Biostatistics Methods Used in Celiac Disease Population Studies

Descriptive and inferential statistical methods used in burns research

Applications of inferential statistical methods in library and information science

Background: The vaginal microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining reproductive health by influencing infection prevention, fertility, and pregnancy outcomes. Emerging research suggests that microbial imbalances contribute to gynecological disorders, impacting overall well-being. Understanding the microbiome’s composition and its therapeutic potential is essential for advancing women’s healthcare. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate awareness, perceptions, and knowledge about the vaginal microbiome’s role in reproductive health. Additionally, it explores potential microbiome-targeted therapies and future research priorities to enhance clinical applications. Methods: A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted over three months, utilizing a structured questionnaire to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. A total of 156 participants, including healthcare professionals, researchers, and individuals with personal experiences related to reproductive health, were surveyed. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Results: Findings indicate that while a majority of respondents recognize the role of the vaginal microbiome in infection prevention, fewer are aware of its impact on fertility and pregnancy outcomes. Probiotics emerged as the most favored microbiome-targeted therapy, followed by microbiome transplants. Participants also emphasized the need for further research on personalized treatments and advanced diagnostic tools. Conclusion: The study highlights the growing interest in vaginal microbiome research and its clinical relevance. Increased awareness and integration of microbiome-targeted therapies could significantly improve reproductive health outcomes. Future studies should focus on developing precise interventions and public health education strategies to optimize microbiome management.

The Effect of Summer Engineering Camps on Rural and Urban Students' Interest in STEM (Work-in-Progress) This paper investigates how living in an urban versus rural area influences students' interest to pursue a career in STEM. Data collected for this research came from a summer engineering camp held at a local university and is a part of the Department of Education's GEARUP program. The camp enabled students to learn more about STEM as a future career choice. As a part of the camp, the students worked in teams and engaged in various activities involving engineering research. The camp included activities such as, remotely operated vehicles (ROV's) which were used to collect water samples and measure various water properties. Students also built simple sensors to measure air quality and collected stream data. During the camp, students developed engineering research hypotheses with the help of their teachers. The students then tested those hypotheses, and thought like engineers. At the end of the camp, the student teams presented what they learned and their findings. Data was collected through pre and post camp surveys. The data included questions about students' interest in STEM, the factors that influence their interest, as well as their parents and friends' perceptions about STEM. Furthermore, the parents were surveyed about their education, income, and their perception of math, science, and engineering. The students also indicated whether they live in a rural or urban area. While the parents did not attend the camp, they were involved through viewing a blog that was updated daily to include activities of the camp as well as pictures and comments from the students' journals. Data was collected and analyzed over a 3 year period as part of a longitudinal study. The analysis involves both quantitative and qualitative data which was collected simultaneously. Both streams of data are analyzed concurrently in a mixed methods research design to offer a deeper understanding of what influences student interest in STEM. The results are broken down and compared based on whether students live in a rural or urban areas. Quantitative data is analyzed using a statistical analysis software to determine if there was a statistically significant increase in interest (after the STEM camp) among rural and urban participants. In addition, if an increase in interest is present in both groups (or absent in both groups) we determine if the increase is significantly greater for one of the groups. These tests have the potential to provide evidence that the STEM camp was more effective at increasing interest among either rural or urban students. Qualitative data will be analyzed using a specialized qualitative software (MaxQDA) to find themes in the data. The quantitative and qualitative data is combined and presented in a mixed methods format. This research focuses on the differences in interest in STEM between students living in rural and urban areas. The knowledge gained could help in designing future camps to better align with the different needs of the two groups of students.

