Selecting a Statistical test:

Select a test sequence:

1) Identify the variables in the study
2) Classify variables as nominal or interval
3) Make additional distinctions
4) Finalize choice of statistical test

Select a test guidance:

1) Read narrative and list the variables
2) Most common: 2 variables
a. One nominal + one interval
b. Two nominals
c. Two intervals
3) Less common: repeated measures on a single group

Nominal: categorical usually 2-5 possible values

- Variable: gender (male or female), blood type, disease state (well or diseased), Dx test result (negative or positive), exposure status
(exposed, unexposed)
- 2 nominal: test for difference in proportion, test for association
- First choice: Chi-square
- N<25: Fisher’s Exact Test
- Gender by SES (2x3)
- Gender by vaccination status (2x2)
- Foodborne outbreak investigation: illness (ill/not ill) by food consumption (ate/did not eat)

Interval: continuous, many possible values across a continuum

- Glucose, weight, calories, IQ, BP, height, etc.
- 2 intervals: test for relationship, test for association or correlation
- Regression: prediction involved
o Treatment to decrease body weight
▪ Predict corresponding decrease in SBP, DBP
▪ Predict corresponding decrease in cholesterol
o Medical college admissions test score
▪ Predict two-year basic sciences G.P.A

One Interval and One Nominal: test for differences in the means of the interval measure for each of the groups defined for the nominal measure
- T-test: one nominal with two groups
o Compare mean height by gender
▪ Height: interval
▪ Gender (male, female): nominal with 2 groups
o Compare mean blood pressure by race
 ▪ Blood pressure: interval
▪ Race (Asian, White): nominal with 2 groups
- Matched pairs t-test: one nominal with two groups or one identical group measured twice
o Compare blood pressure by treatment
▪ Blood pressure: interval
▪ Treatment status (treated, untreated); nominal with 2 demographically-matched groups
o Compare weight in 2016 and 2017
▪ Weight: interval
▪ Identical group: 2 times (2016, 2017)
- 1-way ANOVA: one nominal with 3 or more groups
o Compare mean height by nation
▪ Height: interval
▪ Nation (Canada, US, Mexico): nominal 3 groups
o Compare mean blood pressure by race
▪ BP: interval
▪ Race (Asian, White, African American): nominal with 3 groups
- 2-way ANOVA: one interval and two nominal measures
o Compare mean height by gender and ethnicity
▪ Height: interval
▪ Gender (male, female): nominal with 2 groups
▪ Ethnicity (Hispanic, non-Hispanic): nominal with 2 groups
- Repeated measures ANOVA: one nominal one interval several different times
o Compare BP in 2016, 2017, 2018
▪ BP: interval
▪ Identical group: 3 times (2016, 2017, 2018)

Hints:
▪ Hypothesis testing:
o Type I error: erroneously claiming a treatment works when it is NOT effective (based on strange sample, flaws in the research)
o Type II error: erroneously failing to claim that a treatment works when the treatment IS effective
▪ What type of observational study design is this:
o Case report
o Case series
o Cross-sectional study
o Case-control study
o Cohort-study
▪ Key statistics:
o Cross sectional study: chi square
o Case-control study: odd ratio
o Cohort study: relative risk