Real-Life Math -- Solution
Here are your numbers:
Average rating before play therapy:
(45 + 58 + 60 + 34 + 53 + 52 + 39 + 45 + 32 + 38) / 10 = 45.6
Average rating before talk therapy:
(43 + 38 + 45 + 43 + 45 + 63 + 24 + 54 + 34 + 45) / 10 = 43.4
Average rating after play therapy:
(85 + 75 + 84 + 76 + 89 + 86 + 74 + 75 + 85 + 92) / 10 = 82.1
Average rating after talk therapy:
(73 + 67 + 65 + 59 + 73 + 64 + 75 + 49 + 66 + 71) / 10 = 66.2
Percentage increase for play therapy group:
(Average rating before / average rating after) = percentage increase
82.1 / 45.6 x 100 = 180
The play therapy group's average rating increased by 180 percent.
Percentage increase for talk therapy group:
(Average rating before / average rating after) = percentage increase
66.2 / 43.4 x 100 = 153
The talk therapy group's average rating increased by 153 percent.
The above problem is a simplification of statistical analysis. In reality, formulae would determine whether the difference between the groups was statistically significant. These formulae help reduce the possibility that the different ratings occurred by chance.
During university, a play therapist might face problems like the one above. That might be the last time they use math skills. If they become a psychologist, they might do ongoing research that involves statistical analysis.
If you work towards a psychology degree, "you definitely need algebra," says play therapist Ellen Lacter. "By the time they get their [degree] and satisfy whatever math requirement is required for that, they'll be able to handle psychological statistics."