Finding Standard Deviations
Finding Standard Deviations
Finding Standard Deviations
When extracting data for outcomes of continuous variables (e.g. pain, anxiety, blood pressure, heart rate), you need to find the mean score
for each group, the associated standard deviation of the mean for each group, and the number of people in each group.
Some times the standard deviation is not presented in the article. It is possible to derive standard deviations from other related information,
such as standard errors, confidence intervals, p-values, and t-values.
There are formulas to make these calculations, and these are presented in the Cochrane Handbook. This tool has been created to help make
the calculations for you. If you are uncertain, you should still consult a statistician for advice.
When using this tool, be aware that it may alert you if your data looks odd, or if you need to seek further help from a statistician.
Some times these alerts pop-up prematurely, so enter all your data before paying attention to them!
There are two tabs below, called "Within Groups" and "Between Groups". Within Groups is to be used to derive standard deviations where the
information you have is either a standard error for each study group, or a confidence interval for each study group. Between Groups is to be used
where the information you have, has been derived from a t-test to compare the mean scores between the two study groups, or a standard error
or confidence interval that is associated with the mean difference of scores between groups.
To complete the calculations you need to enter the relevant data into the white boxes and the answers will appear in the yellow boxes.
If you want to derive standard deviations from information related to an F-value (from an ANOVA), please consult a statistician.
Finding Standard Deviations by using numbers calculated from with-in groups
GROUP 1 GROUP 2
Standard Error = Standard Error =
Number of participants = Number of participants =
Calculation used: SD = SE x √N
GROUP 1 GROUP 2
What % was the CI? (for 95% CI type 0.95): What % was the CI? (for 95% CI type 0.95):
Number of participants = Number of participants =
Upper Confidence Interval limit = Upper Confidence Interval limit =
Lower Confidence Interval limit = Lower Confidence Interval limit =
Mean = Mean =
The Confidence Interval is Err:502 standard errors wide. The Confidence Interval is Err:502 standard errors wide.
Using the p-value of a t-test to find the SD. Using the t-value to find the SD
First you must derive the corresponding t-value: First you must derive the corresponding Standard E
Using the Confidence Intervals to find the SD Using the Standard Error to find the SD
(divisor = 3.92 )
Estimated SD for each group =
Standard Error = 5.102041
Now go to the calculation box for Standard Errors.
ed from between groups
es or P values that relate to the differences between means in two groups.
o find the SD
25
22
4.686547