Weingarten
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Topics: 2
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(Warning: spoiler for those who plan to take the NBME first basic science practice exam) Biostats question: Question shows a scatter plot with a pretty linear distribution with a slope of about 1, correlating height with weight. The question asks what the "r" value (correlation) would be. About 1/3 of the dots were somewhat off the linear distribution. Options were r= +1, +0.6, 0, -0.6 and -1. I wasn't sure exactly what this meant, whether the r value referred to the relationship (i.e., linear with a slope of 1) or the degree to which the dots fall on the line. I guessed +0.6, figuring that a linear correlation was a linear correlation, regardless of the mathematical relationship, and about 30-40% of the dots didn't really correspond to the line. But that was just a guess. I've since looked it up, and still don't really get it. Somebody have a nice, simple explanation? Medicolegal question: old guy with signs of abuse, says he's fine, but he's emaciated and has bruises and whatnot. The question seemed to make it pretty obvious that you were supposed to assume abuse. Two reasonable choices stuck out: 1) Confront the family. 2) Call social services. It strikes me that you have to do BOTH of these, but the question asked "What's your next step?" *MY* first step (having worked in an ER where we had to do this sort of thing) would be to call SECURITY first, so that they were available in case the family had a fit when I confronted them. My second step would be to confront the family, and my third step would be to call social services, because I think that elder abuse is one of those things that you HAVE to report. I hate these BS (behavioral science, but it certainly stands for the other BS, too) questions. Any thoughts as to the answer on this one? Thanks, -- David
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| 99doc
Forum Elite
Topics: 52
Posts: 370
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Regarding the first
the r value can't be 0 for there will be no corelation then.
also, -ve value is also ruled out by the way they presented the graph.
but out of these 1& .6- 1 implies really strong corelation &
0.6 implies a weaker corelation.if 70 % of the dots were on the straight line i think it can be 1.
2nd q-
as regards abuse if elderly abuse we can just protect & report
we can hospitalise the patient & report matter to a social organisation.that's it. nothing more.
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