Question

a cardiologist is interested in the mean recovery period of her patients who have had heart attacks. define the following in terms of the study. give examples where appropriate.
part (a)
the population

• the population is a group of the cardiologists patients who have had a heart attack.
• the population is all of the cardiologists patients who have had a heart attack.
• the population is all of the cardiologists patients over 60 years old who have had a heart attack.
• the population is all of the cardiologists patients with heart disease.

Explanation:

To determine the population for the study about the mean recovery period of patients who had heart attacks, we analyze the options:

• The study focuses on the cardiologist’s patients who had heart attacks. A population in a study is the entire group of interest.
• Option 1 says "a group" (not the entire group), so incorrect.
• Option 2 says "all of the cardiologist’s patients who have had a heart attack" which matches the entire group of interest for the study (recovery period of heart attack patients of this cardiologist).
• Option 3 restricts to patients over 60, but the study isn't about age - specific, so incorrect.
• Option 4 is about heart disease (broader than heart attacks), so incorrect.

Answer:

B. The population is all of the cardiologist's patients who have had a heart attack.