Revised January 2005
Arkansas State University
College of Nursing and Health Professions
I. Course:
A. Name and Number: HP 6033, Data Analysis in Health Professions
B. Description: This course addresses the theory and mechanics of data analysis related to basic and applied research in health professions. The course includes the use of statistical analysis using computerized programs such as SPSS. Topics range from basic descriptive statistics to inferential analysis.
C. Instructor: D. Mike McDaniel, Ph.D., CCC-A, and Professor
Office: #404 B CNHP Building
Phone: 972-3546
Email:
Office Hours: TBA
Classroom: TBA
Days: TBA
II. Primary Text:
Norusis, M.J. (2004). SPSS 12.0: Guide to data analysis. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
III. Purpose of the Course:
Effective use of published literature as well as development of the skills of inquiry requires an understanding of data analysis. This course is intended to provide the learner with an overview of the analysis of data commonly encountered and/or collected in the health professions context.
The goals of this course will be to assist the learner toward becoming a more effective consumer of published research.
Student Outcomes/Competencies:
Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, all students will be able to perform the following tasks:
1. Collect data in the practice of the health professions, particularly with the intention of using this data to assess outcomes and make treatment (if not program) decisions/improvements.
2. Prepare the learner to effectively analyze data commonly collected in the practice of the health professions, particularly with the intention of using this data to assess outcomes and make treatment (if not program) decisions/improvements.
Competencies: Upon successful completion of the course the learner will demonstrate the following skills and abilities.
1. Given a clinical practice situation that includes various types of patient or program data; correctly employ basic descriptive statistics to reduce the data to a form that is easily communicated.
2. Given an example set of treatment results collected from patients with like conditions, correctly apply tests of hypotheses about the effectiveness of care.
3. Given data sets whose level of data are different, select and apply the appropriate statistical treatment based on type of data and question to be addressed.
4. When provided with sets of data, proficiently use SPSS or similar analysis software.
5. Having appropriate data analysis, explain the results of the analysis and apply these results to clinical practice, particularly focusing on outcomes and program assessment.
6. Construct a practice specific use of data analysis to facilitate improvements in:
a. Patient care,
b. Reimbursement for services provided, and
c. Marketing of services provided.
IV. Course Schedule and Outline:
Schedule:
Unit I Describing Data in Health Related Research: Communicating and
Outcome in General Terms
Week 1. Mean and Median
Range and Standard Deviation
Week 2 Standard Scores and the Normal Curve
Correlation
Practice Applications
Unit II Preparing to Collect Data in Health Related Research: How are
Outcomes Assessments Planned and Designed
Week 3 Populations to be Studied Sampling, Inference, and Error
Baseline Data Collection Tools-Existing and Site Developed
Computer Applications
Practice Applications
Unit III Simple Assessment of Interventions and Outcomes in Health
Related Research and Program Assessment: Assessing Critical
Pathways and Current Standards of Care
Week 4 Hypothesis Testing: One Mean
Week5 Hypothesis Testing: One Correlation
Hypothesis Testing: One Proportion
Hypothesis Testing: One Variance
Week 6 Exam One
Week 7 Hypothesis Testing: Two Means (Independent and
Dependent Samples)
Week 8 Hypothesis Testing: Two Correlations
Hypothesis Testing: Two Proportions
Hypothesis Testing: Two Variances
Computer Applications
Week 9 Hypothesis Testing: Chi Square Goodness of Fit
Hypothesis Testing: Chi Square Test of Independence
Computer Applications
Practice Applications
Week 10 Exam Two
Unit IV Intermediate Assessment of Interventions and Outcomes in Health Related Research and Program Assessment: Assessing Multiple Interventions
Week 11 Hypothesis Testing: One_Way ANOVA
Week 12 Hypothesis Testing: Two-Way ANOVA
Computer Applications
Week 13 Regression Analysis
Computer Application
Practice Applications
Week 14-15 Review
Final Examination
Outline:
Analysis Topics Covered (All in Health Professions Research Context)
Mean and Median
Range and Standard Deviation
Standard Scores in the Normal Curve
Correlation
Sampling, Inference, and Error
Hypothesis Testing; One Mean
One Correlation
One Proportion
One Variance
Two Means (Independent and Dependent Samples)
Two Correlations
Two Proportions
Two Variances
Chi Square Goodness of Fit
Chi Square Test of Independence
One-Way ANOVA
Two-Way ANOVA
Regression Analysis
Computer Applications
Application Topics Covered
Efficacy versus Effectiveness
Outcomes Assessment as Basic to Patient Care
External Forces that Drive Outcomes
Internal Forces that Indicate Outcomes Assessment
Outcomes Assessment to Improve Standards of care
Outcomes Assessment to Facilitate the Marketing of Services
V. Course Requirements and Evaluation Procedure:
Course Requirements: Students are expected to attend class meetings and participate in class activities and discussions. Homework will be assigned. Homework is to be completed and submitted on time. A computer project will be required (explained in class). Dates for completion will be announced. There will be three objective examinations. Students are expected to take the examinations on the dates they are scheduled.
