Compare      your data output against the tables presented in the Week 4 Descriptive Statistics SPSS Output

Explore key statistical concepts related to data and problem solving through the completion of the following exercises using SPSS and the information found in your Statistics and Data Analysis for Nursing Research textbook. The focus of this assignment is to become familiar with the SPSS data analysis software and to develop an understanding of how to calculate descriptive statistics and make conclusions based on those calculations. As you formulate your responses, keep in mind that descriptive statistics only allow you to make conclusions and recommendations for the sample at hand—not for the larger population to which that sample may belong.

To prepare:

• Review      the Statistics and Data Analysis for Nursing Research chapters      assigned in this week’s Learning Resources. Pay close attention to the      examples presented, as they provide information that will be useful when      you complete the software exercise this week. You may also wish to review      the Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice video      resources to familiarize yourself with the software.
• Refer      to the Week      4 Descriptive Statistics Assignment page and follow      the directions to calculate descriptive statistics for the data provided      using SPSS software. If you run into any difficulties or problems, post      them to the Week 4 Discussion 2 area (see attached file)
• Download      and save the Polit2SetA.sav (see      attached file) data set. You will open the data file in SPSS.
• Compare      your data output against the tables presented in the Week 4 Descriptive Statistics SPSS Output      document (see attached file) This will enable you to become      comfortable with defining variables, entering data, and creating tables      and graphs.
• Formulate      an initial interpretation of the meaning or implication of your      calculations.

To complete:

• Complete      the Part I, Part II, and Part III steps and Assignment as outlined in      the Week      4 Descriptive Statistics Assignment page. (see      attached file for week 4 descriptive statistics assignment page)

Required Media

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Research methods for evidence-based practice: Quantitative research: Data analysis.Baltimore, MD: Author.

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 10 minutes.

In this week’s video, the presenter describes challenges to collecting and utilizing quantitative data and offers suggestions for assessing and improving data quality. The strategic use of quantitative data by health care organizations is also considered.

Introduction to SPSS”

Used by permission from SPSSVideoTutor.com A division of ConsumerRaters LLC., 1121 S Military Trail, 314, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, USA