Statistical Tests

Overview

One of the first steps when analyzing data is to determine the relationships between the independent and dependent variables. You can do this by identifying what type of variable the dependent and independent variables are and then applying the appropriate statistical tests on the data based on that determination. In this activity, you will review the study details and determine which statistical tests would be most appropriate for determining the relationships between the variables.

Case Study

Researchers from a local health department are conducting a study to determine factors that contribute to residents’ willingness to get the influenza vaccine. A survey was sent to 500 randomly selected residents of the town to conduct this study. Two hundred residents responded for a response rate of 40%. Researchers noticed that about 80% of the responses were from female residents, but the town itself has a ratio of 50% female/male residents.

The researchers decided to focus on determining how five factors were different between residents who had been vaccinated against influenza and those who had not been vaccinated. Accordingly, the respondents were asked to provide their vaccination status (variable 1), age (variable 2), gender (variable 3), family income (measured in dollars) (variable 4), and self-rated health (a scale from 1 to 10 with a higher number indicating feeling healthier) (variable 5). About 30% of the respondents did not respond to the income question.

Prompt

Review the above case study. Then write a brief analysis to determine the variable types and the most appropriate statistical tests for the variables in the given case study. Provide specific evidence from at least two scholarly sources to support your claims.

Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:

1. Variable Types: Identify the types of the five variables used in the given case study. Include the following details in your response:
   1. Identify the independent and dependent variables used in the case study.
   2. Determine the variable type for each variable.
   3. Explain how you determined the different variable types.
2. Statistical Tests: Determine the most appropriate statistical test for examining the relationship between the variables. Identify which test is appropriate for determining the relationship between each of the following:
   1. Variables 1 and 2
   2. Variables 1 and 3
   3. Variables 1 and 4
   4. Variables 1 and 5
   5. Variables 2 and 4
3. Rationale: Discuss why each test is the most appropriate for the corresponding variable relationship. Include the following details in your response:
   1. What will the outcome of each test tell you about the relationship between the identified variables?
   2. How would you interpret the p value from the tests?

What to Submit

Your submission should be a 2- to 3-page Word document. Use 12-point Times New Roman font, double spacing, and one-inch margins. Sources should be cited according to APA style.