The main aim of this article is to discuss the factors a researcher should take into account when selecting the appropriate research design or method (i.e. qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods). The article also discusses sample size determination and sampling procedures in qualitative and quantitative research. Further, the paper has provided an examination of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods. The study used online desk research to collect data from online public access scholarly databases such as Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Academia, and many more freely accessible electronic books in research methods. Search terms that were used included, among many, the following: qualitative research, quantitative research, mixed-methods, qualitative and quantitative data collection, qualitative and quantitative data analysis; descriptive and inferential statistics. A wealth of relevant and timely scholarly literature was downloaded, read, and used to write this paper, and draw the conclusion provided. Keywords: Qualitative Research; Quantitative Research; Mixed-Methods Research; Qualitative Data Collection Techniques; Quantitative Data Collection Techniques; Qualitative Data Analysis Techniques; Quantitative Analysis Techniques; Descriptive Statistics; Inferential Statistics. DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/87-06 Publication date: November 30 th 2022

Background: A well-staffed and an efficient primary healthcare sector is beneficial for a healthcare system but some countries experience problems in recruitment to general practice.Objectives: This study explored factors influencing Danish junior doctors’ choice of general practice as their specialty.Methods: This study is based on an online questionnaire collecting quantitative and qualitative data. Two focus-group interviews were conducted to inform the construction of the questionnaire to ensure high content validity. All Danish junior doctors participating in general practice specialist training in 2015 were invited to participate in the survey, from which both qualitative and quantitative data were collected. The data was analysed using systematic text condensation and descriptive statistics.Results: Of 1099 invited, 670 (61%) junior doctors completed the questionnaire. Qualitative data: junior doctors found educational environments and a feasible work–life balance were important. They valued patient-centred healthcare, doctor–patient relationships based on continuity, and the possibility of organizing their work in smaller, manageable units. Quantitative data: 90.8% stated that the set-up of Danish specialist-training programme positively influenced their choice of general practice as their specialty. Junior doctors (80.4%) found that their university curriculum had too little emphasis on general practice, 64.5% agreed that early basic postgraduate training in general practice had a high impact on their choice of general practice as their specialty.Conclusion: Several factors that might positively affect the choice of general practice were identified. These factors may hold the potential to guide recruitment strategies for general practice.

The Dual Analysis framework is a powerful enabling technology for the exploration of high dimensional quantitative data by treating data dimensions as first-class objects that can be explored in tandem with data values. In this article, we extend the Dual Analysis framework through the joint treatment of quantitative (numerical) and qualitative (categorical) dimensions. Computing common measures for all dimensions allows us to visualize both quantitative and qualitative dimensions in the same view. This enables a natural joint treatment of mixed data during interactive visual exploration and analysis. Several measures of variation for nominal qualitative data can also be applied to ordinal qualitative and quantitative data. For example, instead of measuring variability from a mean or median, other measures assess inter-data variation or average variation from a mode. In this work, we demonstrate how these measures can be integrated into the Dual Analysis framework to explore and generate hypotheses about high-dimensional mixed data. A medical case study using clinical routine data of patients suffering from Cerebral Small Vessel Disease (CSVD), conducted with a senior neurologist and a medical student, shows that a joint Dual Analysis approach for quantitative and qualitative data can rapidly lead to new insights based on which new hypotheses may be generated.

Considering qualitative and quantitative student response data and comparing those data cross-institutionally improves writing center policies locally and helps define broader objectives of the writing center as a campus institution. As writing center practitioners, it can be difficult to determine whether we should focus our research and assessment energies on gathering quantitative or qualitative data. Few of us are trained as “numbers people,” yet most of us regularly collect masses of quantitative data in the form of user statistics, exit surveys measuring student satisfaction, and demographic information about the writers who use our centers. Still, qualitative data often feels like the best illustration of our pedagogy to us, our tutors, and our faculty and administrators. When we do collect qualitative data, it frequently reflects recurrent themes in our scholarship. Even if our qualitative data manifests cross-institutional similarities, it is difficult to compare across different schools. [1] Convinced that both quantitative and qualitative feedback is essential to effective assessment of writing center work, we - three very different writing center practitioners from three very different institutions - set out to create a collaborative research project that would allow us to harness the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative methods.

