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Spanish to English translations [PRO] Medical - Mathematics & Statistics / research, psychology
Spanish term or phrase:ES
This is from an academic paper investigating the effects of an action taken with parents of children with haemophilia. Mainland Spain.
"After the action, we observed that, in the EG (Experimental Group), there was a significant improvement in: perceived family functioning (p=.008; ES= -.55), "
It is clearly, like the p-value, a statistical measurement of significance - but should it be translated, and what does it mean? It may be in English already
It could be effect size (tamaño del efecto); occasionally the English acronym ES is used for that, but it's normally TE in Spanish.
However, although error estándar (standard error) is normally EE, ES is quite often used as well. Some examples:
"Recordemos que a la desviación estándar de la muestra dividida por la raíz cuadrada de N la llamamos Error Estándar o Típico de de la muestra, ES." Inmaculada Herranz Tejedor, Bioestadística sin dificultades matemáticas, p. 137 http://books.google.es/books?id=cNyWNWG-EvkC&pg=PA137&lpg=PA...
"Tabla 1. Valores medios y número de muestras por localidad de la valoración GLOBAL. DS: desviación estándar; CV: coeficiente de variación; ES: error estándar; LC: límites de confianza (al 95%); error relativo (al 95%)." http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/agriculturaypesca/ifapa/-/act... (last page, left).
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2013-12-17 09:40:14 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
By the way, I see njweatherdon suggested this as the likely meaning in context, but assumed (not unreasonably) that since the context is quoted in English this must be an English-Spanish question. I was assuming that you have quoted your English translation of the Spanish original, and that ES is an acronym used in a Spanish, not an English, text. If so, it can mean standard error, and I think it does, but if it were used in English we would have to assume it is an error for SE (or that it means effect size, but I don't think it does).
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2013-12-17 09:43:50 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I didn't see njweatherdon's suggestion before posting my answer, by the way; we came to the same conclusion independently.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2 hrs (2013-12-17 10:49:54 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
That's it: you would have thought error estándar would be EE, and indeed it often is, but there are quite a lot of examples of ES being used for it, apart from the few I've quoted.
One of the main problems here, as I needn't tell you, is that googling "ES" produces 116 trillion irrelevant results. You have to frame the search quite restrictively to get some relevant ones near the top.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 3 hrs (2013-12-17 10:52:37 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
And I suppose another argument is that since they're using the Spanish acronym GE rather than the English EG, ES is probably a Spanish acronym rather than an English one (though you can't rely on them being consistent).
I'm not 100% sure of the actual intended meaning, but on second look the plus/minus issue does seem to settle the issue that effect size (or coefficient, most likely on the binary treatment variable) is what the writer will want to report here and what the reader is interested in knowing. Therefore, I now think this is most likely to be the correct interpretation.
I don't mean to be dogmatic about this. It should be relatively easy to check my Effect Size assertion - somewhere in the text there (almost certainly) is a figure which says what the pre-treatment value was and another one which says what the post-treatment value was. The difference is the Effect Size. I bet that subtracting one from the other will give a reduction of 0.55 i.e. the -0.55 in your text. I'm far from infallible, but I do understand the subject area :-)
If that explanation doesn't work for you, please say why and I'll try to explain better.
I have to say I am unsure too. It is quite true a standard error can't be a negative value, so if it definitely says -.55 that doesn't seem compatible. Perhaps my answer is wrong, and if so, I'm very sorry if I've misled you.
In the light of the context you've just posted, I presume that the argument for ES meaning effect size here is that the stress values decreased and this amounted to an improvement. Although effect size is normally TE in Spanish, they could be using the English acronym ES. But I would very much appreciate a clear explanation from Donal on this. Please, Donal, could you explain this properly for those of us who know less of statistics than you do.
This is what it said:- Tras la intervención, observamos que en el GE hay una mejoría significativa en funcionamiento familiar percibido (p=.008; ES=-.55), la frecuencia de estresores ante el distrés emocional, el esfuerzo frente al estrés en el distrés emocional y la frecuencia total de estrés percibido
I now no longer know what's right. Will try to contact the client when holidays over. Tahnks to all for your hard work and concern.
You are right that a standard error can't be negative. I am assuming that -.55 is a typo, either for ±.55 or simply for .55. SE is very commonly given just as a decimal, without any sign.
On effect size: even assuming that ES is being used with this meaning in a Spanish text instead of the usual TE (which is not impossible but is certainly very unusual), and also assuming, as you do, that -.55 is correct, does a negative effect size denote a mejoría significativa?
