A program is aiming at investigating the efficacy of counseling programs associated with enhanced relationship satisfaction among couples. How to see if there is a statistically significant difference in a couple’s satisfaction before participating in the program and one week after participating in the program?

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To determine if there is a statistically significant difference in a couple's satisfaction before and after participating in the counseling program aimed at enhancing relationship satisfaction, the following steps can be taken:

Pre- and post-assessment: Administer a validated questionnaire measuring relationship satisfaction to participating couples both before and one week after the program. Ensure consistency in the measurement tool to capture the same constructs at both time points.

Data collection and pairing: Collect the responses from couples at both time points and pair the pre-program and post-program scores for each couple. This pairing allows for a direct comparison of individual couples' satisfaction levels before and after the program.

Statistical analysis: Conduct a paired samples t-test or a non-parametric equivalent (such as the Wilcoxon signed-rank test) to assess the statistical significance of the difference in satisfaction scores before and after the program. This analysis determines if the observed change in satisfaction levels is beyond what would be expected due to chance.

Set significance level: Determine a significance level (e.g., p < 0.05) to evaluate the statistical significance of the results. If the obtained p-value is less than the chosen significance level, it indicates a statistically significant difference in satisfaction before and after the program.

Interpretation: Interpret the results in terms of statistical significance and effect size. If the analysis shows a statistically significant difference, it suggests that the counseling program has had a measurable impact on enhancing relationship satisfaction. Additionally, consider the magnitude of the effect size to understand the practical significance of the findings.