Module 2 Flashcards
what is measurement?
- the process by which we link ideas or concepts with reality
- the process of assigning numbers to events, objects, or situations based on a rule
**measurement= quantification
what are two ways of measuring in nursing science?
direct and indirect
what can be measure directly?
biological characteristics (HR, weight, bone density)
signs
what can be measure indirectly?
psychological characteristics (depression, anxiety, satisfaction, quality of life)
*have to ask pain scale (0-10) depression scale (0-20)–>use survey or tools and rely on patients to answer
symptoms
examples of biological measurements: anthropometric measures (3)
- weight
- length
- head circumference
examples of biological measurements: physiological measures (3)
- heart rate
- o2 saturation
- BP
examples of biological measurements: biochemical measures
- blood glucose levels
- serum cholesterol levels
- salivary cortisol levels
- breast milk lipid content
examples of psychosocial measurements
- knowledge
- attitude
- satisfaction
- self-efficacy
- confidence
- pain
- anxiety
- quality of life
commonly measure outcomes (3)
- health outcomes
- cost outcomes
- patient experiences and perceptions
why do we measure health outcomes? (5)
- evaluate the effectiveness of care
- evaluate the effectiveness of interventions
- monitor the quality of care
- monitor the cost of care
- monitor patient satisfaction and experience with care
what are variables?
- the thing that is being measured or observed
- a variable “varies”- it can assume different values
conceptual variable
-defines the concept
-dictionary definition
operational variable
- summarizes the operations used to measure the variable of interest
- tells you exactly how to measure the variable (–>tells you procedures and instruments used)
independent variable
- the variable that is either manipulated or varied by the researcher
- AKA the ‘treatment’ or ‘experimental’ variable or the ‘intervention’
- thought to affect or cause the outcomes of interest
-only one independent variable in a study
**independent variable is a cause or influence
dependent variables
- the ‘outcome’ or ‘response’ variable
-presumed to be affected by or caused by an independent variable
-also called the outcome variable - can be multiple dependent variables (outcomes) in a study
principles of measurement
- select the most accurate method of measuring the variables
- ensure that the measurement method is feasible to use in a study
- develop detailed procedures for how the measurement should be obtained
-establish clear procedures for how the measurements are recorded
reliability
-refers to the repeatability, reproducibility, or stability of a measurement
-means that the measurement can be repeated of reproduced
- a measure can be repeatable or reproducible but that does not mean that it is accurate
validity
-refers to the accuracy of a measurement
- means that the measurement actually measures what was supposed to measure
-means the measurement is accurate
level of measurement: categorical variables
- nominal
-ordinal
levels of measurement: continuous variables
- interval
- ratio
categorical variables: nominal level
-data are classified into mutually exclusive categories
- there is no ranking or ordering of the categories
examples: gender, ethnicity, relationship status, eye color, handedness, blood type
categorical variables: ordinal level
-data are also classified into mutually exclusive categories
- the categories can be ranked or ordered
- examples: letter grades in a course (A,B,C,F), likert type scales, ranking in races (first, second, third…), cancer stages (I, II,III)
Continuous variables: interval level
- interval between each number is equal
- there is not an absolute zero
-examples: temp in F and C, standardized test such as IQ, SAT,ACT
