Develop table that summarizes the characteristics of sample
Background and objectives
One of the first steps in any analysis is to describe the sample you are studying and becoming familiar with the variables in the dataset. This is commonly reflected in a “Table 1” in most research reports. You will prepare such a table from an existing data set in this assignment. It will give you the opportunity to:
1) practice your Excel skills;
2) demonstrate your understanding of basic descriptive statistics; and
3) present both tabular and text results of data analyses.
Dataset: NRSG795_spr17_anal1
This dataset represents a small subset of cases and variables selected for this class to make it easier to use in Excel.
Goal of project: The purpose of the quality improvement project was to assess a chronic disease self-management program (CDSMP) to increase physical activity of adults with severe mental illness (SMI).
Jest of program: Clients of a psychiatric rehabilitation program would receive a consulting/educational talk on the need to improve their physical activity and suggestions of how to include more walking in their daily activities.
Kind of data collected: Several demographic and clinical variables were obtained from client charts. In addition, their aspiration to make changes in physical activity was captured by a short scale using likert type responses (Cronbach’s alpha=.84). The aspiration to make changes in physical activity score was calculated by summing up the responses to the individual items. Each client was given a pedometer to wear which tracked the total number of daily steps taken on the first day after starting the program and then again 60 days later.
Assignment
Start by examining the data and the coding of the data (variable names and values of variables).
1) First goal is to develop a table that summarizes the characteristics of the sample using the variables provided
Establish the level of measurement for each variable to determine the correct summary statistics to use.
Good practice is to recode any variable that has very small subgroups
2) Create a figure (graph) that you might use in a presentation to illustrate something about your sample using any of the variables provided. Follow APA format with an appropriate title.
3) Pulling it all together- Summarize what you did in just one or two paragraphs with the figure at the end.
