Preliminary Statistic Project about Magnets and Pain Relief

1. Does the data support or refute that magnets relieve pain?

With the large variation in change from the initial report of high levels of pain to

extremely low levels in just a short amount of time, it is easy to quickly determine that the

magnets are either a medical miracle or a hoax. The control group with no magnets saw little to

no change in the reported pain levels. The data clearly shows a sharp and steep overall decline in

the pain on one side but not on the other

In short the data appears to support the concept that the magnets aid in pain relief.

2. Use concepts from module 7 to discuss population parameters sample statistics and bias.

The overall population consists of all the people throughout even the world who suffer with pain

from the post-polio pain syndromes. In this study the sampling of the people selected was a very

small and limited sample in comparison to the number of people affected by the issue. With even

fewer people selected for the control sample of the persistent pain, the samplings were

inconsequential to a proper measurement of the accuracy of the pain relieve, or actual pain levels

in the population. The small sample sizes may indicate bias and a rushed work in the study.

In reliable and more accurate studies all the requirements of repetition/repeatability, time, sample

size, and lack or bias are necessary. A large sample size is needed in a reliable study to

accommodate for any number of biological psychological or social variants from individual to
individual. Also a large sample may help deter from the encroachment of cultural or prejudicial

biases in the sampling of people selected from the population to take part in the study.

Time is also required in the establishment of a reputable study. The study if preformed over time

makes room for the observation of seasonal and short term biases that may affect the continuous

effects of the reputable study and its potential future with the whole of the population.

A lack of bias is necessary in a reliable study. A large number of biases may affect the results of

a study. Often simple wants can skew the reliability. For example if a patient with pain wants

relief and is promised a new aid that is better than the patients current medicine the patient may

pay extra attention to the lack of pain provided by the new aid. This bias may be negated by

providing an equal portion of the sampling individuals with the standard medicine keeping them

blind to which medication they are receiving. A single-blind study is one such, where the

participating sampling of the population is ignorant to which treatment they are receiving. The

advantage to such a study is the negation of the Placebo Effect. This effect is the phenomena of

mind over matter; peoples belief in something can often powerfully affect their perception, to

the extent that patients given a sugar pill in exchange of a pain pill may report a decrease of pain

simply because they believe it is how they should feel.

A double blind study is one such were those administering the study are unaware of differences

in the treatments provided to any of the patients. This can limit or even eliminate variations in

speech patterns or behavior of the administrators that might otherwise tip off the patients or sway

the accuracy of the reportings.

3. Discuss how representative the data presented is for determining whether magnets actually

relieve pain.

The Studies data is very poor in its representation to the whole of the population. As earlier

addressed a large sample size is best in order to account for effects to the whole of a population.

29 people is a very limited sample to test and with even fewer as a control group the study may

be better suited to test the effects of magnets in a very small superstitious village with a large

population of individuals with post-polio syndrome. It is always important to question the

validity of a study in order to repeat it and ensure accuracy. The data as presented in this one

study seems unreliable and appears biased as the company sponsoring the study clearly wants to

sell healing magnets.

4. Discuss in some detail what you would want to add to this study to make it more

representative and believable Please address concepts such as additional cost verses benefit

sample size reducing bias etc.

To make this study reputable a much larger sampling would need to be selected and the

treatments provided would need to be as close to the same as possible. This Study would be best

repeated in order to verify authenticity. The downside on a larger and repeated study is its cost,

larger sampling requires more time more equipment and that means more money. Utilizing a

double blind method of administration with an emphasis on the treatments being the same would

cut down on bias. The concept of the study is a idea worth looking into, however as stated

needs quite a bit of work to be taken seriously.