Ashley Christensen

Math 1030

11/15/18

Magnets and Pain Relief project

Compare mean, range and distribution of pre-test data for active and placebo magnet patients.

Placebo: Mean= 9.52 Range= 3 Active: Mean= 9.62 Range= 2

PRE-TEST
Placebo Magnet Active Magnet

25 22

20
15
15

10
4 3 3
5 2
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

The groups are similar in that they have a very close range and mean. This is also showing the base pain
level experienced by patients before testing.
Compare range, mean and distribution of post- test data for placebo and active magnet patients.

Placebo: Mean= 8.43 Range= 6 Active: Mean= 4.41 Range= 10

POST-TEST
10 9

8
# of patients

6 5 5
4 4 4 4
4 3 3 Active Magnet
2 2
1 1 1 1 1 Placebo Magnet
2
0 00 0 0 0
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Pain Scale

The outcomes have split the groups significantly. Those given the placebo still reported high pain after
the treatment and those with the active magnet appear to have a significant reduction on the pain scale.

Compare the mean, range and distribution of the change for both groups. Explain how you calculated
the difference and what the numbers mean.

I calculated the change between the two sets of data by taking the pre-testing data and then subtracting
the post-testing data from it. This new data shows the difference between the pre-testing and post-
testing data. After receiving the numbers I calculated the mean and range for the new data sets.
Placebo: Mean= 1.1 Range= 5 Active: Mean= 5.21 Range= 10

PAIN RELIEF
Active Magnet Placebo Magnet

12 11

10
# of Patients

8
6 5 5 5
4 4
4 3 3 3
2 2
2 1 1 1
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Change in Pain

Looking at the data given, I would say the magnets had a positive effect on the pain the patients were
experiencing. In many studies like these, at times we see a phenomenon known as the placebo effect,
but in this data the lack of change in pain in the patients who received to Placebo compared to the
patients who received the active magnet treatment was significant. I believe this study is limited simply
because they are measuring a persons pain level. Pain is an extremely difficult thing to manage because
everyone experiences it differently and there is not one method that works for everyone.