Evaluating Significance of Findings
Part of your task as a scholar-practitioner is to act as a critical consumer of research and ask informed questions of published material. Sometimes, claims are made that do not match the results of the analysis. Unfortunately, this is why statistics is sometimes unfairly associated with telling lies. These misalignments might not be solely attributable to statistical nonsense, but also “user error.” One of the greatest areas of user error is within the practice of hypothesis testing and interpreting statistical significance. As you continue to consume research, be sure and read everything with a critical eye and call out statements that do not match the results.
For this Assignment, you will examine statistical significance and meaningfulness based on sample statements.
To prepare for this Assignment:
- Review the Week 5 Scenarios found in this week’s Learning Resources and select two of the four scenarios for this Assignment.
- For additional support, review the Skill Builder: Evaluating P Values and the Skill Builder: Statistical Power, which you can find by navigating back to your Blackboard Course Home Page. From there, locate the Skill Builder link in the left navigation pane.
Assignment Task : Evaluating Significance of Findings Help
Critically evaluate the two scenarios you selected based upon the following points:
- Critically evaluate the sample size.
- Critically evaluate the statements for meaningfulness.
- Critically evaluate the statements for statistical significance.
- Based on your evaluation, provide an explanation of the implications for social change.
Use proper APA format and citations, and referencing.
Learning Resources
Required Readings
Frankfort-Nachmias, C., Leon-Guerrero, A., & Davis, G. (2020). Social statistics for a diverse society (9th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
- Chapter 8, “Testing Hypothesis: Assumptions of Statistical Hypothesis Testing” (pp. 241-242)
Wagner, III, W. E. (2020). Using IBM® SPSS® statistics for research methods and social science statistics (7th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Evaluating Significance of Findings Help
- Chapter 6, “Testing Hypotheses Using Means and Cross-Tabulation”
Applied Statistics From Bivariate Through Multivariate Techniques, 2nd Edition by Warner, R.M. Copyright 2012 by Sage College. Reprinted by permission of Sage College via the Copyright Clearance Center.
As you review this web blog, select [Updated] Statistical Power and Significance Testing Visualization link, once you select the link, follow the instructions to view the interactive for statistical power. This interactive website will help you to visualize and understand statistical power and significance testing. Evaluating Significance of Findings Help
American Statistical Association (2016). American Statistical Association Releases Statement on Statistical Significance and P-Values. Retrieved from http://www.amstat.org/newsroom/pressreleases/P-ValueStatement.pdf
As you review this press release, consider the misconceptions and the misuse of p-values in quantitative research.
Document: Week 5 Scenarios (PDF)
Use these scenarios to complete this week’s Assignment.
Datasets
Your instructor will post the datasets for the course in the Doc Sharing section and in an Announcement. Your instructor may also recommend using a different dataset from the ones provided here.
Required Media
Walden University, LLC. (Producer). (2016f). Meaningfulness vs. statistical significance [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 4 minutes.
In this media program, Dr. Matt Jones discusses the differences in meaningfulness and statistical significance. Focus on how this information will inform your Discussion and Assignment for this week.
Accessible player –Downloads– Download Video w/CC Download Audio Download Transcript
Walden University, LLC. (Producer). (2016n). Halfway point [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author. Evaluating Significance of Findings Help
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 2 minutes.
In this media program, Dr. Annie Pezalla, Associate Director of Curriculum and Assessment with the Office of Research and Doctoral Studies at Walden University, discusses what you have learned so far in the course. She also discusses what you have to look forward to as well as things to look out for in the remainder of the course.
Accessible player –Downloads– Download Video w/CC Download Audio Download Transcript
Optional Resources
Skill Builders:
- Evaluating P Values
- Statistical Power
To access these Skill Builders, navigate back to your Blackboard Course Home page, and locate “Skill Builders” in the left navigation pane. From there, click on the relevant Skill Builder link for this week.
You are encouraged to click through these and all Skill Builders to gain additional practice with these concepts. Doing so will bolster your knowledge of the concepts you’re learning this week and throughout the course.
For Evaluating Significance of Findings Help please click here
