Visualization & Barriers Data Analysis Discussion

For this activity, you are going to analyze hypothetical data from a Barriers to Research Utilization by Nurses survey using descriptive statistics. This data has been provided for you, and step-by-step instructions on doing the analysis in excel are provided below.

BACKGROUND

When collecting online survey data, the responses are generally textual data. Look at the Data_Raw worksheet to see the survey results. This raw data must be converted to numerical data for analysis.

To accomplish this, a Codebook is created that contains the data and metadata (the information for each variable with coding instructions). For this activity, the Barriers Codebook has already been created for you. Review the Metadata worksheet to see an overview of the variables in this survey (column A), variable type (column B), level of measurement (column C), coding instructions (Response Categories, column D), and the original Survey Question (column E).

Look to see how the data have been numerically coded for you on the Data_Coded worksheet. This was done by copying the Data_Raw worksheet, then using Find and Replace to code the responses numerically using the MetaData worksheet information. For example, in column D (Race), White was replaced with 1, African American was replaced with 2, Asian was replaced with 3 and Other was replaced with 4.

Now the original data has been coded, you want to retain the coded data to preserve it for additional analyses or if errors are made.

Note: These instructions use right-click to access the right-click menu. If unsure how to right-click on your computer, reach out to Student Success Center, IT services, or your course instructor. For example, Ctrl/click acts as a right-click on a Mac.

CREATE YOUR OWN DATA FILE COPY

This is where the real fun starts for this activity!

You will first copy the Data-Coded worksheet to a working file that you can use for this activity.

Desktop Excel

Web Excel

Copy the Data_Coded worksheet by right-clicking on the Data_Coded worksheet, selecting Move or Copy (see below) and checking the Create a Copy box.

Copy the Data_Coded worksheet by right-clicking on the Data_Coded worksheet, selecting Duplicate (see below).

Visualization & Barriers Data Analysis Discussion

Rename this copied worksheet Desc_Stats by right-clicking on the tab of the copied worksheet and selecting Rename and typing the new name.

Right-click again, choose Tab Color, and choose a different color than red (red is a reminder to not use these worksheets).

Next, click on the Desc_Stats worksheet and write a formula to total the scores on the Barriers Survey for each participant. The variable you will use for this is the Tot_Scores continuous variable in column AK. In column AK1, type the heading Tot_Scores. Next, enter this formula into cell AK2: =Sum(H2:AJ2) directly in the cell or the formula bar at the top, as shown. This formula will sum all the cells in Row 2 from Column H through Column AJ, which include all the “Q” items on the survey.

Make sure you see the formula bar displayed in this screenshot. If it is not there, click on the Formulas menu and check Show Formulas.

To avoid having to write this formula 75 more times, Autofill the formula by holding your mouse over the small black square in the bottom right corner of cell AK2. When your mouse pointer turns into a plus sign, click and pull the plus sign down through row 77. This autofills the formula and calculates the total score, while, adjusting the formula for each row.

DESCRIBING THE DATA

Continuous Variable Analysis

For continuous variables (“Yrs_RN”, and “Tot_Scores”) you will compute measures of central tendency (Mean/Average, Median, and Mode) and measures of dispersion (standard deviation, minimum, maximum, and range). See the Continuous Summary (Example) worksheet in the Codebook for an explanation of the statistical tests you will use to analyze continuous variables, what it measures, and a sentence explaining the results.