Biostatistics, help deciding on a test

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the appropriate statistical test to assess the relationship between receiving an antibiotic and receiving an antibiotic culture in a hospital setting, as presented in a specific table of data.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the suitability of McNemar's Test versus a Chi-Square Test for Independence, with some expressing uncertainty about the nature of the data and its implications for test selection. Questions arise regarding whether the data represents dependent samples and the specific hypotheses associated with each test.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of different statistical tests, with some participants suggesting the Chi-Square Test while others mention the potential use of Fisher's exact test due to the small sample size. The conversation includes considerations of the data's structure and whether it fits a within-subject design.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the small sample size as a constraint that may affect the accuracy of the tests being considered. There is also a discussion about the interpretation of McNemar's test in relation to Chi-Squared tests.

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Homework Statement


Refer to Table 2.11.
10.6 What significance test can be used to assess whether there is a relationship between receiving an antibiotic and receiving an antibiotic culture while in the hospital?

Here's my attempt of recreating the table:
\newcommand\T{\Rule{0pt}{1em}{.3em}}<br /> \begin{array}{|c|c|c|}<br /> \hline ID &amp; Antibiotic(1=Yes,2=NO) &amp; Culture(1=Yes,2=NO) \T \\\hline<br /> 1 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 2 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 1 \\\hline<br /> 3 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 4 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 5 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 6 \T &amp; 1 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 7 \T &amp; 1 &amp; 1 \\\hline<br /> 8 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 9 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 10 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 1 \\\hline<br /> 11 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 1 \\\hline<br /> 12 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 13 \T &amp; 1 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 14 \T &amp; 1 &amp; 1 \\\hline<br /> 15 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 1 \\\hline<br /> 16 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 17 \T &amp; 1 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 18 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 19 \T &amp; 1 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 20 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 21 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 22 \T &amp; 1 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 23 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 24 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 25 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> \end{array}<br />

Homework Equations



Two tests from this chapter are McNemar's Test and a Chi-Square Test for Independence

The Attempt at a Solution



I have no idea which test to use. Since the problem is asking for a test for association, I would think a chi-square test is appropriate, however the nature of the data makes me question that. I would think that, since we are looking at the same subject in the table, this is a dependent sample. However, the null hypothesis for McNemar's test is that the marginal probabilities are equal or that the probability of each type of discordant pair are equal. The problem isn't asking that, just asking if there is a relationship?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
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I would tend to agree with the Chi squared test.
You are testing for dependence.
 
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Mogarrr said:

Homework Statement


Refer to Table 2.11.
10.6 What significance test can be used to assess whether there is a relationship between receiving an antibiotic and receiving an antibiotic culture while in the hospital?

Here's my attempt of recreating the table:
\newcommand\T{\Rule{0pt}{1em}{.3em}}<br /> \begin{array}{|c|c|c|}<br /> \hline ID &amp; Antibiotic(1=Yes,2=NO) &amp; Culture(1=Yes,2=NO) \T \\\hline<br /> 1 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 2 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 1 \\\hline<br /> 3 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 4 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 5 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 6 \T &amp; 1 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 7 \T &amp; 1 &amp; 1 \\\hline<br /> 8 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 9 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 10 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 1 \\\hline<br /> 11 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 1 \\\hline<br /> 12 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 13 \T &amp; 1 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 14 \T &amp; 1 &amp; 1 \\\hline<br /> 15 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 1 \\\hline<br /> 16 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 17 \T &amp; 1 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 18 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 19 \T &amp; 1 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 20 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 21 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 22 \T &amp; 1 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 23 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 24 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> 25 \T &amp; 2 &amp; 2 \\\hline<br /> \end{array}<br />

Homework Equations



Two tests from this chapter are McNemar's Test and a Chi-Square Test for Independence

The Attempt at a Solution



I have no idea which test to use. Since the problem is asking for a test for association, I would think a chi-square test is appropriate, however the nature of the data makes me question that. I would think that, since we are looking at the same subject in the table, this is a dependent sample. However, the null hypothesis for McNemar's test is that the marginal probabilities are equal or that the probability of each type of discordant pair are equal. The problem isn't asking that, just asking if there is a relationship?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You could use either a NcNemar or a chi-squared test, but since the sample size is small, those will be inaccurate. If you can, you should try Fisher's exact test. See, eg., http://yatani.jp/teaching/doku.php?id=hcistats:chisquare .
 
Last edited:
I have an exact test for small samples, however I wanted to talk about one more thing concerning this problem. I just learned that McNemar's test can be viewed as a within Chi-Squared Test.

Do you think this data is an example of a within-subject design?
 

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