Data analysis project
Research is an investigative process that is meant to discover new knowledge or arrives at a better understanding of a particular subject (Kulakowski & Chronister, 2008). The scientific research process starts with the identification of a topic: the broad subject matter area to be investigated. This is followed by identification of a research problem within the research topic. After identifying the research problem, the researcher identifies the research purpose (objective of the study), the research question (a sentence that asks a question about the relationship between two or more variables), and finally the research hypotheses (a guess about the relationship that exists between two or more variables).
In the research study “”Perceived stress, quitting smoking, and smoking relapse”, the intended purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between stress levels and smoking status (Cohen & Lichtenstein, 1990). The purpose of the study was key in determining the methodology used in the study. For instance, the criteria used for picking the participants was that he or she should be an active smoker and smoking a least ten cigarettes a day, has made an attempt to quit smoking, and has not begun the quitting process.
The hypothesis of the study was that a change from smoking to abstinence will lead to a decrease in stress levels while a change from abstinence to smoking will lead to an increase in stress levels (Cohen & Lichtenstein, 1990). This hypothesis addressed the research problem in that once the data was tested, it helped clarify whether stress influenced smoking behaviour or whether smoking influenced stress levels.
Research data was collected by use of interview method. To obtain information on 260 participants completed a prequit interviews and follow up interviews after one, three, and six months after their expected quit date. The interviews were done over the telephone. The interviews assessed smoking status and perceived stress. Participants were categorized into three based on their smoking status: 24-hour quitters, point-prevalent abstinent, and 6-month continuous abstinent. Participants were considered “24-hour quitters” if they reported having quitted smoking for at least 24-hours since their prequit interview. On the other hand, subjects were considered “point-prevalent abstinent” if they had not smoked or even puffed during the last one week. Lastly, “6-month continuous abstinent” subjects were those who were point-prevalent abstinent during all the follow up interviews and had not smoked for for more than three days since quitting.
Data on perceived stress were collected by use of a four-item perceived stress scale (PSS-4) designed to be used in telephone follow-up interviews (Cohen & Lichtenstein, 1990). The scale is designed to assess the degree to which the subjects find their lives stressful. The PSS-4 is a 5-point scale ranging from never (0) to very often (5) indicating how the subjects felt in the last one month. High scores in PSS-4 have been associated with psychological distress, elevated life events, use of health services, and physical symptomatology. Stress, as measured by PSS-4, has been found to predict less quitting of smoking.
The data was analysed by inferential statistics (Pearson correlation and ANOVA). Pearson correlation was used to measure the strength of the relationship between PSS scores and other variables in the study. Pearson correlation coefficient, r, ranges from -1 to +1 with a value of 0 indicating no relationship between two variables. Martin, Bateson, & Bateson, 1993). A value greater than 0 shows a positive correlation while a negative value shows a negative relationship between two variables. On the other hand, 3 by 4 repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare three means of three groups where participants were in the same groups. The groups were: those who never quit, 24-hour quit only, and those who were continuously abstinent through six months.
The statistical tests chosen were beneficial for this study. For instance, the use of Pearson correlation analysis helps to summarize in one value, the degree of relationship and direction of the correlation between two variables. Knowledge of the degree and direction of the relationship help is key in understanding how stress levels affect various variables. The choice of ANOVA, on the other hand, was needed to test whether significant differences existed between means of independent groups.
The outcome of Pearson correlation procedures revealed that baseline PSS scores were correlated with several measures collected at the baseline and were not significantly correlated with nicotine concentration in cigarette brands (r = 0.04), with the number quit attempts (r = -.01), with smoking rate (r = .04), with the length of longest successful quit (r = .05), and with positive (r = -.13) or positive (r = .06) cessation-related behaviours on the spouse of the participant as assessed by Partner Interaction Questionnaire. On the other hand, a 3 (between groups) by 4 (within groups) repeated measures ANOVA revealed a group by panel interaction, F (6,441) = 2.96, p < .01). There was no main effect. The interaction effect revealed a decrease in stress levels among those subjects who continuously abstained from smoking as opposed to unchanging stress levels among those who failed to quit for more than 24 hours.
References
Cohen, S., & Lichtenstein, E. (1990). Perceived stress, quitting smoking, and smoking relapse. Health Psychology, 9(4), 466.
Kulakowski, E. C., & Chronister, L. U. (2008). Research administration and management. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Martin, P., Bateson, P. P. G., & Bateson, P. (1993). Measuring behaviour: an introductory guide. Cambridge University Press.
