7.54. Table 7.25 compares two hospitals on the outcomes of patient admissions forsevere pneumonia.

Although patient status is an ordinal variable, two researchers who analyze the data treat it as an interval variable. The first researcher assigns the scores (0,5,10) to the three categories. The second researcher, believing that the middle category is much closer to the third category than to the first, usesthe scores (0,9,10). Each researcher calculates the means for the two institutions and identifiesthe institution with the higher mean as the one having more success in treating its patients. Find the two means for the scoring system used by

(a) the first researcher,

(b) the second researcher. Interpret.

(Notice that the conclusion depends on the scoring system. So if you use methods for quantitative variables with ordinal data, take care in selecting scores.)

TABLE 7.25 Patient Status Released Released Died in After After Hospital Lengthy Stay Brief Stay Hospital A 1 29 0 Hospital B 8 8 14