Module: HS2135 Statistics

Question: Is a person's oral temperature related to the axilla temperature?

Tutorial group: 65

Course: Occupational Therapy

Lim Ming Hui Grace:


Low Zheng Yi:


Lee Michelle:


Ng Kai Qin:


Nur Diyanah Binte Yusoff:


Ong Xin Ling:


This project is beneficial for us as it allows us to apply what we had learnt during lessons into a more practical and real-life situation. We had to to collect our own data and interpret them, using SPSS to generate our results. This exposure will be useful especially while doing our final year end project when the experimental and control group are of larger numbers. The results might be more complex than the one we are handling for the statistics project.
We also realised that doing a research or statistical project is not easy, as there are many MANY factors to consider and steps to plan to ensure reliability and validity of the test.

Null Hypothesis (Ho):
There is no relationship between oral and axilla temperature.

Research Hypothesis (H1):
There is a relationship between oral and axilla temperature.

Variables:
Right axilla temperature - scale data type
Right oral temperature - scale data type

Confounding variables:

Temperature of environment.
Pre-activity eg. Physical activity.
Intake of food/drinks that are of different temperature from body.

Methodology
~How was the data collection done?
Sampling: Accidental sampling
Biased: Majority of the subjects were in the 19-22 age group, since the location was at Nanyang Polytechnic.

~How did you gather the samples?
- As a group of 6, we walked along the corridor of level 3 of Nanyang Polytechnic and randomly approached any student that walked past us.
- Participants were briefed on the rationale of this study and obtained their informed consent
- Thermometers were provided, hence, the instrumental reliability is consistent
- Thermometer sheaths are provided to ensure hygiene.

-We also practiced the same instructions given to participants, hence, the inter-rater reliability is high
- Participants are monitored on a one to one basis to ensure consistency and structural methodology.
-Thermometer is placed in a supine upright position (the screen facing upwards)

-Participants are to close their mouth tightly over the thermometer head, until the 'beep" sound is heard; make sure that the results obtained are accurate and consistent among all participants.

-Each participant was measured twice, with different researchers measuring their temperature
Morning (10am 11am)
Afternoon (from 3pm to 4pm)
(We requested them to return for the afternoon session)
-Alcohol swaps were used to sterile the thermometer after use
-Temperature was measured in degree celcius.

~What did you use to measure?
Digital thermometer for both oral and auxiliary (Provided by reseachers)






~How often?
Twice a day; average of the results were used; results were compared.

~Any rejection?
Temperature of participants who have just drunk a cold or hot drink 5min ago were not taken into consideration (not keyed into SPSS data).


ANALYSIS OF DATA
a. Use appropriate statistical methods

Using SPSS to collate and tabulate the data





b. Interpret statistical results

Since the r value= 0.536,
There is a positive, moderate and significant relationship between axilla temperature and oral temperature.


Therefore, using the Pearson's R result, we can predict a person's oral temperature by computing regression equation.


Computing regression equation: The Linear Equation


















linear equation, Y = mX + C
therefore,
AT = 0.640 (OT) + 12.567

where Y = AT = axilla temperature
X = OT = oral temperature
m = 0.640
C = 12.567

Hence, given that Jane has an oral temperature of 36.5 degrees Celsius,
AT = [0.640(36.5) + 12.567] = 35.927
Jane's axilla temperature will be 35.927 degrees Celsius



Conclusion
If P < 0.05, we reject null hypothesis and accpet the alternate hypothesis.
If P > 0.05, we fail to reject null hypothesis.
Since P = 0.02, we accept the alternate hypothesis and reject the null hypothesis.

There is a positive, moderate and significant relationship between the axilla temperature and oral temperature.
However, oral temperature and axilla temperature may vary between ±0.5 degrees Celsius.

By entries:

1. Statistics

By month:

1. August 2009

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