BackgroundWe report on the longitudinal quantitative and qualitative data resulting from a two-year trajectory (2008–2011) based on the DIagnosis of Sustainable Collaboration (DISC) model. This trajectory aimed to support regional coordinators of comprehensive school health promotion (CSHP) in systematically developing change management and project management to establish intersectoral collaboration.MethodsMultilevel analyses of quantitative data on the determinants of collaborations according to the DISC model were done, with 90 respondents (response 57 %) at pretest and 69 respondents (52 %) at posttest. Nvivo analyses of the qualitative data collected during the trajectory included minutes of monthly/bimonthly personal/telephone interviews (N = 65) with regional coordinators, and documents they produced about their activities.ResultsQuantitative data showed major improvements in change management and project management. There were also improvements in consensus development, commitment formation, formalization of the CSHP, and alignment of policies, although organizational problems within the collaboration increased. Content analyses of qualitative data identified five main management styles, including (1) facilitating active involvement of relevant parties; (2) informing collaborating parties; (3) controlling and (4) supporting their task accomplishment; and (5) coordinating the collaborative processes.ConclusionsWe have contributed to the fundamental understanding of the development of intersectoral collaboration by combining qualitative and quantitative data. Our results support a systematic approach to intersectoral collaboration using the DISC model. They also suggest five main management styles to improve intersectoral collaboration in the initial stage. The outcomes are useful for health professionals involved in similar ventures.

The study looks at how human resource management affects employee performance. It focused on investigating the relationship between employee performance in health facilities and motivation, recruitment, and performance appraisal. Three separate health centers in Juba City were used to conduct the study. The study used a descriptive research design the target population was all 60 staff working at the headquarters of the health centers in Juba City. Stratified random sampling was used to select the target population. The sample size of this study was therefore 52 staff. Primary data was used, and it was collected through the use of semi-structured questionnaires. The questionnaire generated both qualitative and quantitative data. Qualitative data was analyzed by using correlation and regression analysis, and the results were presented in table form. Qualitative and quantitative data were examined using inferential and descriptive statistics, as well as statistical software known as the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 25.0. Descriptive statistics comprised percentages and frequencies, as well as regression and correlation analysis results. It was discovered that a company can only be as effective as its people, as employee performance is the most important component in determining an organization's success. This study looks into how HRM affects worker performance in healthcare institutions, with a focus on how important recruitment, performance reviews, and motivation are to the success of a business. Better individual performance has the potential to improve organizational performance. A strategy for continuous performance improvement and a work environment that is relevant are necessary. This should be the top priority for human resource managers. Beyond health centers, future studies should include parts of human resource practice as well as private and public health centers.

<p style="text-align:justify">The present study aimed to provide a digital story development experience for pre-service science teachers in the “instructional technologies and material development” course and to determine the impact of these experiences on their views on digital storytelling. Simultaneous parallel design, one of the mixed methods in which both quantitative and qualitative data were collected, was used in the study. Quantitative and qualitative findings are presented in different sections and both were interpreted in the discussion section. The quantitative study data were collected from 50 pre-service teachers, while the qualitative data were collected from 16 pre-service teachers. Quantitative data were collected by a survey and the qualitative data were collected in interviews. Descriptive/inferential statistics were employed in the analysis of the survey data. The steps of the analysis, coding, and categorization were adopted in the study for qualitative data. The positive effect of digital storytelling on the 21st-century skills of pre-service teachers was revealed by both quantitative and qualitative data. Furthermore, it was determined that pre-service teachers considered digital storytelling as advantageous since it provided meaningful and permanent learning, was fun and motivational; however, it also had disadvantages since it was time-consuming and required technological knowledge. It was revealed that they experienced certain difficulties in scriptwriting, finding the related images/videos and photographs, and finalizing the recording, and they considered that most, if not all, topics in the science course were suitable for digital storytelling. For pre-service teachers to acquire 21st-century skills, digital storytelling should be employed in several courses including the teaching practice course, and pre-service teachers should gain experience in preparing the students for digital storytelling.</p>

