On measurements and their quality: Paper 2: Random measurement error and the power of statistical tests

This is the second in a short series of papers on measurement theory and practice with particular relevance to intervention research in nursing, midwifery, and healthcare. This paper begins with an illustration of how random measurement error decreases the power of statistical tests and a review of the roles of sample size and effect size in hypothesis testing. A simple formula is presented and discussed for calculating sample size during the planning stages of intervention studies. Finally, an approach for incorporating reliability estimates into a priori power analyses is introduced and illustrated with a practical example. The approach permits researchers to compare alternative study designs, in terms of their statistical power. An SPSS program is provided to facilitate this approach and to assist researchers in making optimal decisions when choosing among alternative study designs.