In contrast to statistical approaches aimed at testing specific hypotheses, Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) is a quantitative tradition that seeks to help researchers understand data when little or no statistical hypotheses exist, or when specific hypotheses exist but supplemental representations are needed to ensure the interpretability of statistical results. In this way, EDA seeks to answer the broad scientific questions of “what is going on here” and “how might I be fooled by my statistical results.” The techniques of EDA are discussed following the “4 Rs” of Revelation (graphics), Re‐expression (scale transformation), Residuals (model building and assessment), and Resistance (using summaries unaffected by unexpected values). The philosophical justification for EDA is presented in terms of C.S. Pierce's concept of abduction and the recognition of a broad range of analytic needs that arise throughout the research process. Several previously published datasets from psychological literature are re‐analyzed to illustrate the interpretive errors that can occur when techniques of EDA are omitted. In general, these errors occur because researchers unwittingly assume the existence of structure that is not supported by the data. Using the techniques of EDA, however, underlying structure is brought to the researcher's attention and appropriate interpretation can be obtained.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of the strengths model of case management (SMCM) for people with severe mental illness in Hong Kong. This is the first controlled trial outside the United States to investigate the impacts of SMCM on caseworkers as well as service users alongside fidelity measures. Method: Service users and their caseworkers were recruited from three types of supported accommodation for this 12-month nonrandomized controlled trial. Mixed modeling was used to investigate within-subject differences. Results: Results indicated that SMCM was effective in helping users progress toward their recovery goals and in alleviating emotional exhaustion among caseworkers. However, it was ineffective in improving, hope, wellbeing, work alliance, and psychiatric symptoms. High intervention fidelity was associated with positive outcomes. Conclusions: Conceptually, SMCM has the potential to improve service users' functional but not personal recovery. It is also potentially conducive to the well-being of caseworkers.

Background Many elderly individuals who experience sleep disturbances would consider complementary and alternative medicine as an alternative therapeutic option in light of the limitations of traditional treatments. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) are two alternative forms of complementary and alternative medicine. They both share the common feature of a focus on breathing but represent distinct approaches with different mechanisms and philosophical orientations. The trial described in this protocol aims to evaluate the effects of an integrated form of mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan (MBTCC) programme and the underlying mechanisms of the beneficial effects over a 12-month follow-up. Methods The planned study is a four-armed randomized controlled trial with repeated measures. A total of 256 community-dwelling older adults with sleep problems will be recruited and randomized into four groups: (1) an MBTCC group, (2) an MBI group, (3) a TCC group, and (4) a sleep hygiene education (SHE) control group. The outcome measures in terms of insomnia severity, interoception, sleep-wake pattern, health status, rumination, and hyperarousal level will be collected at four time points: at baseline (T1), after the 8-week intervention (T2), 6 months after the intervention (T3), and 1 year after the intervention (T4). In addition, qualitative evaluation through focus group interviews will be conducted at the end of the 12-month assessment period (T4). Discussion This trial will illuminate the synergetic effect of combining both MBIs and TCC on optimizing improvements in sleep disturbance. The findings from this study can provide empirical support for this integrated treatment, which provides an alternative for healthcare professionals in elderly service to select appropriate practices to treat elderly people with sleep disturbance. It can further help to lessen the growing public health burden of sleep disturbances among the elderly living in the community. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT05396092. Published on 24 May 2022