Within the fast-paced world of Lean and Agile software development, researchers are always on the lookout for methods that allow for rapid data gathering and analysis, while still yielding robust design recommendations. This paper considers the use cases for “top-down” hypothesis testing and “bottom-up” statistical cluster analysis, within survey research on user behaviors and needs. Comparing the application of each method on the same data set shows that statistical cluster analysis can create rich data-driven personas that inform user needs and preferences and provide design teams with insightful recommendations in a short amount of time. This method also increases the potential for gaining unexpected information from quantitative data—an achievement typically viewed as within the purview of qualitative research alone. Using both approaches to the same dataset allowed us to both answer specific questions for the design team, and learn new insights from the bottom up.
Aims To test a model of psychosocial/cultural/biological risk factors for poor birth outcomes in Latina pregnant women. Design An observational study measuring acculturation, progesterone, cortisol, cotinine, age, marital status, income, stress, depressive symptoms and coping. We tested a structural equation model to predict risk. Methods We obtained a convenience sample ( N = 515) of low medical risk pregnant Mexican American Hispanic women at 22–24 weeks of gestation. Bilingual research nurses collected data from blood, urine and questionnaires. Self‐report measures were the Beck Depression Inventory‐II, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans‐II and the Brief Cope. We measured progesterone and cortisol in plasma and cotinine levels in urine by enzyme‐linked immunoassays. Results A PLS‐ SEM model revealed that Mexican American Hispanic pregnant women who were younger, single, lower income, more acculturated and who had greater negative coping, stress and depression were most at risk for having earlier and smaller babies.
Background Recognizing the effects of acculturation on quality of life and emotional health, especially during pregnancy, we developed an intervention that would target these factors in order to improve maternal well-being during the prenatal period and potentially improve infant outcomes, particularly preterm birth for Mexican-American women (Latinas). Objective The purpose of these pilot studies was to test the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of the mastery lifestyle intervention (MLI) to decrease depressive and anxiety symptoms and improve coping as implemented in prenatal clinics with culturally homogenous groups of Latinas. Methods The MLI was tested in three small pilot studies (n = 15), one in El Paso, Texas (an urban area), and two in Bastrop, Texas (a rural area outside Austin), for acceptability and feasibility. A pretest/posttest, quasi-experimental design was used with pregnant self-identified Mexican-American Latinas at 14–20 weeks' gestation. Measures of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and positive and negative coping were used. Results Feasibility was a success in terms of implementation of the MLI in an active prenatal clinic setting and the use of electronic tablets for data collection and entry of data into REDcap. Satisfaction was high, with the location of the MLI being at their primary OB/GYN clinic. Participants reported that six intervention sessions appear to be ideal as was the class length of 1.5 to 2 hours. On Cohen's d, there were medium to large effect size decreases in depressive and anxiety symptoms and small to medium effect size decreases in the use of negative coping strategies and small effect sizes for increases in positive coping strategies. Discussion Pilot testing of the MLI indicated that it was well accepted from the participants and feasible as a culturally tailored behavioral therapy administered in a group setting by nurse practitioners. Our initial pilot results also suggest preliminary efficacy as indicated by moderate to large Cohen's d effect sizes for depression and anxiety.
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