Investigating Factors Associated with Self-Reported Well-Being in Wales

Task overview For this task you will be investigating a quantitative research case study. You will be using data from the National Survey for Wales 2017-18 to investigate a range of factors that may be associated with self-reported well-being. Your investigation aims to answer the following research question: • Using existing data from a sample of survey respondents in Wales, to what extent are job satisfaction, healthy lifestyle behaviours and material deprivation associated with overall satisfaction with life? You need to: • Evaluate the sampling and interview methods used to conduct the survey and obtain the case study data • Use the dataset provided to analyse the association between the dependent variable (well-being: overall satisfaction with life) and each explanatory variable (job satisfaction, healthy lifestyle behaviours, material deprivation) • Draw an appropriate conclusion based on your interpretation of the statistical analysis How to approach the task • Read the information provided about how the National Survey for Wales is designed and conducted. Evaluate the strengths and potential weaknesses or limitations of the study design and methods used in the context of this research question. You may find it helpful to use a critical appraisal tool relevant to the study design. • In order to access the data, you must first agree to the terms and conditions of use. You can read the terms and conditions, and confirm your agreement, by completing this one-question survey. You MUST agree to the terms and conditions in order to successfully complete the assignment - failure to complete the survey will result in your assignment being treated as a non-submission. • Use SPSS to complete the analysis tasks using appropriate techniques. All the techniques required are covered in the associated quantitative analysis teaching materials. You will need to consider the type of data held in each variable, and the most appropriate methods for displaying and analysing relationships between these variables. • Interpret your results. What do these results tell us? Explain what you have found in your own words, using appropriate units where relevant, and in the context of the original research question. • Draw a conclusion - what are the implications of these findings, and how do they relate to other literature on this topic? Are their any limitations in the methods that need to be considered when interpreting the findings? What other explanatory factors/variables might need to be taken into account? What further analysis might be needed to further investigate this issue? (NB you do not need to conduct any further analysis beyond the tasks stated). Advice on writing up this patch You have 1250 words for this patch. Whilst you are free to present the work in whichever way you wish, we recommend the following structure: • Evaluation and critique of the methods used in the survey, in the context of this research question (approx 500 words) • Presentation and interpretation of your data analysis, including graphs and tables where appropriate, leading to an overall conclusion (approx 750 words) • References using the Harvard system: not included in the word count All charts and tables should have an appropriate caption; axes in charts should be clearly labelled so that it is clear what is being presented. For tables, do not simply reproduce the original SPSS output - develop your own summary tables that display the information required. Ensure that you provide clear interpretations for your analysis (i.e. what the statistics tell us) - we are assessing your ability to explain what you have found as well as presenting the analysis.