would be accuracy of the record keeping from staff. What systems are in place to make sure the info is being recorded daily and accurately? As I work through this idea of approaching a practice problem I can see how easy it is to get caught up or distracted with the sheer possibilities of the variables that one can choose. It is important to stay focused on how to achieve the most valid and accurate date. Scott et al. (2019) report that researchers could be not be reporting measurement considerations or be using valid and reliable measurements for the data presented and recommend replication studies should be utilized to strengthen evidence. I recognize that in order to have the results that I seek, I need to remain focused on specific independent and dependent variables. I also find it important to build off the nominal by adding ordinal measurements summarizing how the data points relate to each other. Allanson & Notar (2020) helped me understand that knowledge and understanding of the measurements of data will greatly assist in making the most informed conclusions. 

References 

Allanson, P. E., & Notar, C. E. (2020, September 3). Statistics As Measurement: 4 Scales/Levels of Measurement. Papers.ssrn.com. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3685215

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.

Scott, P. J., Brown, A. W., Adedeji, T., Wyatt, J. C., Georgiou, A., Eisenstein, E. L., & Friedman, C. P. (2019). A review of measurement practice in studies of clinical decision support systems 1998–2017. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA, 26(10), 1120–1128. https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocz035

Sample Answer 3 for NURS 8201 WEEK 4 DISCUSSION: LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT 

Great post, Erin! You have presented a well-defined research question and made a clear connection between variables and their level of measurement. As you have rightly pointed out, the Smart Dose blister pack medication distribution system is designed to simplify medication management, especially for patients with polypharmacy. With its pre-packaged medications and clear instructions, this system can significantly reduce confusion and errors. It is a promising solution, particularly for geriatric patients who often face challenges in managing their medications due to cognitive or physical impairments. However, it is essential to consider individual factors such as cognitive function, physical ability, and personal preference, as they can influence the system’s effectiveness. By systematically evaluating the usability and acceptance of end users, we can ensure the optimal implementation of digital adherence monitoring devices in daily clinical practice (Faisal et al., 2020; Zijp et al., 2020). For example, a patient with severe cognitive impairment may still struggle to use the system correctly.

 In contrast, a patient with good cognitive function but a preference for managing their medications may not see any benefit. Furthermore, a well-designed study should ideally confirm the effectiveness of the Smart Dose system (or any similar system). This would involve comparing the medication adherence and compliance of a group of patients using the system to a similar group of patients not using the system over a specified period (in this case, six months). The results of such a study would provide more definitive evidence of the effectiveness of the Smart Dose system in improving medication adherence and compliance in geriatric patients with polypharmacy.

In research, the independent variable holds a pivotal role. It is the condition or characteristic that the researcher manipulates to observe its effect on the dependent variable. In your research question, the independent variable uses the Smart Dose blister pack medication distribution system. You are testing this factor to gauge its impact on medication adherence and compliance. Conversely, the dependent variables are the outcomes the researcher is keen on. They are the ones that are expected to change when the independent variable is manipulated. In your case, the dependent variables are medication adherence and compliance. We are measuring these outcomes to see if they change in response to using the Smart Dose blister pack medication distribution system. Other elements in the research question, such as the age of the patients (60-75), the presence of polypharmacy, and the comparison with patients who do not use a multi-dose system, serve as parameters or conditions under which the research is being conducted. They play a crucial role in defining the scope of the research and the specific population being studied.

Erin, you can use numbers and percentages to measure your independent and dependent variables. An additional suggestion is that the independent variable be nominal and the dependent variables be ratios. The independent variable, the use of the Smart Dose blister pack medication distribution system, is nominal because it is categorical and has two levels: use and non-use of the system. There is no inherent order or ranking in this variable. Gray and Grove (2020) state that nominal and ordinal scales apply to categorical data, while interval and ratio scales apply to continuous data. The dependent variables, adherence and compliance to medication are ratio variables. They can be measured on a continuous scale from 0% (no adherence/compliance) to 100% (full adherence/compliance), and there is an actual zero point (0% adherence/compliance means no medication is taken).

