Event Title
Examining Statistical and Practical Differences Among Life Expectancy Tables: Implications for Vocational Rehabilitation
Faculty Mentor
Theodore Scott Smith, Wesley Austin
Location
Hamilton Hall 116
Session
Session 3
Start Date
12-4-2014 1:45 PM
End Date
12-4-2014 2:45 PM
Description
Life expectancy tables represent a valuable tool for the vocational counselor, enabling a counselor to plan for assistive living needs, predict caregiver longevity, and, furthermore, offer a framework to compare and contrast both worklife and life expectancy. In the present study, projected life expectancies were examined in the context of their respective life expectancy tables, with a goal to determine not only whether differences exist between selected tables (statistical differences), but also evaluate whether the inconsistencies resulted in variances related to projected lost wages across a lifespan (practical significance). While there was not a statistical difference across tables, using Analysis of Variance to compare means, there was a statistical difference when comparing individual ages, utilizing paired-samples t-tests. This suggests that while differences do not fluctuate across tables in globo, differences do exist for individual ages. Moreover, differences across tables vary significantly according to age, with dissimilarities varying more than a few months across tables for older individuals and several years for younger individuals. Differences are further examined in the context of three scenarios, depicting projected financial differences among the examined life expectancy tables. Depending on both wages and length of time that a worker with a disability may be restricted from working, various tables may be biased towards prospectively under or over-projecting specified wages. Further practical applications of the present research are further discussed.
Examining Statistical and Practical Differences Among Life Expectancy Tables: Implications for Vocational Rehabilitation
Hamilton Hall 116
Life expectancy tables represent a valuable tool for the vocational counselor, enabling a counselor to plan for assistive living needs, predict caregiver longevity, and, furthermore, offer a framework to compare and contrast both worklife and life expectancy. In the present study, projected life expectancies were examined in the context of their respective life expectancy tables, with a goal to determine not only whether differences exist between selected tables (statistical differences), but also evaluate whether the inconsistencies resulted in variances related to projected lost wages across a lifespan (practical significance). While there was not a statistical difference across tables, using Analysis of Variance to compare means, there was a statistical difference when comparing individual ages, utilizing paired-samples t-tests. This suggests that while differences do not fluctuate across tables in globo, differences do exist for individual ages. Moreover, differences across tables vary significantly according to age, with dissimilarities varying more than a few months across tables for older individuals and several years for younger individuals. Differences are further examined in the context of three scenarios, depicting projected financial differences among the examined life expectancy tables. Depending on both wages and length of time that a worker with a disability may be restricted from working, various tables may be biased towards prospectively under or over-projecting specified wages. Further practical applications of the present research are further discussed.