Assignment task:
1. Evaluation Question
Does participation in the NYAP program lead to a significant reduction in internalizing symptoms from pre-test to post-test among youth participants? Need Assignment Help?
2. Determining the Statistical Test
Because my evaluation involves pre-test and post-test scores for the same participants, I will use a within-subjects (repeated measures) statistical approach.
Before choosing the final test, I will check whether the difference scores (Post - Pre) meet the assumptions for parametric testing:
Normality Assumption Check
In Jamovi, I will:
Create a new variable representing the difference scores
Run the Shapiro-Wilk test
Inspect the histogram and Q-Q plot
Review skewness and kurtosis values
Decision Guideline
If the difference scores are normally distributed:
I will use a Paired Samples t-test, which compares the mean pre-test score to the mean post-test score.
If the normality assumption is violated:
I will use the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test, which is the appropriate non-parametric alternative.
This step ensures that the statistical method aligns with the characteristics of my dataset and provides the most accurate interpretation of change.
3. Checking Dataset Quality (Missing Data & Outliers)
Before running the analysis, I reviewed my dataset for issues that could affect results:
Missing Data: I confirmed that all participants had both pre-test and post-test values. If any were missing, I would decide whether listwise deletion or imputation was appropriate, but my sample is complete.
Outliers: Because the PSC-17 uses small item-level scoring (0-2), extreme outliers are unlikely. However, I will still evaluate boxplots for both variables to confirm there are no unusual total scores.
Ensuring a clean dataset strengthens the credibility of the evaluation.
4. Presenting My Results in the Final Report
For my Week 6 written assignment, I plan to present results clearly and visually:
A paired comparison table showing means, standard deviations, and the test statistic (t-value or Wilcoxon Z).
A bar chart or line graph displaying pre-test and post-test average internalizing scores.
A brief narrative summarizing whether scores decreased and whether the change was statistically significant.