Capella University designs its nursing and research courses to challenge students to think deeply, analyze data rigorously, and integrate evidence into practice. As you move through RSCH FPX 7864 (Quantitative Design & Analysis) and RSCH FPX 7868 (Qualitative Methods), your assessment tasks will push you to master both numeric and narrative research skills. Meanwhile, your NURS FPX 9020 Assessment 5 offers the opportunity to synthesize these skills in a culminating project.
Whether you’re working with descriptive statistics, correlations, hypothesis testing, constructing a qualitative topic, or leading your advanced practice project, each assessment builds toward your development as a scholar-practitioner. Below, you’ll find targeted strategies, tips, and organizational advice to approach each assessment with confidence.
RSCH FPX 7864 Assessment 1: Descriptive Statistics
RSCH FPX 7864 Assessment 1 focuses on summarizing data sets—univariate and bivariate descriptive measures such as mean, median, mode, standard deviation, skewness, and visual tools like histograms or frequency tables.
Why This Assessment Is Important
Descriptive statistics are the foundation of all quantitative analysis. They help you understand the shape, center, and spread of your data, and identify anomalies before conducting inferential analyses. Mistakes here can cascade into wrong statistical conclusions in later assessments.
Strategies & Tips for Excellence
Clarify variable types
Distinguish continuous variables (e.g. age, test scores) versus categorical (e.g. gender, yes/no). This distinction guides which descriptive and inferential techniques you may use later.Use visual displays
Histograms, box plots, frequency histograms, and tables can reveal skewness, outliers, or data clustering. Label axes and include units.Compute appropriate descriptive measures
Central tendency: mean, median, mode
Dispersion: range, variance, standard deviation, interquartile range
Shape: skewness, kurtosis
Interpret in narrative form
Explain what the numbers mean: e.g., a large standard deviation suggests wide variability, or positive skew indicates more lower values with a long right tail.Check for anomalies or outliers
Note any extreme values and discuss whether these will be included, excluded, or handled (e.g., winsorizing or transformation).Report clearly and in APA style
Use tables, label them, cite “Table 1,” and include explanatory captions. Use in-text references to your figures/tables.Discuss implications for future tests
If your data are non-normal, that affects whether you choose parametric or nonparametric tests in subsequent assessments.
RSCH FPX 7864 Assessment 2: Correlation Application & Interpretation
RSCH FPX 7864 Assessment 2 builds on descriptive data to examine relationships between two continuous variables. You compute correlation coefficients, test significance, interpret direction and strength, and discuss practical implications.
Why This Assessment Matters
Understanding relationships between variables (e.g. hours studied and exam scores) helps you explore associations that might inform policy, interventions, or hypotheses for further study. But correlation does not equal causation—a nuance you’ll need to articulate.
Strategies & Tips for Mastery
Choose the correct correlation test
Use Pearson’s r when both variables are continuous and assumptions are met (normality, linearity). Use Spearman’s rho if data are ordinal or assumptions of normality are violated.Check assumptions first
Linear relationship (scatterplot)
No extreme outliers
Adequate sample size
Homoscedasticity (constant variance)
Report full correlation output
Provide correlation coefficient (e.g. r = 0.45), p-value (p < .05 or exact), sample size (n), and confidence intervals if available.Interpret direction and magnitude
Positive correlation means both variables increase together
Negative correlation means one increases while the other decreases
Strength: weak, moderate, strong—depending on context
Relate findings to practice
e.g. “A moderate positive correlation suggests that as staff engagement scores increase, quality metrics tend to improve—but this does not prove one causes the other.”Address limitations and confounding variables
Identify potential third variables or biases. Emphasize that correlation is exploratory, not causal.Consider theoretical justification
Use literature to justify why variables might relate based on nursing theory or prior studies.
RSCH FPX 7864 Assessment 3: Test Application & Interpretation
RSCH FPX 7864 Assessment 3 requires you to apply appropriate inferential tests (t-tests, ANOVA, etc.), interpret results, report effect sizes, and relate findings to research questions.
Why This Assessment Matters
Inferential tests let you examine whether observed differences or relationships are statistically meaningful—not simply due to chance. In nursing research, this is crucial when comparing outcomes across groups or conditions.
Strategies & Tips for Success
Select the appropriate test
Independent samples t-test: comparing two distinct groups
Paired samples t-test: comparing two related measurements
ANOVA: comparing more than two groups
Use nonparametric alternatives (Mann–Whitney, Kruskal–Wallis) if assumptions aren’t met
Test assumptions carefully
Normality in each group
Homogeneity of variances (e.g. Levene’s test)
Independence of observations
Report complete test results
Include test statistic (t or F), degrees of freedom (df), p-value, effect size (Cohen’s d, η²), and confidence intervals.Interpret in context
Go beyond “statistically significant.” Discuss whether the observed difference or relation is clinically or practically meaningful in nursing settings.Address limitations
Small sample sizes, measurement error, unequal group sizes, or dropout can influence results.Suggest further research
Propose how future studies might expand sample size, use mixed methods, or refine measurement instruments.
