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Fisher's exact test

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Fisher's exact test

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High Yield Notes
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Fisher's exact test

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USMLE® Step 1 style questions USMLE

1 questions

USMLE® Step 2 style questions USMLE

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Preview

An investigator is conducting a pilot study to evaluate the effects of Drug X and Drug Y on treating leukemia. Results are shown below in the following 2 by 2 contingency table:  

  Cured  Not Cured  Total 
 Drug X  9  11  20 
 Drug Y  3  18  21 
 Total  12  29  41 

After completing the study, the investigator discovers that the percentage of patients who were cured after taking Drug X is much higher than that of patients taking Drug Y. Which of the following statistical tests was most likely used to draw this conclusion?  

Summary

Fisher's exact test is a statistical test that uses a 2x2 categorical data design. It is used to determine whether the proportions of two categorical variables are different from each other. It is a more powerful alternative to the chi-squared test, and is particularly useful when there are small sample sizes.