 When analyzing data, nominal variables, such as the independent variable in this study, can be easily tackled using chi-square tests, logistic regression, or other non-parametric tests. The beauty of nominal variables lies in their straightforward nature, making them easy to understand. However, it is essential to note that nominal scales do not reveal the degree or magnitude of difference, only the presence of a difference. On the other hand, ratio variables, like the dependent variables in this study, offer a vast array of statistical techniques for analysis. The endless possibilities include t-tests, ANOVA, regression, correlation, etc.

The strength of ratio variables lies in their ability to provide information and facilitate a wide range of statistical analyses. However, they demand meticulous data collection and handling, as they are sensitive to outliers, and missing data can pose a significant challenge. Challenges in analyzing each variable statistically might include:

• Ensuring accurate and consistent data collection.
• Dealing with missing or outlier data.
• Choosing the appropriate statistical test.

The choice of statistical test will depend on the research question, the nature of the data, and the test’s assumptions. For example, non-parametric tests may be needed if the data are not normally distributed.

References

Faisal, S., Ivo, J., Lee, C., Carter, C., & Patel, T. (2022). The Usability, Acceptability, and Functionality of Smart Oral Multidose Dispensing Systems for Medication Adherence: A Scoping Review. Journal of pharmacy practice, 35(3), 455–468. https://doi.org/10.1177/0897190020977756

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.

Zijp, T. R., Touw, D. J., & van Boven, J. F. M. (2020). User Acceptability and Technical Robustness Evaluation of a Novel Smart Pill Bottle Prototype Designed to Support Medication Adherence. Patient preference and adherence, 14, 625–634. https://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S240443

Sample Answer 4 for NURS 8201 WEEK 4 DISCUSSION: LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT 

Post your research question and describe the independent and dependent variables.

Would better communication between surgical personnel regarding patients’ pre-operative pain, anxiety, and discomfort reduce negative effects in the postoperative period?

Hospitalized patients exhibit discomfort and anxiety rates ranging from 10%-30%, according to Murat Kurul et al. (2023). In addition to addressing preoperative anxiety and discomfort, patients who received analgesics before surgery required less morphine equivalents during the first 24 hours, had decreased pain scores, and ambulated sooner during the postoperative period (Haffner et al., 2019).

Independent variable: communication tool between the anesthesia provider and the surgical nurse, such as a communication sheet about the surgical patients’ preoperative pain and discomfort decreases the patients’ pain postoperatively (dependent variable).

Identify the level of measurement of both your independent and dependent variables.

For the dependent variable of being able to assess the patient’s pain, an ordinal level of measurement can be used. According to Gray and Grove (p.455, 2021), can be assigned to categories of an attribute that can be ranked, for example, one could rank the intensity of pain.

As for the independent variable of utilizing a communication tool between surgical staff rating and relaying patients’ anxiety and discomfort, the use of an interval scale, such as the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), can be used as a measurement method. The STAI has been widely used to measure the state and trait components of anxiety (Zsido et al., 2020). This questionnaire can be used in research as well as in clinical practice. This type of scale is considered a Likert scale, which is a rating scale used to measure opinions, attitudes, or behaviors, and is used to measure a select concept and is considered by most researchers to be an interval-level measurement (Gray & Grove, 2021).

Provide a brief rationale for your classification of each variable. Be specific.

In a study performed by Gurler et al. (2022), it showed that a majority (70.8%) of surgical patients had fears associated with surgery and anesthesia and nearly half of them had a moderate/high level of preoperative anxiety.

The ordinal level of measurement can rank the intensity of pain on an ordinal scale. For example, the preoperative patient can rank either their pain, discomfort, or anxiety on a scale such as 0=no pain, 1=slight pain or anxiety, 2=moderate pain, discomfort, or anxiety, 3=high anxiety and/or pain. This type of scale is an example of a metric ordinal scale because the different levels for measuring pre-operative pain and anxiety are numbered in order from a low of 0 to a high of 3, as demonstrated by Gray and Grove (2021).