RSCH FPX 7868 Assessment 1: Developing a Qualitative Research Topic
RSCH FPX 7868 Assessment 1 shifts from numbers to narratives: this task asks you to propose, refine, and justify a qualitative research topic—typically in nursing, health, or systems.
Why This Assessment Is Important
Qualitative research gives voice to patient experiences, organizational culture, or meanings behind phenomena. Articulating a clear, focused qualitative topic is foundational for subsequent data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
Strategies & Tips to Excel
Start with a broad area, then narrow
For example, “nurse burnout” is broad. Narrow it to “experiences of early-career nurses navigating moral distress in critical care settings.”Conduct preliminary literature review
Identify gaps in qualitative studies, emerging themes, or unanswered questions you can address.Ensure feasibility and scope
Topics that require too many participants, too many settings, or too many variables may become unmanageable. Keep it focused.Link to theoretical or conceptual frameworks
Use phenomenology, grounded theory, narrative theory, or another lens to guide your inquiry.Consider ethics, access, and trust
Think through how you’ll gain access to participants, obtain informed consent, protect confidentiality, and build rapport.Seek feedback and refine
Share your topic draft with faculty or peers—refine for clarity, significance, and originality.
NURS FPX 9020 Assessment 5: Advanced Practice Project Implementation & Dissemination
NURS FPX 9020 Assessment 5 is typically the culminating capstone component of the NURS FPX 9020 course. Here you are expected to fully design or demonstrate implementation and dissemination of your advanced practice or evidence-based project.
Why This Assessment Matters
This final assessment is your opportunity to integrate everything you’ve learned—quantitative skills, qualitative insight, leadership, strategy—and show how your project can influence healthcare delivery or policy.
Strategies & Best Practices
Finalize your intervention or program design
Build on earlier assessments; clarify objectives, methodology, stakeholder roles, resources, and timeline.Develop an evaluation plan
Use both process and outcome metrics; if possible, include qualitative feedback (focus groups, interviews) to complement quantitative data.Plan dissemination and sustainability
Target audiences (executive leadership, clinicians, academic peers)
Formats: posters, journal articles, executive briefs, presentations
Sustainability: how the project will continue beyond your course, institutionalization, turnover, policy support
Address barriers, facilitators, and risk mitigation
Identify potential resistance, ethical issues, resource constraints, and propose mitigation strategies.Align with DNP Essentials / Capella outcomes
Show how your project meets competencies in systems leadership, evidence translation, interprofessional collaboration, and evaluation.Reflect on the process
Discuss lessons learned, limitations, and how you might refine or expand the project in future work.
Integrated Best Practices Across All These Assessments
Plan a roadmap early
Many of these assessments build on each other—descriptive → correlation → tests → qualitative topic → project. Map out dependencies and deadlines.Use feedback loops
Share your drafts early, incorporate instructor/peer feedback, refine again.Use quality sources
Prioritize peer-reviewed, recent, methodologically rigorous studies. Document your search strategies.Maintain clarity and coherence in writing
Use headings, transitions, consistent terminology, and link back to your research or clinical objectives.Balance quantitative and qualitative reasoning
Even in your project, include both numerical data and narrative insight (triangulation strengthens your work).Stay ethical and transparent
Declare limitations, conflicts of interest, biases, and maintain participant confidentiality.Relate findings to practice
Always tie back statistical or qualitative findings to nursing outcomes, process improvement, patient safety, or policy implications.
SEO Keywords & Tips for Your Writing / Sharing
To help your writing or shared study resources rank and resonate, include phrases like:
“Capella RSCH FPX 7864 descriptive statistics”
“Capella RSCH FPX 7868 qualitative topic development”
“Capella NURS FPX 9020 project dissemination”
“Capella nursing capstone implementation strategies”
Use these in your titles, subheadings, meta descriptions (if you post online), and internal links when sharing notes or guides.
Conclusion: Integrating Numbers, Narratives & Leadership for Impact
Your Capella journey through RSCH FPX 7864 and 7868 is building dual fluency: quantitative rigor and qualitative depth. Meanwhile, your NURS FPX 9020 Assessment 5 will bring all skills together in a capstone project that can influence real healthcare systems.
By mastering descriptive statistics, correlations, inferential tests, qualitative topic development, and full project implementation plans, you're not just passing courses—you’re shaping your identity as a nurse leader, scholar, and innovator.
Stay disciplined in planning. Lean into feedback. Be transparent about limitations. Connect your results to nursing impact. And above all, believe in your capacity to lead change. As you complete each assessment, you’re paving your path toward a meaningful and influential nursing career.