It is not "clearly, like the p-value, a statistical measurement of significance". As Charles himself says, standard errors by their very natures are ±. One might say standard error = 0.55 as shorthand for that, but never a negative value. Here ES is the effect size, the amount of the mejoría significativa.
The text is, indeed in Spanish, "Tras la intervención, observamos que en el GE hay una mejoría significativa en funcionamiento familiar percibido (p=.008; ES=-.55)," I'd be humbly grateful if you kind people who answered would have another crack at it or confirm your answers.
Sorry, too many early mornings - should have said estudio. Tras la intervención, observamos que en el GE hay una mejoría significativa en funcionamiento familiar percibido (p=.008; ES=-.55)
You've posted the question as Spanish>English, but the bit of text you've quoted is in English. However, the terms of your question do suggest you're translating a Spanish text into English. Am I right in thinking that the bit you've quoted is your translation of the Spanish original, and that ES is an acronym used in Spanish?
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
1 hr confidence: peer agreement (net): +2
Effect Size
Explanation: I am not sure, just saw this which may help?
It could be effect size (tamaño del efecto); occasionally the English acronym ES is used for that, but it's normally TE in Spanish.
However, although error estándar (standard error) is normally EE, ES is quite often used as well. Some examples:
"Recordemos que a la desviación estándar de la muestra dividida por la raíz cuadrada de N la llamamos Error Estándar o Típico de de la muestra, ES." Inmaculada Herranz Tejedor, Bioestadística sin dificultades matemáticas, p. 137 http://books.google.es/books?id=cNyWNWG-EvkC&pg=PA137&lpg=PA...
"Tabla 1. Valores medios y número de muestras por localidad de la valoración GLOBAL. DS: desviación estándar; CV: coeficiente de variación; ES: error estándar; LC: límites de confianza (al 95%); error relativo (al 95%)." http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/agriculturaypesca/ifapa/-/act... (last page, left).
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2013-12-17 09:40:14 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
By the way, I see njweatherdon suggested this as the likely meaning in context, but assumed (not unreasonably) that since the context is quoted in English this must be an English-Spanish question. I was assuming that you have quoted your English translation of the Spanish original, and that ES is an acronym used in a Spanish, not an English, text. If so, it can mean standard error, and I think it does, but if it were used in English we would have to assume it is an error for SE (or that it means effect size, but I don't think it does).
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2013-12-17 09:43:50 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I didn't see njweatherdon's suggestion before posting my answer, by the way; we came to the same conclusion independently.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2 hrs (2013-12-17 10:49:54 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
That's it: you would have thought error estándar would be EE, and indeed it often is, but there are quite a lot of examples of ES being used for it, apart from the few I've quoted.
One of the main problems here, as I needn't tell you, is that googling "ES" produces 116 trillion irrelevant results. You have to frame the search quite restrictively to get some relevant ones near the top.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 3 hrs (2013-12-17 10:52:37 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
And I suppose another argument is that since they're using the Spanish acronym GE rather than the English EG, ES is probably a Spanish acronym rather than an English one (though you can't rely on them being consistent).
Charles Davis Spain Local time: 18:51 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 44
Grading comment
Thanks again for such a full answer. I did indeed, mistakenly include my translation, NOT the original!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks so much Charles - the only thing is, I would think that Standard error was Error estándar in Spanish, i.e. EE. As I have now said, it is indeed Spanish to English, BUT Spanish academics often use English abbreviations, although not consistently
Asker: Have re-read your comments, and now am sure you're right. Thanks so much for such a full answer
Explanation: This seems to be miscategorized as ES->EN when it's EN-ES.
I've never seen papers referring to the size of an effect in this manner, but I have very often seen papers referring to the standard error when referring to the p-values.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 3 hrs (2013-12-17 11:13:00 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Btw, if it was standard error from English abbreviation, they would have said SE. This is extremely common, but may not relate to your case.
nweatherdon Canada Specializes in field Native speaker of: English
See the section on Emotional and Cognitive Effects of Endotoxin (Figs 2 & 3).
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 10 days (2013-12-27 10:52:13 GMT) Post-grading --------------------------------------------------
I suggest just change it in the Glossary. Anyone looking it up should read the alternative suggestions and decide for themselves. Professionals weight evidence!
DLyons Ireland Local time: 17:51 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 263
Notes to answerer
Asker: Donal, thanks for your latest comment unfortunately the tables of results were not included in the text. I am now more inclined to your opinion, especially since there was some English mixed in (medias pretests-postests) and will simply explain this to the client and suggest they change it if necessary, and ask to be informed to that I can correct this in Proz - we have all seen incorrect choices by the askers!
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peer agreement (net): +2
