Description of Data Set

This data was collected at an academic, outpatient medical center in Pittsburgh, PA.

These patients were evaluated by a physical therapist and then treated for 4-6 weeks. The

following measures are included in this data set:

Age - the number of years at the time of the evaluation

Sex - self-explanatory (1 = male, 2 = female)

Diagnosis - area of spine for which being treated and evaluated (1 = cervical, 2 =

lumbar, 3 = thoracic)

Onset - a description of how symptoms started (1 = sudden, 2 = gradual)

Acuity - how long the patient has been experiencing the symptoms (1 = acute, 2

= chronic)

Fear Activity - how much the patient fears activity due to his/her spine pain

(range 0 - 24, higher numbers mean more fear of activity)

Fear Work - how much the patient fears work due to his/her spine pain (range 0

- 42, higher number mean more fear of work)

Initial Disability - how much interference with daily activities the patient is

experiencing before treatment (0 - 100, higher number indicates more

interference with daily activity)

Final Disability - how much interference with daily activities the patient is

experiencing after treatment (0 - 100, higher number indicates more interference

with daily activity)

Initial Pain - how much pain the patient is experiencing before treatment (0 - 10,

higher number indicates more pain)

Final Pain - how much pain the patient is experiencing after treatment (0 - 10,

higher number indicates more pain)

Assignment Questions

1. Is this a descriptive, experimental, or quasi-experimental study? Please explain the rationale for your answer.

2. Please explain what a variable is

3.List all the categorical variables used in this study.

3. List the continuous variables used in this study.