Math 1030

Magnets & Pain Relief

Name

1. Use the calculations belou' to compare the mean. range. and distribution tgraphing both a
double histogram using relative frequenc-v and box plots) of the pretest lbr tl-re actir e n1agllet
group and the placebo group. Tell wh-v 1'ou think the groups appear to be similar or dilferent. by'
mahing a qualitatir,'e comparison betvr-een the hars in the double hisioglat-t-t and the boxes and
whiskers inthe double bo.r plot. I-lse numbers to compat"e b1 uritinc. "The tivo groups appear to
be similar because the there is onl,v XX'7; clitJ-erence benreen the mc-ans and the between the
ranges is iust YY%."

1a. Calculations:

Placebo: mean: UII ''t'!

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f- -4

Actir e \,lagnet: mean : _3e&

range :
4
range: '& i
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lb. Written Answer:
[Write answer for #1 here - Tell why you think the groups appeat to be similar or different, by
making a qualitative comparison between the bars in the double histogram and the boxes and
whiskers in the double box plot. Use numbers to compare by writing, "The two groups appear to
be similar because the there is only XX% difference between the means and the between the
ranges is just YYo/o."f

fn [htpre+es+, -1tle, $wo,$,ruH: e?ry i'; b?,+he$r"ni lat-

ans and rrle
becuus e, WN'is only lY' dlrrt'*1tt n*rtru"n
bei"** {0,' rarr gislYw"s ultv
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The data for the posttest are compared as followed:

Active Magnet: mean: 1.4i Placebo: mean : 8.43

range : I 0 range : 6

0.35

>- 0.30
(,
5
f
o.zs
E o.zo
II
g 0.1s ffi active
H o.ro I il placebo
tll|liiiitli
o 3 4 5 6 7 8 I
- o.o5
ffi 0 2 10

0.00
l fi
I I
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9,10
Reported Pain

The mean of the active magnets is 48% less than the mean of the placebos, and the range of the
active magnets is 67Yo greater than placebos' range. The histogram of the placebos is very
skewed showing a lot of pain is still reported, while the histogram of the active magnets is more
uniform. More than three-fourths of the active magnet scores are less than three-fourths of the
placebos' pain scores.
2. Calculate the "pain relief," i.e. the change between the initial pain and that reported after
the treatment. Explain how you calculated the difference and what the numbers mean. Compare
the mean, range, and distribution (using both histograms and box plots) of the change for the
active magnet group and the placebo group. Tell why you think the outcomes appear to be
similar or different.

2a. Calculations
1q /'diird i'-' i'^7*'
Placebo: mean: l,lD Active Magnet: mean: 6.Ll ,,t,J,'- 1.;rt, tt
range range : l0 t l'"rt s1 L'

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2b. Written Ansu er '
[Write answer for #3 here - Explain how'5rou calcr-rlated the dilference and what the numbers
mean. Compare the mean" range" and distribution (using both histograms and box plots) of the
change lbr the active magnet group and the placebo group. Tell w'h,v you think the outcomes
appear ro be similar or dil'l'erenr.l ,' *tfrC\",eat 91at+ )
-"tt
2b. Written Answer

I calculated the difference between the initial pain and the pain after
treatment by subtracting the post-pain number from the pre-pain number. Ex: pre-
pain of L0 and post pain of 4 would be a change of 6. Thus, a change of 10 would
mean the pain was completely relieved, and a change of 0 would mean there was no
pain relief at all. The mean of the change for the active magnets is 79o/o more than
the change for the placebo. The range of the active magnets is 600/o greater than the
placebo's. The histogram of the placebo group shows a change of 0 in pain for a
large portion of the group, with the most change being a 5. Comparatively, the
active magnets show changes from 0 to L0, with the majority of change in the 5-10
range. The boxplot indicates that three-fourths of the placebos change to be less
than three-fourths of the active magnets change. The differences of the active
magnet vs. the placebo would indicate the effectiveness magnetic fields could have
in reducing pain.
 Magnets and Pain Relief Summary

The statistics support the claim that magnets can help relieve some types of pain.

The active magnet group showed significantly more change in pain than the placebo group

did. This data could be helpful in determining if using magnets for pain would be an

acceptable treatment for patients. Because only one type of patient- the post polio patient

was tested, it would be beneficial to conduct further studies on other types of patients who

are experiencing pain. Perhaps patients who all suffer from back pain, or patients who

suffer from pain due to a broken bone, or from pain from a certain type of surgery could be

studied. I think this is a good study, but I think it could be helpful to have more participants

in the study. Perhaps increasing the groups to 100 for each group would be beneficial.

I plan to become an elementary teacher. The benefits of utilizing the statistical tools

demonstrated in this project could be an average of scores on any given test. Knowing the

mean, median and range for a certain test or set of scores in my class would be beneficial. I

could also give a pre-test and then a post-test after material is learned and compare the

scores with these statistical tools. Also, being able to perhaps compare the rate of progress

of students in class who for example, read at least L5 minutes a night, to those who do not,

would be beneficial. I could use a box plot or histogram to determine these numbers.

Another use could be to compare reading levels from the beginning of the year to the end of

the year using all of the statistical tools used from this project and the material I have

learned from this class. Really, the use of knowing the range of scores and testing and the

mean and median will be a valuable tool in determining where my students needs are.