Exercise 1: High Density Lipoprotein

An investigator thinks that the mean or average level of high density lipoprotein is higher in 30 to 40-year old women than in men of the same age.

To examine this idea or hypothesis, the investigator randomly selects for study 100 men and 100 women, all aged 30 to 40 years. The investigator plans to carefully measure the high density lipoprotein on these 200 individuals.

Even before collecting the data the investigator asks:

1. What measurement should be used to summarize the data which will be collected in this investigation?

2. How will we use the study data to investigate whether there is a real difference in mean high density lipoprotein levels between women and men in the population from which the investigation's sample was selected?