!!!!!!!! Aisha Habeeb AL0117. Assignment #2 Part 3. Wayne State University

Transcription

1 Aisha Habeeb AL0117 Assignment #2 Part 3 Wayne State University

2 Assignment 2; Part 3 A. Habeeb Page 2 of 8 Sample This study, including 50 participants, was conducted to determine the effectiveness of a new treatment strategy to prevent or lessen trauma symptoms. The design of the treatment strategy consisted of two treatment approaches, routine and new, both of which were conducted in a residential treatment center for children and adolescents. Clients demographic and background information, including gender, ethnicity, age, and number of traumas experienced, was gathered upon arrival at the treatment center. In addition, clients also completed a 15 question Trauma Symptoms Scale Pretest regarding the occurrence of negative and/or undesirable behavior resulting from previous trauma, prior to their admission to the center. Instances of the behavior could include nightmares, sadness, bad thoughts, anger outbursts, flashbacks, fear, withdrawal, etc. A lower score on the scale is more desirable, as the scale relates to undesirable behaviors. Following the assessment, clients were randomly assigned to either the new treatment or routine treatment group and also randomly assigned to 1 of 3 cottages. Throughout their stay, data was gathered about the number of serious behavioral incidents, whether or not the clients earned off campus privileges, and the number of canceled therapy sessions. Clients were also able to rate the quality of their relationship with their therapist. The higher the score the more positive that therapist-client relationship is. Evenly selected, there were 25 females and 25 males that participated in the study. The ages of the clients range for 7-15 years old, with a median age of 11 years old and a mode of 10 years old. (See figure 1.1 & 1.2)

3 Assignment 2; Part 3 A. Habeeb Page 3 of 8 Figure 1.1: Frequency of age distribution of sample set Figure 1.2: Mean, Median, and Mode of client s age based on sample data set The ethnic composition of the 25 males clients that participated in the study consisted of 8 being Caucasian, 9 African American, 7 Hispanic and 1 was indicated as other. The female population consisted of 12 Caucasian, 6 African Americans, 6 Hispanic and 1 indicated as other. (See figure 2.1) The total percentage of the Caucasian population was 40%, African American was 30%, Hispanic was 26%, and 4% for other. (See figure 2.2) Figure 2.1: Ethnicity by gender of sample set

4 Assignment 2; Part 3 A. Habeeb Page 4 of 8 Figure 2.2: Percentages of ethnicity of sample set Bivariate Analysis Three research questions, corresponding null hypothesis, and an alternative hypothesis were presented in an effort to determine if the new treatment strategy was effective in minimizing traumatic symptoms for adolescents and youth. Research Question #1: Did the number of canceled therapy sessions have an effect on the post trauma score? Null Hypothesis: The number of canceled therapy sessions did not have an effect on the post trauma score. Alternative hypothesis: The number of canceled therapy sessions did have an effect on the post trauma score. Since both variables are are at the ratio level, Pearson s r was used to determine if their was a correlation between the number of canceled therapy sessions and the post traumatic score. Based on the correlation results from Pearson s r, there was a significant correlation at r= for the sample size of 50 (N=50). The Pearson s r is significantly higher than.2732 with p<0.05, for a similar test performed with a larger sample size of 52. Thus rejecting the null hypothesis and confirming the alternative hypothesis. (see figure 3.1 & 3.2)

5 Assignment 2; Part 3 A. Habeeb Page 5 of 8 Figure 3.1: Pearson s r correlation results Figure 3.2: Scatterplot illustrating the positive correlation between the number of canceled therapy sessions and post-trauma score Research Question #2: Did the assigned treatment group have an effect on the earned off campus privileges? Null hypothesis: The assigned treatment group did not have an effect on the earned off campus privileges.

6 Assignment 2; Part 3 A. Habeeb Page 6 of 8 Alternative hypothesis: The assigned treatment group did have an effect on the earned off campus privileges. The variables in this research question are both nominal, thus Cross-tabulation with Chi square was utilized to determine is there was a correlation between assignment treated groups and earned off campus privileges. In addition the expected frequency value was greater than 10, making Chi square the most appropriate when determining correlation for this research question. Clients in treatment group A, the new treatment group, had higher percentage who earned off campus privileges (64%) in comparison to the clients in treatment group B, the routine treatment group, where on 34% earned off campus privileges. (see figure 4.1). The Chi Square indicates a level of significance for the twotailed test at which indicates the differences in percentage are not in fact due to sampling error. (see figure 4.2) Figure 4.1 Earned Off Campus Privileges * Treatment Crosstabulation Treatment New Treatment Routine Treatment Total Earned Off Campus Privileges Yes Count Expected Count % within Treatment 64.0% 36.0% 50.0% No Count Expected Count % within Treatment 36.0% 64.0% 50.0% Total Count Expected Count % within Treatment 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

7 Assignment 2; Part 3 A. Habeeb Page 7 of 8 Figure 4.2: Chi-Square results Chi-Square Tests Asymp. Sig. Exact Sig. (2- Exact Sig. (1- Value df (2-sided) sided) sided) Pearson Chi-Square Continuity Correction Likelihood Ratio Fisher's Exact Test Linear-by-Linear Association N of Valid Cases 50 a. 0 cells (0.0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is b. Computed only for a 2x2 table Research Question # 3: Did the assignment to routine treatment or new treatment group make a difference in the number of behavioral incidents? Null hypothesis: The assignment to routine treatment or new treatment group did not make a difference in the number of behavioral incidents. Alternative hypothesis: The assignment to routine treatment or new treatment group did make a difference in the number of behavioral incidents. Unlike the previous research question, research question #3 independent variable, treatment group, was at the nominal level and the dependent variable, serious behavioral incidents, was at the ratio level, therefore an independent t-test was utilized to determine the correlation. The mean of serious behavioral incidents was 6 for treatment group A and 5 for treatment group B. Since the p value of equal variances assumed is 0.00, it can be determined that equal variances are not assumed. T-test for

8 Assignment 2; Part 3 A. Habeeb Page 8 of 8 equality of means for a two-tailed test was which is greater than p<0.05, therefore it is not statistically significant. Implications The study indicated that the number of traumatic experiences the sample group of adolescents and children were exposed to had a strong correlation to the number of serious behavioral incidents displayed by the sample group. Although further research will be needed to address the correlation in depth, it is clear that there is a correlation between the number of treatment sessions attended and the number of behavioral incidents and the assignment of treatment group was not significant to the findings. Evidence-based research is used to guide practice and develop policies. This is extremely important when considering based interventions strategies and prevention methods for protecting one of the most delicate and vulnerable populations, our youth. As a social worker, understanding the effect that traumatic incidence have on adolescents and children is imperative as it can aid in my ability to service this client population, provide better education and understanding, and enhance communication while creating new opportunities.