Quality of research methodology in medical journals. The journal eCAM (November 2006) published a study of the quality of the research methodology (e.g., statistical analysis) used in medical papers. For each in a sample of 13 research papers, the quality of the methodology on several dimensions was measured, with scores ranging from 1 (low quality) to 3 (high quality). The data in the table (next column) give the scores on three dimensions (labeled What, Who, and How) for each in a sample of 13 papers.

a. One goal of the study is to compare the mean scores of the three research methodology dimensions. Set up the null and alternative hypotheses for this test.

b. Explain why the data should be analyzed using a nonparametric randomized block ANOVA.

c. Conduct the analysis for the researchers. What do you conclude? (Use a = .10.) METHOD Paper What Who How 1 3 2 2 2 3 1 3 3 2 1 1 4 2 2 2 5 2 2 1 6 2 1 2 7 2 2 2 8 2 1 3 9 1 2 1 10 2 1 2 11 2 1 3 12 2 2 1 13 3 2 2 Source: From “Evidence-based research in complementary in alternative medicine III: Treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s disease” by Francesco Chiappelli, Audrey M. Navarro, David R. Moradi, Ercolano Manfrin, and Paolo Prolo in Evidence Based Complementary And Alternative Medicine, Vol 3, Issue 4, pp. 411–424. Copyright © 2006 by Francesco Chiapelli under a Creative Commons Attribution license.