Developing A Research Proposal

Variables, Measurement, and SPSS

Student Name

Walden University

RSCH-8210N-1 Quantitative Reasoning, Week 1 Assignment

Date, 2021

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Variables, Measurement, and SPSS

The purpose of nursing research is to identify gaps in practice through and evidence-

based review of the literature and to design research that will provide new knowledge to support

nursing science. Developing a research proposal requires the researcher to perform several

complex steps to generate new evidence. Each step must conform to accepted research

guidelines. To be successful, the researcher must understand these steps and have the knowledge

to ensure that each step is followed correctly (Frankfort-Nachmias & Leon-Guerrero, 2018)Developing A Research Proposal. This

paper will identify and describe two variables from the Afrobarometer dataset. The variables

chosen for this assignment are, Q3b, “Your present living conditions” (Variable 1), and Q8c,

“How often gone without medical care” (Variable 2) (Walden University, 2018). In addition,

how each variable might be used to answer a social change question and the implications for

social change will also be described.

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Characteristics

The Afrobarometer data set (Walden University, 2018) was queried using IBM SPSS

statistical software, Version 24. Variable 1 measures respondent’s present living conditions. The

individual is the unit of analysis (Frankfort-Nachmias & Leon-Guerrero, 2018). The level of

measurement is rank ordered and is therefore ordinal (Heavey, 2018). It is constructed on a 5

point pre-coded Likert scale ranked from 1-very bad to 5=very good. It also includes coded

responses -1=missing, 9= don’t know and 998=refused.

Variable 2 measures how often respondent has gone without medical care. The individual

is the unit of analysis (Frankfort-Nachmias & Leon-Guerrero, 2018). The level of measurement

is rank ordered and is therefore ordinal (Heavey, 2018). It is constructed on a 5 point pre-coded

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Likert scale ranked from 0=never to 4=always. It also includes coded responses -1=missing, 9=

don’t know and 998=refused.

Social Change

The variables were selected because they have a direct relationship to social change as

stated in the Walden Social Change mission which includes making a difference by addressing

challenges where we live, where we work and in the global community (Walden University,

2017, p.7). Both of these variables, your present living conditions and how often gone without

medical care are directly related to helping the researcher understand the current state or

conditions impacting this population. This data would be important to support initiatives to

improve living conditions and access to medical care Developing A Research Proposal.

Conclusion

To participate fully in social science research, one must understand how to correctly

apply the principals of statistics. Statistical analysis done correctly will lean toward accurate

results. Not every researcher will become a statistician, but every researcher must understand

statistics.

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References

Frankfort-Nachimias, C. & Leon-Guerrero, A. (2018). Social statistics for a diverse society. (8th

ed.). SAGE Publications

Heavey, E. (2018). Statistics for nursing: A practical approach. (3rd ed.). Jones and Bartlett

Learning

Walden University. (2017). Social change at Walden. In 2017-2018

Walden University catalog. http://catalog.waldenu.edu/mime/media/149/4598/Sept_Cat_

2017.pdf

Walden University. (2018). Afrobarometer dataset. Minneapolis, MN Developing A Research Proposal