Project Proposal: Writing Results and Discussion Option 1 Instructions

Option 1:

This assignment includes 4 simulated research studies. A summary is provided for each study that includes the problem, purpose, research question, null hypothesis, study design, raw data, method of analysis of the data, and the results. Address the following questions for each of the 4 simulated research studies in a well-developed paragraph that has a logical flow using current APA format.

What type of study design is used? Please explain.

Does the study design accurately test the null hypothesis?

Is the correct statistical test used to analyze the data? Why? Why not?

Regardless of whether or not the correct statistical test was used, are the results statistically significant? Social science research uses a p value of .05 to determine statistical significance.

Does the researcher reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis?

What are the implications of the results for the study and the counseling field?

This assignment will be submitted through SafeAssign.

This assignment is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of Module/Week 7.

Simulated Research Study #1

Clients who enter residential treatment for substance abuse demonstrate difficulties correctly identifying emotions in themselves and others, regulating emotions, and using positive coping skills to deal with their emotions. The purpose of the study is to quantify the level of emotional understanding, as well as other skills related to emotional intelligence among substance abusers. Do substance abusers have a different level of emotional understanding than the general population? The researchers used a convenience sampling method to obtain a sample of 40 substance abusers who have just entered residential treatment. The participants completed the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) to measure their emotional intelligence. Note: the ability-based model of emotional intelligence measures four branches: 1) the ability to identify emotions in facial expressions, 2) the ability to use emotional information to facilitate thoughts, 3) the ability to understand emotions, and 4) the ability to regulate emotions in the self and others. This assessment was selected to provide information on emotional understanding and other abilities under the umbrella of emotional intelligence. The mean score on the MSCEIT for the population is 100. The null hypothesis states there will be no difference between the scores on the MSCEIT for substance abusers when compared to the general population. A single sample t-test was used to analyze the data. The total scores for participants on the MSCEIT are below:

84.35

83.65

83.9

92.21

95.46

100.95

84.67

80.54

106.59

103.32

87.29

81.28

76.87

72.66

97.63

103.64

103.47

80.54

93.78

113.7

87.79

103.68

100.05

92.99

90.6

85.98

113.76

79.03

81.54

105.89

100.04

90.79

68.31

98.59

92.42

102.15

98.9

91.93

88.46

97.9

The output from of the single sample t-test is below. The results are t(39) = -4.446, p = .000.

Simulated Research Study #2

The Dean of a Master of Arts in Addictions Counseling (MAAC) program wants to tailor curriculum to the types of positions that graduates are likely to obtain after graduation. The three areas of interest are residential treatment facilities, community agencies, and private practice. The purpose of the study is to determine if one of the job placement options is more prevalent than the others. Are MAAC graduates more likely to obtain employment in a residential treatment facility, community agency, or private practice? The researcher surveyed 30 alumni who graduated from the MAAC program three years ago requesting information on their place of employment. The null hypothesis is there will be no difference in the frequency of graduates who are employed in residential treatment facilities, community agencies, and private practice. The researcher used a Chi Square Goodness of Fit test to analyze the data.

The expected frequency for each category of employment is 33.3%. The raw data on frequencies is:

Residential Treatment Facility8

Community Agency12

Private Practice10

The output of the analysis is below. The results are X² (2, N = 30) = .80, p = .670.

Simulated Research Study #3

Researchers and clinicians are concerned that the current treatments being offered for alcohol dependence are not resulting in a high enough percentage of successful outcomes. A complicating factor is that many clients experience depression during treatment for alcohol dependence. Mindfulness Therapy has demonstrated efficacy for the treatment of depression. The purpose of the study is to determine the efficacy of adding Mindfulness Therapy to the standard treatment program. Will the addition of Mindfulness Therapy for clients with alcohol dependence improve the efficacy of treatment? The researchers designed a study using a convenience sample of 40 participants who have entered treatment for alcohol dependence. The participants were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups, the standard treatment program or the standard treatment program plus Mindfulness Therapy. Participants will receive treatment for 16 weeks and then complete the Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS). The treatment groups are considered equivalent at the beginning of the study based on random assignment to groups. The null hypothesis states there will be no difference in scores on the ADS between those who receive the standard treatment program and those who receive the standard treatment program plus Mindfulness Therapy. The researcher used a paired or correlated groups t-test to analyze the data. The scores on the ADS for the two treatment groups are:

Standard Treatment

Standard Treatment & Mindfulness

14

18

7

12

11

17

10

9

13

17

14

21

8

14

10

11

15

16

7

12

8

12

8

4

3

10

15

9

14

18

13

10

6

9

7

16

13

12

18

14

The output from the analysis is below. The results are t(19) = 1.554, p = .137.

Simulated Research Study #4

People who live in underserved remote areas do not have adequate access to professional counseling services for alcohol abuse. Improvements in internet access and video conferencing technology may provide a means of delivering counseling services to underserved remote areas. The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of a technology based delivery system for counseling services. The researchers designed a study with a sample of N = 40 participants who live in an underserved remote area and who have entered counseling for alcohol abuse. The participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups, face-to-face counseling or video conference counseling. Both groups will use the same counseling model and will have the same number of sessions over a three month period. The difference between the groups will be how counseling services are delivered. Participants will complete the Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS) at the end of treatment. The groups are considered equivalent at the beginning of the study based on random assignment to groups. The null hypothesis states there will be no difference in scores on the ADS between face-to-face counseling and video conference counseling. The researcher uses a between groups t-test to compare the post treatment scores of the ADS for the two groups. The scores on the ADS for the two treatment groups are:

Face-to-Face Counseling

Video Conference Counseling

5

8

14

12

10

9

5

11

8

7

13

4

7

11

15

13

9

10

8

6

10

7

5

6

13

12

9

7

4

8

13

14

9

7

5

9

10

13

11

8

The output from the analysis is below. The results are t(38) = 0.258, p = .798.