Data Analysis Resources, Essay Example

Reading DeVon’s paper makes clear that in evaluating any study, it is important to assess the study results in published research for both reliability and validity. This involves taking a close look at the statistical methods used in the study, the sample sizes, and the psychometrics used in the study to determine if the study results can be applied to specific nursing situations. (DeVon , 2007).  The sample size is of particular importance, and the article by Scales clarifies how to estimate the sample size needed for applicability. Even when evaluating research from others, it is important to understand the impact that sample size has on the error and other statistics in the study’s results. (Scales, 2005). This is very important, so it can be useful to have access to statistical experts to assist in doing these assessments to ensure that they are correctly done. This is special importance in evaluating study designs for any research effort planned, but it is of equal importance to understand the value of published studies.

My organization does not have a statistical expert in the nursing staff that I was able to identify. However, I was able to connect with a researcher at a local private company who does similar statistical analyses for his experiments and who writes academic papers, published in peer-reviewed journals. He suggested that he could put together a straightforward tool, something like a spreadsheet, that I could use to define the populations and testing criteria from the specific papers I’m interested in. He then would be able to have some of his interns (under his guidance) help me assess the validity and reliability of those papers based on the information I entered. It is not clear how practical this process will be because we have no organizational funding available to pay for the analysis time required. He indicated that the exercise would be valuable for his interns as well as for me.

The major lesson learned for me in this discussion was his explanation of how knowing the validity and reliability of this resource’s own experiments was crucial to understanding the actual results. He described several experiments from early in his career in which systemic errors in the experimental design had skewed results so they implied completely incorrect conclusions.

I have not worked with a nurse statistician or data expert until now, so I don’t have any advice to share on how well such a collaboration will work in practice.

References

DeVon, H. A., Block, M. E., Moyle-Wright, P., Ernst,D. M., Hayden, S. J., Lazzara, D.J., Savoy, S. M., & Kostas-Polston, E. (2007). A psychometric toolbox for testing validity and reliability. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 39, 2, 155-164.

Scales, D.C., Rubenfeld, G. D. (2005).  Estimating sample size in critical care clinical trials. Journal of Critical Care, 20, 6-11.