Evaluating Averaged Scores in Social Support Questionnaires
Author Information
Author(s): Eileen Gigliotti, William Ellery Samuels
Primary Institution: The City University of New YorkâCUNY
Hypothesis
Does averaging support scores significantly lower them as network size increases?
Conclusion
Averaged total functional support scores and averaged affect and affirmation scores do not significantly lower as network size increases, while averaged aid scores do.
Supporting Evidence
- Averaged total functional support scores did not significantly decrease as network size increased.
- Averaged affect and affirmation scores also did not significantly decrease with larger networks.
- Averaged aid scores significantly decreased as network size increased.
Takeaway
This study looked at how averaging scores from a social support questionnaire affects the results, especially when people have different numbers of support friends. It found that averaging helps in most cases but can hurt scores for aid when there are many friends.
Methodology
Pearson correlations were used to analyze the relationship between averaged scores and network size across three samples.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-reported data and the specific demographic of participants.
Limitations
The study primarily focused on women who are mothers attending college, which may limit generalizability.
Participant Demographics
Women who are mothers attending college for their first postsecondary degree.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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