Team Paper Scenario
Team Paper Scenario
HCS/438
Johnell Ellis
Team Paper Scenario
One must realize the importance of statistical procedures. Moreover, one must not underestimate the use of statistics in healthcare. The purpose of this paper is to analyze a study done on flu shots. Another purpose is to identify the goal of the study. In addition, we will discuss how raw data and sample statistics were used in the study. Last, we will identify the range of values likely to contain the population parameter of interest.
Margin of Error
Based on the health plan survey with a sample of people who reported receiving a flu shot, the percentage of all people who received the flu vaccine is probably between 67% and 73%. However, as stated in this case scenario, only 61% of all eligible health plan enrollees actually received a flu shot. Therefore, a miscalculation has occurred in the survey because the actual percentage of people who received the flu vaccine did not fall between the ranges as predicted by the margin of error. Bennett, Briggs, and Triola (2009) stated, “The margin of error in a statistical study is used to describe the range of values or confidence interval, likely to contain the population parameter” (p. 1). From this definition, we can conclude that a value predicted by the margin of error is never absolute. Furthermore, it also indicates that the higher the percentage of the margin of error, the less credibility the survey supports.
Did The People Lie?
To answer the question about whether or not the survey implies that some people lied with their answer. We would have to say yes, it is a possibility. In fact, according to the website Stats (2012), “The margin of error cannot tell us about bias in a poll, whether people are telling the truth in a poll, or whether the people chosen for the poll are representative of the whole population” (para. 1). There are many reasons errors occur, for instance, it can be from a poorly phrased questions or people lying. In
HCS/438
Johnell Ellis
Team Paper Scenario
One must realize the importance of statistical procedures. Moreover, one must not underestimate the use of statistics in healthcare. The purpose of this paper is to analyze a study done on flu shots. Another purpose is to identify the goal of the study. In addition, we will discuss how raw data and sample statistics were used in the study. Last, we will identify the range of values likely to contain the population parameter of interest.
Margin of Error
Based on the health plan survey with a sample of people who reported receiving a flu shot, the percentage of all people who received the flu vaccine is probably between 67% and 73%. However, as stated in this case scenario, only 61% of all eligible health plan enrollees actually received a flu shot. Therefore, a miscalculation has occurred in the survey because the actual percentage of people who received the flu vaccine did not fall between the ranges as predicted by the margin of error. Bennett, Briggs, and Triola (2009) stated, “The margin of error in a statistical study is used to describe the range of values or confidence interval, likely to contain the population parameter” (p. 1). From this definition, we can conclude that a value predicted by the margin of error is never absolute. Furthermore, it also indicates that the higher the percentage of the margin of error, the less credibility the survey supports.
Did The People Lie?
To answer the question about whether or not the survey implies that some people lied with their answer. We would have to say yes, it is a possibility. In fact, according to the website Stats (2012), “The margin of error cannot tell us about bias in a poll, whether people are telling the truth in a poll, or whether the people chosen for the poll are representative of the whole population” (para. 1). There are many reasons errors occur, for instance, it can be from a poorly phrased questions or people lying. In
References: Bennett, J. O., Briggs, W. L., & Triola, M. F. (2009). Statistical reasoning for everyday life (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education. STATS. (2012). Margin of Error. Retrieved from www.stats.org/faq-margin.htm