Case 2: Comparing Three Methods of Treating Childhood Ear Infections

Individual Component - 25 Points

Carefully Review the Case Description and answer the questions below. I strongly advise NOT looking at the data set as you think through these questions. It can make you think it is more complicated than it is.

With this small case, each person should individually think through these questions before you meet with your team. It is fine to change your mind after meeting with your team, but each individual should write up his/her own explanations for this individual submission. Get going right away! Please feel free to submit early and ask me to review!! I will give comments to guide you so you can correct and resubmit.

1. To help determine what kind of anova is used in this study to answer the research questions, answer the following:
   1. What are the response variables? In other words, what variables are measured in the study? This will determine the number of separate ANOVAs you will do. Once you have determined this, you should go into the data and create a separate worksheet for each response variable. This should help you to better see what you should be doing.
   2. Do you have one or 2 factors (groups of treatments)?
   3. What are the levels of the factor(s)?
   4. Explain in detail what kind of anova is used in this study to answer the research questions. For now, assume required conditions have been met. You will be checking them in the case.
2. Discuss Type 1 and Type 2 errors in the context of the case. What actions might the user of your findings make based on the possible hypothesis testing conclusions? What are the consequences of those actions?
3. Explain how you would check for outliers. In Case 1, we looked at 2 different types of graphs that help identify outliers. One of those is correct here.
4. What are the required conditions that your data must meet for ANOVA? Explain how you will check them.

CASE DESCRIPTION:

Case 2: Comparing Three Methods of Treating Childhood Ear Infections

Team Submission -- 75 points

The purpose of this case is two-fold: You will apply analysis of variance to answer research questions. You will also think through the process of selecting and defending the significance level you will use. There is no wrong choice, but your defenseshould clearly show thatyou understand the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 errors. Be sure to review the case 2 rubric Download case 2 rubricfor guidance!(NOTE: Bring a hard copy to class AND submit in Canvas!)

This case assesses Course Objectives (CO1-CO5)

Acute Otitis media, an infection of the middle ear, is a common childhood illness. There are various ways to treat the problem. To help determine the best way, researchers conducted an experiment. One hundred and eighty children between 10 months and two years with recurrent acute otitis media were divided into three equal groups. Group 1 was treated by surgically removing the adenoids (adenoidectomy), the second was treated with the drug Sulfafurazole, and the third with a placebo. Each child was tracked for 2 years during which time all symptoms and episodes of acute otitis media were recorded. (Keller, 9th Edition, p. 588)

Researchers collected data for the following variables: Number of episodes of the illness, number of visits to a physician because of any illness, number of prescriptions, number of days with symptoms of respiratory infection. Can the researchers conclude that there are differences between the three groups with respect to the number of episodes, number of physician visits, number of prescriptions, and number of days with symptoms of respiratory infections?

In the attached data file Download data file, column 1 is an ID number for each child; column 2 is the group number for each child, and columns 3 through 6 are the responses for the variables collected.

Conduct the necessary tests to address the researchers' question. You should use Excel to conduct your analyses and should use ONLY the p-value rule to make your decision. Do NOT INCLUDE or use critical values to make your decisions. You do not need to list the 7-step process, just be sure you state your hypotheses and choose your alpha BEFORE conducting the test and include the p-value in the text. Write a report to present your findings. Use the following as an outline for your case write-up (use the rubric for guidance!):

• Introduction
• A discussion of the analysis you are conducting and why you chose it
• Brief discussion of basic descriptive statistics and check for outliers
• A discussion of your selected alpha and why you chose it (i.e, carefully consider the consequences of Type I and Type II errors and which would be worse in terms of this analysis),
• The required conditions of the chosen analysis and your analysis of whether the data meet those conditions
• Your analysis of each research hypothesis. Be sure to clearly state all hypotheses for any test you are using in your analysis,
• Discussion of your results and a conclusion. This should not be simply re-stating the hypothesis test conclusion. Consider your findings and discuss any implications of those findings. You may make suggestions for further research or to improve the study.

You should use only summary tables within the text of your report. If any data is within your text, it should be something you are discussing. I do not need to see the raw data anywhere. You should include yourExcel outputin an Appendix so I can refer to it if there is a problem. Please be sure to reference the grading rubric for more guidance as to my expectations. I will verify whether you have chosen the correct ANOVA, so please check with me! And, as always, please do ask if you have any questions about anything!N