NUR 028 (Nursing Research 2-Lecture)

STUDENT ACTIVITY SHEET BS NURSING/THIRD YEAR

Session # 3

Materials:
LESSON TITLE: MEASUREMENT OF VARIABLES Book, pen and notebook

LEARNING OUTCOME: Textbook:

Upon completion of this lesson, the nursing student is Barrientos-Tan, C. (2011). A Research Guide in
expected to: Nursing Education: Building an Evidence-Based
1. Identify the levels of measurement. Practice. Pasay City: Philippines, Visprint Inc.

References:
Polit, Denise F. & Beck, Cheryl T. (2012). Nursing
research: Generating and assessing evidence for
nursing research (9th ed.), Philadelphia, PA:
Wolters Kluwer Health/ Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16052183

LESSON REVIEW (5 minutes)

The instructor will open a box of rolled papers with your assigned numbers. The students whose numbers will be picked
by the instructor will answer one of the following questions:
1. What are the methods of collecting data?
 Use of already existing or available data
 Use of observers’ data
2. What is the difference between structured and unstructured observation?
 Structured Observations are done when the researcher has prior knowledge of the phenomenon of interest.
The behavior checklist may help indicate the frequency of the subjects’ observed behavior. On the other
hand, in unstructured observation, the researcher attempts to describe the events or behavior with no
preconceived ideas of what will be seen or observed. This requires a high degree of attention and
concentration on the part of the researcher.
3. What are the types of observers?
 Non-participant observer- This observer does not share the same milieu with the subjects and is not a
member of the group or subjects of the study. Data from this source have the advantage of high level
precision because subjective judgement is minimal.
 Participant observer- The observer shares the same milieu and is better acquainted with the subjects.
The observer may be a member of the group assigned to collect data while taking part in the activity of the
subjects.

This document and the information thereon is the property of PHINMA

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MAIN LESSON (30 minutes)

Variables are qualities, properties or characteristics of persons, things, or situations, may change or vary, manipulated,
measured, or controlled.

Measurement is a procedure for assigning numerical values to represent the amount of an attribute present in an
object or person.

Advantages of Measurement

1. It removes subjectivity and guesswork.

2. Obtain reasonably precise information.
3. It serves as a language of communication.

Levels of Measurement determine the type of statistical analysis that can be used and the type of conclusions that can
be drawn from the investigation.

1. Nominal are used to classify variables into categories but cannot be ranked, categories are mutually exclusive

Ex. GENDER: 1 Male or 1 Female

2 Female or 2 Male

CIVIL STATUS: 1 Single

2 Married
3 Others

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 2. Ordinal are used to show relative rankings of variables, and in ordering observations according to magnitude or
intensity; from most to least; highest to lowest

Ex. Scales – the devices designed to assign a numeric score for people to place them on a continuum with
respect to attributes being measured

a. Likert Scale- consists of several declarative items that express a viewpoint on a topic. Respondents typically
are asked to indicate the degree to which they agree or disagree with the opinion expressed by the statement

b. Semantic Differential Scale -participants are asked to rate concepts on a series of bipolar adjectives.
Respondents place a check at the appropriate point on a 7-point scale that extends from one extreme of the
dimension to the other.

c. Vignettes- brief case reports or descriptions of events to which respondents are asked to react.
Descriptions are structured to elicit information about respondents’ perceptions of some phenomenon or their
projected actions

d. Q Sorts- participants are presented with a set of cards on which words or phrases are written; they are told to
sort the cards along a specified bipolar dimension.
Typically, there are between 50 to 100 cards to be sorted into 9 or 11 piles

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 e. Visual Analog Scale - used to measure subjective experiences
Example: pain, fatigue, dyspnea, nausea

f. Graphic Rating Scale- A scale in which respondents are asked to rate something (e.g., concept or an issue)
along an ordered, numbered continuum, typically on a bipolar dimension (e.g., “excellent” to “very poor”)

3. Interval- rankings of variables on a scale with equal intervals between the numbers, consists of real numbers,
The zero point remains arbitrary and not absolute
Ex: Temperature in degree Centigrade
Temperature in degree Fahrenheit
Date, pH

4. Ratio- ranking of variables on scales with equal intervals, distance between ranks is specified up to the zero point
level, the zero is absolute
Ex: weight, height, income, No. of children/clients, temperature in degree Kelvin

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CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING (15 minutes)
Short Quiz. You have to identify if the level of measurement with the variables given below is Nominal, Ordinal, Interval or
Ratio. Erasures and superimpositions will be marked wrong. (10 points)
1. Marital Status
ANSWER: Nominal

2. Income
ANSWER: Ratio

3. Stress
ANSWER: Ordinal

4. Ph
ANSWER: Interval

5. Level of Knowledge
ANSWER: Ordinal

6. Perception
ANSWER: Ordinal

7. Year Level
ANSWER: Nominal

8. Storm Signal
ANSWER: Nominal

9. No. of nurses per shift

ANSWER: Ratio

10. Type of bacteria

ANSWER: Nominal

RATIONALIZATION ACTIVITY
The instructor will now rationalize the answers to the students and will encourage them to ask questions and to
discuss among their classmates.

1. ANSWER:
RATIONALE:

2. ANSWER:
RATIONALE:

3. ANSWER:
RATIONALE:

4. ANSWER:
RATIONALE:

5. ANSWER:

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 RATIONALE:

6. ANSWER:
RATIONALE:

7. ANSWER:
RATIONALE:

8. ANSWER:
RATIONALE:

9. ANSWER:
RATIONALE:

10. ANSWER:
RATIONALE:

LESSON WRAP-UP (10 minutes)

You will now mark (encircle) the session you have finished today in the tracker below. This is simply a visual to help you
track how much work you have accomplished and how much work there is left to do.

You are done with the session! Let’s track your progress.

AL Strategy: CAT 3-2-1

After the lesson, each of you will be asked to write in a one fourth sheet of paper the following:

Three things student learned:

1. I have learned some examples of the different levels of measurement.

2. I have learned to identify the level of measurement.
3. I have learned the advantages of measurement.

Two things student still want to learn more about:

1. I still want to learn more about the different levels of measurement.

2. I still want to know more examples of Nominal, Ordinal, Ratio, and Interval.

One question student still have:

1. None. So far.

The instructor will validate your learning and answer questions before the class dismissed.

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