A researcher reports on a study conducted to determine if a new educational program has helped dialysis patients become more compliant with their fluid restrictions. The findings indicated that there was no difference. The report did include that a power analysis was performed to determine if the sample size (n = 100) was adequate. The power level was .5. What should the reader conclude?
A) A sample of 100 is certainly adequate in a clinical study. The researcher should adjust the educational program.
B) Chances are high that a Type I error has occurred.
C) Findings of no difference are not surprising; it is difficult to make an impact on this population of patients.
D) There is a high likelihood that the sample size was not adequate, and the study should be replicated using more subjects.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A power level needs to reach .8 to be acceptable, and this one had only .5. There is a good chance that a Type II error occurred, and the study should be replicated.
A broad estimate is that samples in nursing studies should average more than 200 subjects to achieve enough power to detect differences. A power level needs to reach .8 to be acceptable, and this one had only .5. There is a good chance that a Type II error occurred, and the study should be replicated.
Chances are high that a Type II error has occurred. A power level needs to reach .8 to be acceptable, and this one had only .5. There is a good chance that a Type II error occurred, and the study should be replicated.
Without additional information, this conclusion is way overstated. A power level needs to reach .8 to be acceptable, and this one had only .5. There is a good chance that a Type II error occurred, and the study should be replicated.

A Researcher Reports on a Study Conducted to Determine If