Descriptive Statistics Essay

Descriptive Statistics Essay

Descriptive Statistics

Data is critical in research since researchers use it to prove or disprove the hypothesis. However, data must be described and interpreted accurately to be meaningful. Data can be presented quantitatively or qualitatively. Researchers can use descriptive or inferential statistics to describe populations’ parameters depending on the approach.

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One of the items from the hypothetical data results is the racial or ethnic background. According to the survey results, the Hispanic population (of any race) comprises 3.0%. American Indian or Alaska Native comprise 0.5%, while Asians, Black or African-American, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islanders 2.5%, 15.8%, and 0.2%, respectively. The other two races include whites (69.1%) and unknown ethnicity/race (8.6%). Descriptive statistics describe the features of a particular data set by summarizing the data samples and measures (Boume et al., 2021). As a result, the visible descriptive statistic is the dominant/majority race in the population sample. At 69.1%, the whites are the majority, and Native Hawaiian the least at 0.2%.

The meaning of a descriptive statistic depends on the research objectives and the data collected. Mainly, descriptive statistics summarize data in a meaningful way to develop data patterns (Grove & Cipher, 2019). However, researchers do not use it to conclude anything regarding the hypotheses. As a result, nothing else can be added besides the observation that the whites dominate other races. Other deductions can only be made via inferential statistics such as the relationship between racial status, where people live (zones), marital status, and access to education.

Data is critical in research. It helps researchers to make different inferences regarding the hypotheses. Descriptive statistics describe the characteristics of a population. Based on the survey results, it is obvious that whites dominate other races in the population sample.

References

Bourne, V., James, A. I., Wilson-Smith, K., & Fairlamb, S. (2021). Understanding quantitative and qualitative research in psychology: A practical guide to methods, statistics, and analysis. Oxford University Press.

Grove, S. K., & Cipher, D. J. (2019). Statistics for nursing research – e-book: A workbook for evidence-based practice. Elsevier.

 

CLASS SURVEY: HYPOTHETICAL DATA RESULTS – WEEK 6
(2 Pages)

1. What is your initial level of education in nursing?
a. High school 54.7%
b. Associate’s degree 23.1%
c. Baccalaureate degree 21.9%
d. Graduate degree 0.1%

2. If you hold an associate’s or baccalaureate degree, what was your prior degree in?
a. Medical-related degree or certificate 63.1%
b. Teaching 16.2%
c. Accounting 0 .7%
d. Business administration 1.2%
e. Other 18.8%

3. Do you have a prior healthcare occupation in any of these fields?
a. LPN 19.1%
b. CAN 63.0%
c. EMT/paramedics 11 1%
d. Pharmacy technician 0.3%
e. Surgical technician 3.7%
f. Dental hygiene 2.9%
g. Other 0.2%

4. What is your age?
Average age is 41 years

20–24 4.1%
25–29 3.6%
30–34 13.2%
35–39 15.5%
40–44 17.6%
45–49 28.0%
50–64 21.4%
65 and over 0.2%

5. What is your gender?
Male 7.5% Female 92.3%

6. What is your racial or ethnic background?
a. Hispanic (of any race) 3.0%
b. American Indian or Alaska Native 0.5%
c. Asian 2.5%
d. Black or African-American 15.8%
e. Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 0.2%
f. White 69.1%
g. Race or ethnicity unknown 8.6%

7. What is your family status?
a. Married 70.5%
b. Widowed, divorced, or separated 18.1%
c. Never married 9.2%

8. Do you have children?
a. No children 56.2%
b. One child 24.9%
c. Two children 11.5%
d. Three or more children 5.6%

9. What is the time zone where you live?
a. Eastern 34%
b. Central 29%
c. Mountain 19%
d. Pacific 18%

10. Do you own your residence?
a. Yes 61%
b. No 39%

11. Please indicate how prepared you felt to enter nursing school.
a. Extremely prepared 15%
b. Prepared 37%
c. Neither prepared or unprepared 28%
d. Prepared 15%
e. Extremely unprepared 5%

12. Why did you decide to pursue a baccalaureate degree in nursing?
Themes from respondents
• Desire to help others
• Lifelong dream
• Ability to advance
• Availability of jobs
• Earning potential
• Loss of previous job