Evaluation Procedure: There will be three objective, in-class examinations for the course. Each will be worth 100 points. There will be regular homework.
The homework will be worth 100 points total. There will be a computer project.
This project will be worth 100 points. Total points for the course will be 500. All homework must be completed, all examinations must be taken, and the computer project must be submitted.
A= 460-500 points
B= 425-459 points
C= 390-424 points
F= 389 points and below
Students unable to demonstrate competency on all of the learning outcomes will be assigned a grade of “I”.
VI. Special Considerations for the Course:
A. Policy for Students With Disabilities:
Should a disability prevent a student from completing the course requirements as outlined by the instructor on the first day of class, the student should meet with the instructor in private to determine an alternative procedure or accommodation.
B. Flexibility Clause Policy:
Modifications requirements, assignments, and tentative course outline will be made as needed. Students' experiences and needs will be considered in modifying course syllabus.
C. Cheating and Plagiarism Policy:
Written assignments should not be copied from papers of other students, from the models used by the instructor, or from published material. According to the Student Handbook 1990-91, cheating and plagiarism may result in a student being asked to leave the academic community.
D. Make Up Examination Policy:
Students missing a scheduled examination for any reason will have the opportunity to make up the examination on the scheduled date of the final examination. There will be no exceptions to this policy.
E. Late Submission Policy:
Any assignment submitted late will be penalized by 20% of the original value for each day that it is late, including weekends.
F. E-mail Policy:
Class notes and, when possible, assignments will be handled via e-mail or will be available via the Internet. It will be in the students best interest to have a current e-mail address. These are available at no charge to the student through computer services.
E. Attendance Policy:
Attendance and participation in class are expected.
VII. Bibliography
American Psychological Association (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 1983.
Becker, H.S. Writing for social scientists: How to start and finish your thesis, book, or article. Chicago: university of Chicago Press, 1986.
Brewer, M.B. and Collins, B.E. (Eds) Scientific inquiry and the social sciences: A volume in honor of Donald T. Campbell. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1981.
Cochran, W.G., Moses, L.E., and Mostellar, F Planning and analysis of observational studies. New York: Wiley, 1983.
Emmert, P. and Brooks, W. D. Methods of research in communication. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1970.
Fowler, F.J. Survey research methods. Beverly Hills: Sage, 1984.
Harrison, N. Understanding behavioral research. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company, Inc., 1979.
Howard, G.S. Basic research methods in social sciences. Glenview, Illinois: Scott, Foresman, 1985.
Kerlinger, F. N. Foundations of behavioral research. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1973.
Kirk, R.E. Elementary statistics (2nd ed.). Monterey, California: Brooks/Cole, 1984.
Light, L., and Pillemer, D.B. The science of reviewing research. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1984.
Linquist, E. F. Design and analysis of experiments in psychology and education. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1956.
Quarles, S.D. Guide to federal funding for social scientists. New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 1986.
Smith, R.V. Graduate research: A guide for students in the sciences. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1984.
Sommer, R., and Sommer, B.B. A practical guide to behavioral research: Tools and techniques (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press, 1986.
Strunk, W. and White, E.B. The elements of style (3rd ed.). New York: Macmillan, 1979.
Thompson, W. N. Quantitative research in public address and communication. New York: Random House, 1967.
Turabian, K.L. A manual for writers of term papers, theses, and dissertations (4th ed). Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1973.