Statistics and Statistical Programming (Spring 2019)/Problem Set: Week 6

Programming Challenges
We're going to evaluate and replicate the analysis done in this paper:


 * Lagakos, S., & Mosteller, F. (1981). A case study of statistics in the regulatory process: the FD&C Red No. 40 experiments. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 66(1), 197–212. [PDF]


 * PC0. Download the dataset by clicking through on the "Red Dye Number 40" link on this webpage. You'll find that the it's not in an ideal setup. It's an Excel file (XLS) with a series of columns labeled X1.. X4. The format is not exactly tabular. If you look at Table 1 in the paper you should be able to figure out what each column stands for.
 * PC1. Load the data into R. Now get to work on reshaping the dataset. I think a good format would be a data frame with two columns: group, time of death (i.e., lifespan).
 * PC2. Create summary statistics and visualizations for each group. Write code that allows you to generate a useful way to both (a) get a visual sense both for the shape of the data and its relationships and (b) the degree to which the assumptions for t-tests and ANOVA hold. What is the global mean of your dependent variable?
 * PC3. Do a t-test between mice with none RD40 and mice with any (i.e., at least a small amount). Next, run a t-test between the group with a high dosage and control group. How would you go about doing it using formula notation? Be ready to report, interpret, and discuss the results in substantive terms.
 * PC4. Estimate an ANOVA analysis using aov to see if there is a difference between the groups. Be ready to report, interpret, and discuss the results in substantive terms.

Statistical Questions from OpenIntro §6

 * Q0. Any questions or clarifications from the OpenIntro text or lecture notes?
 * Q1. Exercise 6.12 on public opinion about cannabis legalization
 * Q2. Exercise 6.20 a continuation of 6.12
 * Q3. Exercise 6.38 on translating a problem in English into statistical tests
 * Q4. Exercise 6.50 another voter/public opinion question