Some Thoughts About Data Type, Distribution, and Statistical Significance

Consumer purchasing habits have remained a challenge for marketers to grasp, and studies have suggested that the construct can be best grasped through marketing communication stimulus that is planned and implemented in the organization. However, empirical research into consumer purchasing behavior in retail supermarkets has been limited and anecdotal, particularly in Kenya, where several stores have gone bankrupt and others are trying to stay afloat. In light of this, the purpose of this study was to look at how marketing communication tools affect consumer purchasing behavior in selected supermarkets within Nairobi City County, Kenya. The tools in marketing communication adopted included; sales promotion, personal selling, direct and digital marketing. Descriptive together with the explanatory research design were applied. Customers were the study's population, with a sample size of 370 customers established using the Yamane method. The respondents for the study were chosen using the convenience sample method. Questionnaire were used in obtaining the study’s primary data. The instruments’ validity and reliability were evaluated to identify the acceptability and adequacy of the research items. The collected information was analyzed utilizing descriptive and inferential analytical methods. The data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. At the 0.05 level of significance, the multiple regression approach was employed to examine the significant influence of the hypotheses formulated in this study. Research results have shown that in a sample of Nairobi City County supermarkets, consumer purchasing behavior has been significantly influenced by the integrated development of advertising communication technologies. Personal sales, direct marketing, and digital marketing, according to the findings, have had a substantial impact on consumer shopping behavior at selected supermarkets in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Advertising and sales promotions, on the other hand, were shown to have no effect on consumer behavior in a few supermarkets. Although the lack of a link between advertising and sales promotion and consumer buying behavior is indicated by the findings of insignificant effects, marketing firms may still need to focus their efforts on increasing advertisements and promotion in sales as instruments in attracting customers' desires on what is offered in the market. It is recommended that Kenyan supermarket managers use the findings to better understand people's perceptions of market offerings and information exchange on what defines public behavior.

The study has been taken in order to explore the concept of entrepreneurship ecosystem and how the development of ecosystem model has an impact on the development of entrepreneurship in Pakistan. Hence, the top-down and bottom up approach both were used simultaneously in order to comprehend the entrepreneurship ecosystem phenomenon under investigation. The entrepreneurship ecosystem has been analyzed through SMEDA SME policies, cultural tendency and private educational institutions’ capacities in Pakistan in the quantitative part of the study. This study is however, guided by Isenberg (2011) and Mason and Brown (2014) through their scholarly work on entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship ecosystem. The mixed methods research strategy and parallel convergent design were used to understand and explore the phenomenon and hence quantitative and qualitative data were collected simultaneously. Although, the quantitative data were collected through convenience sampling from six universities, interviews were conducted at the same time from academic professionals, incubation center representatives and entrepreneurs as well. The quantitative data were then analyzed through SPSS and qualitative data through trial version of NVivo 12. The quantitative results show the significant relationship between SMEDA SME policies and development of entrepreneurship; however, the strength of relationship was considered to be weak. Similarly, the significant relationship was also found between cultural tendency and development of entrepreneurship in Pakistan; however strength of relationship was also weak. Moreover, the significant relationship was found between private educational institutions’ capacities and development of entrepreneurship but, the strength of relationship was weak in nature. However, while testing the final hypothesis, the relationship between cumulative SMEDA policies, cultural tendency, private educational intuitions’ capacities and entrepreneurship development in Pakistan was also found with moderate strength of association. While converging the data from quantitative and qualitative part, it was observed that, both data do converge at some point, because factors emerged in the qualitative data (family system, educational system, entrepreneurial attributes, and legal framework and incubation centers) and the results found in the quantitative data do find the relationship between with the entrepreneurship ecosystem and the development of entrepreneurship in Pakistan.

Women's experiences of initiating feeding shortly after birth in Ireland: A secondary analysis of quantitative and qualitative data from the National Maternity Experience Survey