Assignment 1
Q1: For each of the following variables, determine whether the variable is
categorical or numerical. In addition, if the variable is numerical,
determine whether it is discrete or continuous.
a- Name of medication suppliers.
b- Amount of time spent by patients queuing to dispense a prescription in
community pharmacies.
c- Number of prescriptions received by pharmacies per day.
d- Number of online purchases made by pharmacies in a month.
Q2: The purpose of a study by Tam et al. (A-11) was to investigate the
wheelchair maneuvering in individuals with lower-level spinal cord
injury (SCI) and healthy controls. Subjects used a modified wheelchair
to incorporate a rigid seat surface to facilitate the specified
experimental measurements. Interface pressure measurement was
recorded by using a high-resolution pressure-sensitive mat with a
spatial resolution of four sensors per square centimeter taped on the
rigid seat support. During static sitting conditions, average pressures
were recorded under the ischial tuberosities. The data for
measurements of the left ischial tuberosity (in mm Hg) for the SCI and
control groups are shown below.
Control SCI
131 60
115 150
124 130
131 180
122 163
117 130
88 121
114 119
150 130
169 148
a. Find the mean, median, variance, and standard deviation for the
controls.
b. Find the mean, median variance, and standard deviation for the SCI
group.
c. Construct a box-and-whisker plot for the controls.
d. Construct a box-and-whisker plot for the SCI group.
e. Do you believe there is a difference in pressure readings for controls
and SCI subjects in this study?
Q3: The following are the cystatin C levels (mg/L) for the patients in a
certain hospital. Cystatin C is a cationic basic protein that was
investigated for its relationship to GFR levels. In addition, creatinine
levels are also given. (Note: Some subjects were measured more than
once.)
Find the following:
1. For each variable, compute the mean, median, variance, standard
deviation, and coefficient of variation.
2. For each variable, construct a box-and-whisker plot.
3. Which set of measurements is more variable, cystatin C or creatinine?
On what do you base your answer?