The rationale for the use of an interval level of measurement, such as the STAI or Likert scale is that it has been shown to be the most widely used test to determine preoperative anxiety level, which is accepted as the gold standard (Gurler et al., 2022). Additionally, the STAI scale was found to have a positive correlation with the Surgical Anxiety Questionnaire (ASSQ) and can be used interchangeably to determine preoperative anxiety and discomfort levels.

Explain considerations of analyzing data related to each variable based on its level of measurement.

Considerations of analyzing data related to the ordinal level of measurement are that ordinal data requires people to select from a scale, which may not offer respondents freedom of expression. Additionally, with ordinal variables, respondents are restricted to a set of predefined options.

On the other hand, considerations that may need to be taken when analyzing data related to utilizing an interval level of measurement is that an interval scale does not have a true zero that represents a total absence of the variable, such as only a ratio scale can have. According to Bhandari (2020), interval data have equal intervals between scores, but they do not have true zeros because they cannot measure “zero feelings” or “zero emotions.” With a normal distribution of interval data, both parametric and non-parametric tests are possible.

Include any advantages or challenges that you might encounter in your statistical analysis of each variable and explain why.

With the independent variable, if the surgical nurse does not visibly see that the preoperative patient is in visible distress due to anxiety or discomfort, that subjective information could be construed that the patient is not experiencing any pain, anxiety, or discomfort. This poses a challenge of a Type II error, which occurs when the researcher concludes no significant effect when an effect actually exists (Gray & Grove, 2021). One primary advantage of using ordinal scale is the ease of collation, categorization, and comparison between variables. Furthermore, statistical analysis is applied to the responses once they are collected to place the people who took the survey into the various categories.

Conversely, the main advantage of using interval variables is that they allow for meaningful comparisons between variables. Interval variables measure the distance between two variables, so it is possible to compare the differences between them (Young et al., 2020). This is particularly useful when looking at trends over time or comparing differences between groups.

References

Bhandari, P. (2020, August 28). Interval Data and How to Analyze It | Definitions & Examples. Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/statistics/interval-data/

Gray, J. R., & Grove, S. K. (2021). Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence. (9th ed.). Elsevier – Health Science.

Gürler, H., Yılmaz, M., & Türk, K. E. (2022). Preoperative Anxiety Levels in Surgical Patients: A Comparison of Three Different Scale Scores. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, 37(1), 69–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jopan.2021.05.013

Haffner, M., Saiz, A. M., Nathe, R., Hwang, J., Migdal, C., Klineberg, E., & Roberto, R. (2019). Preoperative multimodal analgesia decreases 24-hour postoperative narcotic consumption in elective spinal fusion patients. The Spine Journal: Official Journal of the North American Spine Society, 19(11), 1753–1763. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2019.07.005

Murat Kurul, Aydin, N., & Sen, O. (2023). Effect of Preoperative Anxiety Level on Postoperative Analgesia Requirement in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy. 61(3), 167–171. https://doi.org/10.4274/haseki.galenos.2023.9005

Young, C. A., Mills, R., Al-Chalabi, A., Burke, G., Chandran, S., Dick, D. J., Ealing, J., Hanemann, C. O., Harrower, T., Mcdermott, C. J., Majeed, T., Pinto, A., Talbot, K., Walsh, J., Williams, T. L., Tennant, A., & TONiC study group. (2020). Measuring quality of life in ALS/MND: validation of the WHOQOL-BREF. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis & Frontotemporal Degeneration, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/21678421.2020.1752244

Zsido, A. N., Teleki, S. A., Csokasi, K., Rozsa, S., & Bandi, S. A. (2020). Development of the short version of the spielberger state—trait anxiety inventory. Psychiatry Research, 291(1), 113223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113223