Discuss how you would use regression to learn more about the nature of the relationship between the variables
Regression is a significantly common technique used for analyzing data. Regression analysis is employed to delineate the relationships between a group of independent variables and the dependent variable. In this case, the dependent variable is substance abuse. On the other hand, the set of independent variables comprise of exposure to substance abuse, ethnicity, age, and gender, poverty, and loneliness. Regression would play a significant role in helping with the learning process regarding the nature of the relationship between the variables. The analysis will particularly entail descriptive statistics as well as regression, correlation, and ANOVA analysis. Descriptive statistics will be used to present demographic data and provide measures of central tendency such as averages and median, while the statistical analyses will be important for testing the relationship between the dependent and independent variables (Draper and Smith, 2014).

One-way ANOVA is delineated as an approach that can be utilized for the comparison of means of two or more samples. There are different necessitated conditions for a one-way ANOVA. First of all, the variances of populations are the same. Secondly, the response variable residuals follow a normal distribution and lastly, the responses for a particular group are independent and they are also random variables that are normally distributed and are identical (Weiers, 2010). The analysis will seek to analyze the F-Statistic. Basically, this is the figure that is attained subsequent to conducting a regression analysis or subsequent to running an ANOVA test. This is purposed to ascertain whether the means of two populations are substantially different (Weiers, 2010).

Specifically, this research study will use multiple regression analysis. This is because there are different sets of variables. This analysis is meant to determine the correlation and trends in these sets of data. Therefore, in this case, the different independent variables will be set in regard to the different predictors including: (x1)1, (x2)1, (x3)1, Y1).

The equation used in the research study will be:

Multiple regression: Y = b0 + b1 x1 + b0 + b1 x2…b0…b1 xn

In this case Y = substance abuse

(x1) will be level of exposure

(x2) will be ethnicity

(x3) will be age

(x4) will be gender

(x5) will be poverty

(x5) will be loneliness

Discuss any issues associated with measurement error that could be plaguing your study

Measurement error takes into account the dissimilarity between a measured quantity and its true value. There are two types of measurement error including random error, which is an error that naturally takes place and is anticipated to be present with any sort of experiment, and also systematic error, which is instigated by misconstrued research instrument that impacts all measurements. There are a number of issues linked with measurement error that could be adversely impacting my research study. Notably, this is an epidemiological research study, which measures characteristics of a population. Bearing in mind that the parameter of interest in this particular case is the prevalence of an exposure, and that the research study is carried out on individuals, it is subject to bias (Trochim, 2006). There are different types of measurement error. One of them is systematic error, which is a kind of error that brings about measurements that incessantly shift away from the true value in the similar direction. The second type of error is the random error, which takes into account the variance between a person’s reported understanding of the research instrument’s reading compared to the actual reading. Third, there is gross errors, which take into account the physical errors in investigation tool or computing and recording measurement results. On the whole, these gross errors will come about all the way through the experiments, wherever the researcher may study or record a worth dissimilar from the actual one, perhaps as a result of a reduced view (Trochim, 2006).

How would you know/identify it, and what can be done about it?

One of the key ways in which I would identify measurement error is by assessing the quality of measurements in the research study. An ideal survey technique is valid. From time to time a reliable standard is obtainable against which the validity of a survey technique can be evaluated. In this case, measurement of the exposure to substance abuse and also measurement of illness is incapable of complete validation. Therefore, from a practical point of view, it would be possible to assess validity indirectly. Two approaches are prevalently employed. A technique that has been streamlined and standardized to make it appropriate for use in surveys might be matched with the best conventional clinical evaluation. A self-administered substance abuse questionnaire, for example, might be contrasted against the popular view of a substance abuse panel. On the other hand, a measurement may be validated by its...…Stratified sample is selected to facilitate obtaining the ideal research sample. The dependent variable is substance abuse whereas the independent variables include exposure to substance abuse, ethnicity, age, and gender, poverty, and loneliness. Regression analysis will be employed for analyzing the data collected.

Discuss how you would address the presentation of your study’s results

A key constituent of the scientific and experiential research is the presentation of the research findings to the target audience. First of all, the written report would be presented using different topics. The first section will be the introduction, which will provide succinct background and overview information regarding the problem or phenomenon to be investigated. The introduction will encompass the contemporary state of insight and understanding regarding the phenomenon. The section will close with a properly outlined hypothesis of the study and experiential expectations. Secondly, there will be the methods section, which will delineate the different procedures and processes employed in testing the hypotheses aforementioned. These processes will be delineated in extensive detail that they can be reiterated by others. This section will also comprehensively outline the materials, analytical as well as statistical techniques and procedures.

The following section of the written presentation will be results section. This is where a summary of the experimental results of the research study will be delineated. It will include a proper explanation of the results in addition to well-placed tables and figures, demonstrating statistical outcomes and the experimental error. Specifically, these figures and tables will comprise of the different legends that shed light on what they are outlining. The fourth section of this report will include the discussion of the study. Basically, in this section, the outcomes obtained in the preceding chapter will be interpreted and thereafter inferences will be drawn. In addition, this section will encompass a succinct comparison of the results obtained to the outcomes that were attained from other research studies in the existent literature and thereafter provide the overall significance of the research findings. Lastly, any kind of limitations faced in the research study will be pointed out, in addition to reasons for the measurement errors and also prospects of future research studies.

Presentation of the study will also include an oral and PowerPoint presentation. It is imperative to note that these presentations will be fundamentally similar to that of the written report and will include the aforementioned section comprising: introduction, methods, results, and discussion. Finally,…